Kobe Is King of New York
As Kobe Bryant was subbed out of the game for the final time late in the 4th quarter, Madison Square Garden rose to its feet. Not just the scattered, Kobe jersey-wearing fans. Not hat wearing, purple-loving Laker fans. The entire stadium rose to its feet. Including Spike Lee.
I remember where I was when Michael Jordan scored 55 points to announce to the world he had returned to the game he loved after retiring in 1993. And I will forever remember where I was when Kobe dropped 61 points on the Knicks, the Lakers winning, 126-117. Nobody has scored more in Madison Square Garden.
The hallowed arena in New York can bring out greatness in people. I honestly thought I would never see such a dominant performance from Kobe again. Not with two fingers on his shooting hand battered. Not when his legs won’t allow him the same lift coming off of a Redeem Team summer of international basketball.
But there he was, amazingly hanging in the air, waiting for his opponents to come back down, shot after shot. It was vintage, 27-year old Kobe.
What was amazing about this performance is that Kobe wasn’t his old self, wanting to see the other team bleed as he did his duty. It was not out of anger or out of proving he is the best player in basketball. It was a quiet, dignified performance, right down to the respectful wave to the crowd at the end, acknowledging their standing ovation.
It was almost nostalgic. Kobe himself has stated how quickly time goes by, and how it was only yesterday that he was a kid, watching Jordan achieve the impossible. Kobe, more than anyone, is starting to realize how little time greatness stays with someone, and how necessary it is to appreciate it while it’s there.
It couldn’t have come at a better time for the Lakers. The horrible news of Andrew Bynum’s torn MCL just began circulating the web early Monday. Although Bynum should be ready again when the playoffs begin, we saw that same hope vanish last year as he needed more recovery time, taking the year off.
Laker fans needed something to believe in. Once again, in Kobe we trust.
That was unbelievable! I can’t believe those shots he made!
Good game, amazing performance, but what else did we expect? Kobe going 5-20 in a lost cause? Lakers without Bynum are a different team, not necessarily better or worst, but different; they give up points in the paint with our without him. I call an easy W in Toronto, we’ll see what happens in Cleveland & Boston.