Kobe Bryant: LA Lakers superstar facing curtain call to brilliant career

His final three seasons may have been an injury disaster but Kobe is still one of the best ever

(Getty)

Kobe Bryant's final season did not turn out how he wanted it to.

In fact, none of his final four seasons have gone how he would have wanted them to, with the Los Angeles Lakers, the only team he has played for in his 20-year career. The last time the Lakers reached the play-offs, 2012-13, Bryant missed the post-season with injury and the club were swept in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs.

In the three utterly horrible seasons since, the Lakers have won just 26 per cent (64 out of 246) of their games, including a franchise campaign under Byron Scott this year. With one game to play they have won only 16 of their 81 games.

Although he was named to the All-Star game in all three of those campaigns - fan voting rather than stellar play the reason - Bryant, now 37, has played only 44 per cent of those games as he's struggled with a variety of injuries after hitting his mid-30s.

He has put up horrible, empty numbers on truly awful Laker teams. Bryant has averaged 17 points per game this season but takes 16 shots a game to reach that total, hitting the mark on a career low 35.4 per cent.

The Black Mamba has played hero, one-on-one basketball to the detriment of his developing team-mates. His burdensome contract, the most expensive in the NBA and worth $25million (bigger than MVP candidates Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant), has stopped the Lakers from properly rebuilding. He is dishing just 2.8 assists per game, averaging less than a steal a game, and rebounding only four times per game, his worst averages since his teenage years in 1997 and 1998.

Kobe Bryant should have retired a long time ago. His detractors point out that Bryant has continued in an attempt to add empty numbers to his packed basketball CV and to chase fading glory, if only for a moment.

But Bryant, isn't doing either of those things, they are a by-product of Bryant continuing to believe he can affect NBA games despite his body telling him otherwise.

What made Bryant great was his relentless confidence and force of will, his dedication to the sport and near-fanatical preparation.

That unwavering mindset brought five Championship rings, 18 All-Star nods, a league MVP, two Olympic Gold medals, 15 All-NBA selections, 12 All-Defensive team selections and a number of statistical milestones.

He was simply astonishing in the 2009 and 2010 NBA Finals, where he was named Finals MVP in both, and only two players have scored more than the 33,583 points he has put up in the regular season.

Bryant is the only player in NBA history to spend 20 years with the same franchise - the league's most recognisable and popular franchise at that.

He is a global icon loved by billions of fans around the world. NBA arenas have been packed every night when the Lakers have come to town this season, with more 'Bryant 24' jerseys on show than any other.

And it all comes down to Wednesday night.

Bryant is a five-time NBA Champion and two-time Finals MVP (Getty Images)

Bryant will play in his final game against the Utah Jazz at the Staples Center, in front of a packed house, where tickets have been selling for up to $27,500 (£19,315).

After another heavy defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this week, the future Hall of Fame guard admitted he didn't quite know what his emotions will be like on the night.

"Tough to say," Bryant said. "We'll see Wednesday. So far I've been pretty cool about everything. I've been very thankful about everything, been very happy about everything. It hasn't really hit me yet. We'll see if it does."

What is certain is that Bryant is sure to get an emotional reaction from the crowd and his name and jersey hung in the rafters at the Staples Center as fans, media and players say farewell to one of the best ever.


 Bryant took the mantle from Michael Jordan as the best player of his generation 
 (Getty Images)

KOBE IN NUMBERS*

48,576: Minutes played ahead of the final game, the sixth most in NBA history

33,570: Career points, third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and Karl Malone (36,928)

27,500: Price in dollars (£19,315) fans are paying for courstide tickets to his final game at the Staples Center

26,150: Career field goal attempts, third most all-time

9,999: Career free throw attempts - fifth all-time

8,368: Career free throw makes - third all-time

5,640: Points scored in the NBA play-offs, third most in NBA history behind Michael Jordan (5,987) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (5,762)

81: Points in a 122-104 victory against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006, the second-highest total in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962

50: Bryant has 24 career 50-point games, third most in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain (118) and Michael Jordan (31)

37: This season he became the first player age 37 or older to score at least 25 points in three straight games since Michael Jordan (aged 40) in 2003

24.97: Career points per-game average, 12th all-time

24: Jersey number beginning in the 2006-07 season after switching from No 8

20: Seasons with the Lakers, the most with one team in NBA history

18: Consecutive All-Star Game selections (the longest streak in NBA history) and All-Star Game selections overall (the second most all-time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 19)

16: Appearances on Christmas Day, the most in NBA history

15: All-Star Game starts, the most in NBA history

13: Overall selection by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft - he was traded for centre Vlade Divac

11: All-NBA First Team selections, tied with Karl Malone for the most in NBA history

9: NBA All-Defensive First Team selections, tied with Kevin Garnett, Michael Jordan and Gary Payton for the most in NBA history

5: NBA championships, tied with Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs for the highest total among active players

4: All-Star MVP Awards (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011), tied with Bob Pettit for the most in NBA history

2: Finals MVP Awards (2009, 2010)

1: Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award (2007-08)

You can watch Kobe Bryant’s last game live on BT Sport 1 or via NBA League Pass from 3.30am Wednesday evening/Thursday morning

*all numbers correct before his final game against the Utah Jazz