In his farewell stop in Salt Lake, he only scores five points. But his success over the years hinged on showing up long before tip-off.
SALT LAKE CITY – The pregame was standard swan song material. Kobe Bryant was introduced to a mixed chorus of boos and cheers, but soon the cheers won out. Chants of “Kobe! Kobe!” arose, then quickly died.
That’s how it always was with Bryant. Jazz fans hated him. But it was undeniable they were seeing one of the history’s greatest players. So it went, the home franchise trying to show respect for the retiring star, without letting him own the evening.