The Kobe Bryant Farewell Tour may be happening, but the Lakers guard still has some clutch moments left in him.
Kobe’s legs and body may not be what they once were nearly two decades ago when he entered the league, but once a closer, always a closer, and the Wizards learned that lesson on Wednesday night.
Bryant dropped 31 points in the team’s 108-104 win, and he saved his best stuff for the final minute of the game. The Lakers trailed 99-98 with exactly one minute remaining, and they looked to their superstar. He delivered a clutch three-pointer to give them the lead.
oh hey Kobe. pic.twitter.com/Ogy3NpG5VA
— Tom (@TJFsports) December 3, 2015
And then with the game tied at 101-101, Bryant used one of his vintage moves, a stepback jumper, to give the Lakers the lead.
Kobe clutch shot to put Lakers up with 30 seconds pic.twitter.com/5Of6i4uTbn
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) December 3, 2015
It was a feat that Bryant hadn’t accomplished in a long time.
Tonight was the 3rd time in Kobe’s career that he made 2 go-ahead shots in the final minute of the 4Q. He hadn't done it in nearly 10 years.
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) December 3, 2015
The game was in Washington D.C., but the fans in attendance chanted “Ko-be!” after his jumper. That’s the type of respect he gets (and deservingly so).