The regular season comes to an end.
The Minnesota Timberwolves also ushered in another opponent after the All-Star Game.
Different from the past, this opponent is Zhao Feiyang's former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and this game is also the last game of Kobe Bryant's career when he officially decided to retire.
This time, the Timberwolves head to the Staples Center to challenge the Lakers.
Before the official start of the game between the two sides, fans were already waiting inside and outside the arena, looking forward to this important moment of Kobe's retirement.
call out.
After a brief exchange between the two sides before the game, the game officially started.
Perhaps this was the last time he stood on a professional court, and Kobe was much more enthusiastic about offense than before. After his teammates dribbled the ball through half court, Kobe stood at the top of the key and asked for the ball to look for offensive opportunities.
Zhao Feiyang didn't talk nonsense. He switched to guarding Kobe with his teammates, and he personally watched Kobe one-on-one to prevent him from attacking.
The two squared off at the top of the arc.
Kobe was still playing post-up as usual. Upon seeing this, Zhao Feiyang immediately moved over and kept reaching out to interfere.
Kobe was not frightened by his defensive actions, but instead began to use his body to try to knock Zhao Feiyang away.
However, Kobe was shocked by this collision.
"Zhao, when did your physical fitness become so strong?"
Kobe said in surprise.
Zhao Feiyang chuckled and shook his head, "No, I just did some simple training..."
Kobe thought it was true and laughed helplessly, "In this case, it looks like I am really old..."
Having said that, Kobe did not relax at all. He turned around suddenly after starting a single. Seeing that he was about to make a shooting action in the next second, Zhao Feiyang jumped high and rushed towards him. Unexpectedly, Kobe had no intention of shooting directly.
After Zhao Feiyang jumped up, Kobe feinted and took advantage of the situation to take action.
Uh-huh.
A fadeaway mid-range shot hit the basket steadily.
Kobe's shot drew cheers and shouts from the crowd.
In the past ten years or so, this man has done this countless times in the Staples Center.
Many people have been watching him play since they were students. Later, they married and had children, and now they can bring their children to watch the game together.
In this way, they accompanied the man, and that man has been devoting his youth to the Lakers.
There is no doubt that this "one person, one city" story will be an unforgettable memory for both Kobe and Lakers fans.
After Kobe Bryant scored, the Timberwolves quickly counterattacked.
Zach LaVine dribbled the ball across half court. After reaching the half court, the ball was handed over to Zhao Feiyang.
Zhao Feiyang did not give in this time and took the initiative to go to the top of the arc and wait for Kobe to mark him.
"Kobe, you are retiring soon... If I don't find more opportunities to play against you, I'm afraid it will be difficult to have the opportunity to play with you again..."
"Come on! Just think of it as satisfying the expectations of young people..."
Zhao Feiyang said to Kobe.
Kobe couldn't help but smile, and immediately pressed Zhao Feiyang to increase the intensity. He changed his previous lax defense and used almost all his strength to interfere with Zhao Feiyang's ball control.
Zhao Feiyang did not expect that the opponent would change so quickly, and he almost dropped the basketball in his hand at first.
Soon, he stabilized his steps, and after opening a little distance, faced with Kobe's marking interference, Zhao Feiyang started to swing directly with a cross step.
When Kobe stretched out his right hand to grab the ball again, Zhao Feiyang suddenly changed direction and pulled away. Kobe didn't expect it, and his body moved subconsciously. When Zhao Feiyang pulled the basketball back and Kobe followed suit, Zhao Feiyang's killer move finally came out.
"Oops!"
A long-lost sense of familiarity came to Kobe.
The next second, Zhao Feiyang used a cross step to get past Kobe and go straight to the basket.
When he rushed to the basket, the Lakers players inside didn't even react. Zhao Feiyang did not hesitate at all. He pulled a lever in mid-air to avoid the opponent's defense, and then accurately hit the ball on the backboard and fell into the basket.
The ball went in.
The scene was filled with exclamations of surprise.
The fans were shocked.
What everyone cared about was not that Zhao Feiyang could score the goal, but that Zhao Feiyang shook Kobe away. You know, there are too many people in the league who want to do this, but not many can succeed, especially those new generation players.
Even a first-class point guard like Irving was intercepted by Kobe during a one-on-one confrontation with Kobe.
"Oh! Did you see a ghost?"
"Damn! This guy shook off Kobe?"
"Damn the Lakers management! This guy has grown so fast? If we hadn't let him leave, the Lakers would still have the ability to win the championship... No matter how bad it is, we can still reach the Western Conference Finals... ..."
The fans exclaimed.
Kobe himself was stunned.
He turned his head to look at Zhao Feiyang, who scored the goal, and it seemed as if memories from a certain period were gradually being awakened in his mind, "This feeling... no, why does it look so much like Allen Iverson? It really does." Already..."
"At that peak, only guys like Allen Iverson could threaten me... How did this guy do it? Did Zhao learn from Iverson?"
Kobe looked confused.
But no matter what the truth is, Kobe is already shocked by Zhao Feiyang's changes!
In the past, he only thought that Zhao Feiyang was a star player below the All-Stars. Now, Zhao Feiyang's age is not a problem at all.
Everyone is being fooled by his age, but everyone is being slapped in the face by his realistic performance!
The game goes on.
Kobe's offense did not weaken at all. On the contrary, he seemed to be in the mood and kept taking the initiative to get into one-on-one situations with Zhao Feiyang.
Zhao Feiyang also enjoys such singles opportunities. Even if he is sometimes suppressed by Kobe's fadeaway jumper, he still chooses to keep marking and interfering.
The two of them fought like this against Maimang for almost two quarters.
At the end of the first half, Zhao Feiyang could finally take a quiet rest. As the protagonist of the scene, Kobe finally walked to the middle of the court under everyone's gaze.
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss walked out of the court in person. After the team general manager made a brief speech, Jeanie Buss went up in person to express her gratitude to Kobe.
The lights at the scene gradually dimmed, and the only beam of light was concentrated in the middle of the court. The live cameras continued to exchange images of Jenny Buss and Kobe Bryant's faces, and occasionally included the fans' reactions.
"I'm sorry that the Lakers' greatest player retired today. It's a huge loss for us and for the league..."
"From the day Kobe entered the league in 1996, I knew that this young man would change the world. Later, he really affected the entire league with his performance, and for the Lakers, he will always be the most diligent one. ..."
"He is the first to enter the gym for training and the last to leave. He will always sit there alone and watch videos, always looking for time to practice more, and looking for every opportunity to improve himself..."
"He is the totem of the Lakers, helping the Lakers bring many honors and five championships..."
While owner Jenny Buss was giving a speech, the fans in the audience cheered.
Kobe, who was sitting in the middle seat of the court, burst into tears from time to time.
At this time, he is finally leaving!
Leave this league where he has been for more than ten years, leave this stadium that he is extremely familiar with! This is undoubtedly hard to let go.
No matter what wrong things he has done in his career, no matter what grudges he has had off the court, from a basketball perspective alone, he is great.
He influenced countless people.
Jenny Buss's speech ended quickly, and the Staples Center Arena was immediately overwhelmed with applause. As the protagonist, Kobe also stood up from his chair and gave Jeanie Buss a hug.
Next it was Kobe's turn to speak.
With the audience watching, Kobe first wiped his tears and then calmed down his emotions.
"I never thought I would be leaving so soon! It seems like everything is still yesterday, as if I am still the young kid who just entered the league, as if I am still helping the Lakers win the championship..."
"Everything is so nostalgic! But when I look back, all my old friends have left, Ray Allen, Allen Iverson... .That string of names reminds me that it’s time for me to retire..."
"This is indeed a frustrating time! But from another perspective, now I can finally rest, eat a lot of things that I couldn't eat before, relax, take a vacation and travel around the world , live our two-person world like Vanessa..."
"If possible, I hope not to say goodbye. But I know that time flies by and my era has passed. Then, I will leave my blessings to those young people and the future of the league... I It’s the Black Mamba Kobe, thank you to those who support me and follow me…”
