This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/finally-kobe-bryant-can-be-one-of-the-guys/2016/02/14/e5b6f354-d2c5-11e5-b2bc-988409ee911b_story.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Finally, Kobe Bryant can be one of the guys | Finally, Kobe Bryant can be one of the guys |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| TORONTO — At halftime of his 18th and final NBA All-Star Game, Kobe Bryant played one-on-one with the sons of Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade. He used to want to embarrass their fathers. On Sunday, with the sports world glued to the most star-studded stop of his retirement tour, he let Lil’ CP3 steal the basketball from him. | TORONTO — At halftime of his 18th and final NBA All-Star Game, Kobe Bryant played one-on-one with the sons of Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade. He used to want to embarrass their fathers. On Sunday, with the sports world glued to the most star-studded stop of his retirement tour, he let Lil’ CP3 steal the basketball from him. |
| The 6-year-old looked amazed. Daddy cheered. Bryant smiled, happy to share his moment. | The 6-year-old looked amazed. Daddy cheered. Bryant smiled, happy to share his moment. |
| At the end, the man who taught an era of chummy stars how to compete— camaraderie be damned — is finally one of the guys, willing to be embraced, willing to do some embracing himself. | At the end, the man who taught an era of chummy stars how to compete— camaraderie be damned — is finally one of the guys, willing to be embraced, willing to do some embracing himself. |
| That’s why this event was special. Bryant didn’t have a magical performance in him. He missed 7 of 11 shots, but he managed 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the West’s 196-173 victory over the East — don’t worry, the score is much lower after you calculate the exchange rate — at Air Canada Centre. On a court with the league’s best, the 37-year-old Bryant looks as mortal as his 34.9 percent shooting this season suggests. Still, this was a profound goodbye. | That’s why this event was special. Bryant didn’t have a magical performance in him. He missed 7 of 11 shots, but he managed 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the West’s 196-173 victory over the East — don’t worry, the score is much lower after you calculate the exchange rate — at Air Canada Centre. On a court with the league’s best, the 37-year-old Bryant looks as mortal as his 34.9 percent shooting this season suggests. Still, this was a profound goodbye. |
| It was meaningful because you saw the renegade competitor relax. Bryant isn’t a fraternity brother. He isn’t a partner; just ask Shaquille O’Neal. He isn’t a bestie. For the past 20 years, he has been the greatest frenemy in the NBA. His basketball associates respect and envy him, but when they refer to him as the Michael Jordan of this era, they’re not conveying reverence as much as intimidation. Dig deeper, and only a few all-stars consider Bryant their favorite or most influential player. Mostly, he’s the killer that they’re too nice — or too stable — to be. | It was meaningful because you saw the renegade competitor relax. Bryant isn’t a fraternity brother. He isn’t a partner; just ask Shaquille O’Neal. He isn’t a bestie. For the past 20 years, he has been the greatest frenemy in the NBA. His basketball associates respect and envy him, but when they refer to him as the Michael Jordan of this era, they’re not conveying reverence as much as intimidation. Dig deeper, and only a few all-stars consider Bryant their favorite or most influential player. Mostly, he’s the killer that they’re too nice — or too stable — to be. |
| [With Wizards languishing, Wall takes his place among stars] | [With Wizards languishing, Wall takes his place among stars] |
| Here’s how Bryant used to treat his fellow superstar: One summer in their early 20s, Bryant and Tracy McGrady went overseas on an Adidas promotional tour. Following their daily appearances, they would train together every afternoon, the NBA’s best young shooting guards ignoring the growing “Who’s better?” debate and pushing each other to improve. McGrady thought these were friendly workouts. Bryant grinned and waited to catch T-Mac off guard. | Here’s how Bryant used to treat his fellow superstar: One summer in their early 20s, Bryant and Tracy McGrady went overseas on an Adidas promotional tour. Following their daily appearances, they would train together every afternoon, the NBA’s best young shooting guards ignoring the growing “Who’s better?” debate and pushing each other to improve. McGrady thought these were friendly workouts. Bryant grinned and waited to catch T-Mac off guard. |
| After one busy afternoon, both tired stars trudged back to the hotel, and Bryant suggested that they skip the training session. McGrady hesitated, Bryant insisted, and they agreed their bodies needed a break. Several hours later, McGrady and a friend were walking and came upon the gym they had adopted on the road. They looked inside. | After one busy afternoon, both tired stars trudged back to the hotel, and Bryant suggested that they skip the training session. McGrady hesitated, Bryant insisted, and they agreed their bodies needed a break. Several hours later, McGrady and a friend were walking and came upon the gym they had adopted on the road. They looked inside. |
| There was Bryant, the man who convinced T-Mac to take a day off, grinding. Liar. Schemer. Competitor. McGrady shook his head and kept walking. | There was Bryant, the man who convinced T-Mac to take a day off, grinding. Liar. Schemer. Competitor. McGrady shook his head and kept walking. |
| That Kobe has already retired. | That Kobe has already retired. |
| “I’m happy,” Bryant said. “This is pretty cool. I’m looking around the room and seeing guys that I’m playing with that are tearing the league up that were, like, 4 during my first All-Star Game. It’s true. I mean, how many players can say they’ve played 20 years and actually have seen the game go through three, four generations, you know what I mean? It’s not sad at all. I’m really happy and honored to be here and see this.” | “I’m happy,” Bryant said. “This is pretty cool. I’m looking around the room and seeing guys that I’m playing with that are tearing the league up that were, like, 4 during my first All-Star Game. It’s true. I mean, how many players can say they’ve played 20 years and actually have seen the game go through three, four generations, you know what I mean? It’s not sad at all. I’m really happy and honored to be here and see this.” |
| Only Bryant, the often cold-shouldered icon, could unthaw in the sub-zero Canadian climate this weekend. It was the perfect all-star farewell for him, a player who grew up in Italy highlighting the first all-star event outside of the United States, an athlete who starred in Jordan’s last All-Star Game 13 years ago, handing the league over to the current greats. | Only Bryant, the often cold-shouldered icon, could unthaw in the sub-zero Canadian climate this weekend. It was the perfect all-star farewell for him, a player who grew up in Italy highlighting the first all-star event outside of the United States, an athlete who starred in Jordan’s last All-Star Game 13 years ago, handing the league over to the current greats. |
| As difficult as some of Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers teammates found it to build rapport with him, it was an impossible task for the league’s other co-stars. Jordan became a phenomenon upon arrival, and for more than half of his NBA career, he was the unquestioned best player in the game. Bryant has had far more personal rivalries. Not imaginary, LaBradford Smith scores to settle — real competitions. | As difficult as some of Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers teammates found it to build rapport with him, it was an impossible task for the league’s other co-stars. Jordan became a phenomenon upon arrival, and for more than half of his NBA career, he was the unquestioned best player in the game. Bryant has had far more personal rivalries. Not imaginary, LaBradford Smith scores to settle — real competitions. |
| If Bryant wasn’t trying to ditch McGrady, it was Vince Carter or Allen Iverson or LeBron James or Dwyane Wade or Kevin Durant. His fight with O’Neal for top-dog status on the Lakers was public and sometimes vicious, but these other confrontations were subtle. He wasn’t mean, but he wasn’t warm, either. And unlike with Shaq, Bryant didn’t have to apologize for competing with these stars. It seemed he always would come to events such as the All-Star Game with something to prove. | If Bryant wasn’t trying to ditch McGrady, it was Vince Carter or Allen Iverson or LeBron James or Dwyane Wade or Kevin Durant. His fight with O’Neal for top-dog status on the Lakers was public and sometimes vicious, but these other confrontations were subtle. He wasn’t mean, but he wasn’t warm, either. And unlike with Shaq, Bryant didn’t have to apologize for competing with these stars. It seemed he always would come to events such as the All-Star Game with something to prove. |
| But then his body fell apart as he got older. Missing the end of three seasons because of injury has humbled Bryant. Missing the last two all-star events has left him pining for the camaraderie that other players consider the prime perk of being elite. | But then his body fell apart as he got older. Missing the end of three seasons because of injury has humbled Bryant. Missing the last two all-star events has left him pining for the camaraderie that other players consider the prime perk of being elite. |
| [Early Lead: The latest on the NBA trade deadline] | [Early Lead: The latest on the NBA trade deadline] |
| It’s hard to count stars because there are so many scattered in the sky. Bryant spent most of 20 years trying to ensure that he was memorable, trying to create his own constellation. Now he can look at the entire sky and see the beauty. Where is he? It doesn’t matter anymore. For two more months, he’s still a vibrant part of something special. | It’s hard to count stars because there are so many scattered in the sky. Bryant spent most of 20 years trying to ensure that he was memorable, trying to create his own constellation. Now he can look at the entire sky and see the beauty. Where is he? It doesn’t matter anymore. For two more months, he’s still a vibrant part of something special. |
| “He’s just a little bit more loose,” Durant said of Bryant. “I think years before, on teams that were playoff and championship contenders, he would talk, but he knew it was all about business once he left. So he didn’t want to open up too much and be looked at as, I guess, ‘soft’ in his words. He just opened up more. These last few years, he’s been more of a big brother to us all, and I wish we could have more time around him, but we cherish what we have now and appreciate all he’s done.” | “He’s just a little bit more loose,” Durant said of Bryant. “I think years before, on teams that were playoff and championship contenders, he would talk, but he knew it was all about business once he left. So he didn’t want to open up too much and be looked at as, I guess, ‘soft’ in his words. He just opened up more. These last few years, he’s been more of a big brother to us all, and I wish we could have more time around him, but we cherish what we have now and appreciate all he’s done.” |
| Bryant isn’t fighting against the game anymore. He made his mark. He played long enough to see the NBA rise from a sport of eroding appeal to one flourishing with style again. | Bryant isn’t fighting against the game anymore. He made his mark. He played long enough to see the NBA rise from a sport of eroding appeal to one flourishing with style again. |
| After a night that began with “Ko-beee! Ko-beee! Ko-beee!” chants, two video tributes and several bursts of applause, Bryant exited the game with 1 minute 6 seconds remaining. West Coach Gregg Popovich told Anthony Davis to sub for Bryant so he could have one last moment. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant waved for the crowd to get loud. Bryant pounded his heart and gestured to an audience on its feet. Then he hugged all of his teammates — not his adversaries — as he went to the bench. | After a night that began with “Ko-beee! Ko-beee! Ko-beee!” chants, two video tributes and several bursts of applause, Bryant exited the game with 1 minute 6 seconds remaining. West Coach Gregg Popovich told Anthony Davis to sub for Bryant so he could have one last moment. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant waved for the crowd to get loud. Bryant pounded his heart and gestured to an audience on its feet. Then he hugged all of his teammates — not his adversaries — as he went to the bench. |
| At last, Bryant can get some of the rest that he tricked McGrady into taking more than a decade ago. It doesn’t matter what the other stars are doing now. They’re his friends, once and for all. | At last, Bryant can get some of the rest that he tricked McGrady into taking more than a decade ago. It doesn’t matter what the other stars are doing now. They’re his friends, once and for all. |
| For more by Jerry Brewer, visit washingtonpost.com/brewer. | For more by Jerry Brewer, visit washingtonpost.com/brewer. |
| More NBA All-Star Game coverage: | More NBA All-Star Game coverage: |
| Winners and losers from All-Star Weekend | |
| NBA pays tribute (twice) to Kobe Bryant before the All-Star Game | NBA pays tribute (twice) to Kobe Bryant before the All-Star Game |
| Brewer: LeBron unlikely to leave NBA with as few regrets as Kobe | Brewer: LeBron unlikely to leave NBA with as few regrets as Kobe |
| Jordan gives Bryant the retirement gift to end all retirement gifts | Jordan gives Bryant the retirement gift to end all retirement gifts |
| LaVine defeats Gordon in epic NBA slam dunk contest duel | LaVine defeats Gordon in epic NBA slam dunk contest duel |
| K. Thompson dethrones Curry in three-point contest | K. Thompson dethrones Curry in three-point contest |