NBA's Kobe Bryant Scores 60 Points in Farewell Game
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant solutes as he acknowledges fans after the last NBA basketball game of his career, against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, April 13, 2016.
Kobe Bryant played the final game of his legendary 20-year career with the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday night.
The 37-year-old Bryant scored a season-high 60 points to rally the Lakers from a 15-point deficit to a 101-96 victory over the visiting Utah Jazz at Staples Center in front of thousands of fans -- including Oscar-winning actor Jack Nicholson -- who paid thousands of dollars a ticket for a chance to witness Bryant's last game wearing the Lakers's purple-and-gold uniform.
Bryant -- who told the crowd after the game that he "grew up a die-hard Laker fan" -- spent his entire 20 years with the storied franchise, the longest stretch any player has spent with one team in NBA history.
The Hall-of-Fame career of the man known as "The Black Mamba" includes five NBA championships -- including three consecutive titles between 2000-2002 -- and two consecutive Finals most valuable player awards. He also played in 18 straight All-Star games, and was named the league's most valuable player for the 2007-08 season.
Kobe Bryant Says Farewell to the NBA
1/12Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant waves to the crowd during a ceremony before Bryant's last NBA basketball game, against the Utah Jazz in Los Angeles, April 13, 2016.
2/12Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant solutes as he acknowledges fans after the last NBA basketball game of his career, against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, April 13, 2016.
3/12Western Conference forward Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (24) shoots over Eastern Conference player Carmelo Anthony (7) in the first half of the NBA All-Star Game at the Air Canada Center, Feb. 14, 2016. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
4/12Eastern Conference forward LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (left) greets Western Conference forward Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (right) before the NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Center, Feb. 14, 2016. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
5/12Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Jan. 4, 2015, in Los Angeles, California.
6/12Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) holds up the game ball and acknowledges the crowd during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after passing Michael Jordan on the NBA all-time scoring list, in Minneapolis, Dec. 14, 2014.
7/12Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) wears a t-shirt during warm ups before the game against the Sacramento Kings to show support for the family of Eric Garner at Staples Center, Dec. 9, 2014.
8/12Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant smiles during a media availability before an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Nov. 26, 2013, in Washington.
9/12Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, center, grabs Ron Artest on the bench as Pau Gasol, right, smiles during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Nov. 17, 2010.
10/12Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher, center, holds the Larry O'Brien Trophy as Kobe Bryant, right, holds the MVP trophy as they celebrate after beating the Boston Celtics, 83-79, in Game 7 of the NBA basketball finals, June 17, 2010, in Los Angeles.
11/12President Barack Obama stands with Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Jan. 25, 2010, during a ceremony honoring the 2009 NBA basketball champions Los Angeles Lakers.
12/12Basketball great Bill Russell, left, shares a laugh with Kobe Bryant, of the Los Angeles Lakers, at All-Star Saturday Night, a part of NBA All-Star weekend in Las Vegas, Feb. 17, 2007.
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Bryant is third on the NBA's all-time scoring list, one notch above the legendary Michael Jordan. His 33,643 points included 25 games in which he scored at least 50 points, and six where he scored at least 60 points, including Wednesday's farewell performance. Bryant's most memorable game was an 81-point scoring night against the Toronto Raptors.
He also has two Olympic gold medals, playing on the United States team in 2008 and 2012.
But Bryant's career was nearly derailed in 2003 when a young woman in Colorado accused him of rape. Prosecutors charged him sexual assault and false imprisonment, but the charges were dropped after his accuser decided not to testify.
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