Today’s Best Bet: Kobe Bryant Over 26.6 @1.91 – For old time’s sake…. – WIN
Feeling Lucky Bet: Kobe Bryant 24+ Points/Lakers WIN @6.50 – WIN
But now, it’s goodbye and farewell to an all-time great…
Hey there good punters. With the NBA regular season coming to an end we decided to not even try and predict the outcomes for each garbage game, but rather use today’s update as a tribute to the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant. Some of you Millennials out there are probably thinking “why waste time reminiscing on a washed up star?” and would rather look at the ‘now’, recognizing the Golden State Warriors on the verge of the All Time season win’s record…. That’s true, but its Kobe’s last game forever, and we are sure the Warriors will be front and center for many years to come.
So to Kobe…
For all of us basketball fans born in the 80s, we were a little late to the party for Magic and Bird or the Bad Boy Pistons, but were treated to the GOAT in Michael Jordan, and the coinciding rise of basketball cards. 
However, by 1998 our superstar retired (again), and we were left wanting another to follow and mimic on the courts. Shaq was around, Grant Hill started getting the injuries and the powers in David Robinson and Hakeem were winding up. Then came Kobe…..who ultimately picked up the baton dropped by MJ, and kept the show going.
You either love him or severely hate him, but for all NBA fans, you can at least admire him for making the following 20 years post the second MJ retirement a must watch. Throwing scrunched up pieces of paper into the bin and calling “Kobe” will live on. For the gamers, he featured from NBA Live 1996 (as a secret player) all the way to the present – that’s a long history together. In that time, we have all had the debate with a friend or stranger of who is better, but the answer really is……….there is no answer.
We had Michael, and we will soon have had Kobe. Now we have Steph. Sorry, LeBron and KD aren’t too shabby either.
Not forgetting, we do sometimes forget how good some of the past players were, in your spare time do catch up on Orlando Shaq, T-Mac, C-Web and the Ultimate Jordan DVD set.
Here are our Top 5 Kobe Moments…
#5. Lakers vs Portland 2000 – buzzer beater/game winner – the beginning.
#4. Lakers vs Toronto 2013 – the Mamba doing his best T-Mac impression.
#3. The Pau Gasol Trade – Remember that morning, waking up to ESPN and Steven A Smith talking about Kwame being traded for Pau…. Some great viewing and some more rings.
#2. Lakers vs Phoenix 2006 Round 1 Playoffs – Even though LA would eventually be eliminated, this was the reason why you wanted the ball in Kobe’s hands at the end of a game.
#1. Lakers vs Toronto 2006 – 81 points. A few months prior, Kobe scored 62 in 3 quarters against the Mavs, so it was inevitable for him to go that next step in the record books.
Thanks for the memories…
See you in the playoffs Midfielders…
