Kobe Bryant’s 5 greatest moments vs the Washington Wizards

Kobe pulls out vintage performance in final trip to Washington

December 2, 2015

The Kobe Bryant farewell tour was something unlike anything we’ve seen. And given the new era of free agency, we may never see it again. Nearly every stop on the road the Lakers made during the 2015-16 season was something special. And Kobe’s final stop in Washington, D.C., was no different.

Unlike so many legends that once dominated the game, Kobe was far from a shell of his former self during that final season. No, he wasn’t showing off 2001 Finals levels of athleticism, or shades of his 2008 MVP-self. But he could still score with the league’s best and pull out a vintage performance every now and then.

On that December night in D.C., Kobe went deep into the bag of tricks to pull out a Lakers win in his final visit to Washington. Heading into the final quarter, the Wizards trailed the Lakers by just three points. As John Wall and company threatened to spoil Kobe’s farewell to Washington, the Wizards fans (and many, many Lakers fans) in attendance got a first-hand glimpse of the Mamba Mentality.

With the game on the line, Kobe scored 12 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, nailing clutch shot after clutch shot, and willing his Lakers to a victory. By the end of the game, “KO-BE!” chants filled the Verizon Center. And rightfully so.

The Lakers won, 108-104.

The Wizards, like so many other teams around the NBA, were often on the losing end when facing off against the Black Mamba. Even when Kobe didn’t get the best of the Wizards, he often made it memorable. For years, Wizards fans watched the virtuoso scorer, cursing under their breath and pleading for someone, anyone, to stop the man we all knew was going to shoot it.

There will never be another Kobe Bryant for as long as human beings (or any beings!) play basketball. And with that in mind, these highlights vs. the Wizards feel a little different these days. And I’m guessing they’ll feel that way forever.

Mamba Out.