They say you don't realize you're making history while you're living in the moment. But on April 13, 2016, millions of people watched history being made and not one, but two eras coming to an end.
April 13, 2016: Kobe Bryant, age 37, ended his 20-year professional career with a win at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif. Finishing out his last season with an astonishing 60 points, The Black Mamba broke the record for most points scored in a final regular season game.
"What's funny... The thing that had me cracking up all night long was the fact that I go through 20 years of everybody screaming to pass the ball and then the last night, they're like, 'Don't pass it!'"
- Kobe Bryant
April 13, 2016: The Golden State Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. By doing so, the Warriors have broken the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls record of most wins in a regular season. Members of the Bulls team at this time included greats such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Steve Kerr, who is the current coach of the Golden State Warriors.
Not only was this record broken by the Warriors, but point guard, Steph Curry, set a record for most three-pointers made in a regular season. No one has been able to make more than 300 in a single season.
Both of these momentous accomplishments occurring on the same night has to be divine intervention. What a great night for basketball fans. And even if you aren't that big of a basketball fan, you can't deny that something special happened in California.
Two eras of basketball ended almost simultaneously in one night. While Michael Jordan will forever be deemed as possibly the greatest basketball player of all time, we witnessed his era come to a close, in a way. And, ironically, we saw Kobe Bryant's career do the same. But, at the same time, we see a new generation of stars being born. The Golden State Warriors breaking the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls record of most wins in a regular season solidifies the beginning of a new era of basketball legends.
Personally, I'm sad to see Kobe retire. I grew up watching him play for the Lakers and even had the opportunity to see him play during his final season. However, I'm excited for what the future of the NBA holds.
Congratulations to Kobe Bryant and to the Warriors!
