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MANILA, Philippines – As Kobe Bryant took to the court for the last time in his storied career, stars bid farewell and joined an outpour of support for the illustrious Los Angeles Lakers player. (READ: Lakers fans pay emotional farewell to Kobe Bryant)
Bryant, a 5-time NBA (National Basketball Association) champion famously known as the Black Mamba, scored 60 points to help propel the Lakers to a victory over the Utah Jazz, 101-96, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 13 (Thursday, April 14 in Manila). (WATCH: Kobe Bryant torches Jazz for 60 in final NBA game)
Mamba out. April 14, 2016″>
“The performance was vintage Kobe Bryant,” Rappler’s Naveen Ganglani wrote, as the Lakers player “shot jumper after another to hurt Utah as his Lakers crept back and stole the victory in the 1,566th game of his NBA life.”
April 13, aptly named as “Mamba Day,” was a fitting last hurrah for the Black Mamba, and stars, A-listers, and athletes flocked to the Staples Center – and even those far from Los Angeles voiced out their tributes to the now-retired NBA legend. US President Barack Obama called the evening of April 13 “a big night of basketball,” mentioning that it was a “farewell for all-timer” but he also took note of the Golden State Warriors’ spectacular end to the 2015-2016 NBA season with a 73-9 record, surpassing the one set by Michael Jordan and the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls. Big night of basketball – @Warriors chasing 73 and a farewell for an Congrats to the @Warriors, a great group of guys on and off the court. If somebody had to break the Bulls’ record, I’m glad it’s them.@KobeBryant reflects after an incredible final performance April 14, 2016″>
all-timer, @KobeBryant. NBA fans feeling like: pic.twitter.com/hvno2ZO5b0
In a tribute aired by Fox Sports, Taylor Swift said (as quoted by The Daily Mail), “I want to say congratulations on a legendary, outstanding career.”
Rapper Kanye West called Bryant a “God,” as he personally attended the game, sporting a purple and gold Pablo-inspired shirt to boot.
At the God’s last game pic.twitter.com/eucluEFOFX
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 14, 2016
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 14, 2016
Mr. West is in the building! #ThankYouKobe pic.twitter.com/aEvTijOLxG
— NBA (@NBA) April 14, 2016
He sat beside former Lakers player Lamar Odom.
Kanye and Lamar Odom at the Lakers game tonight pic.twitter.com/UFaGbA5e5h
— Kanye Direct (@KanyeDirect) April 14, 2016
He even posed for a photo with Jay-Z and marketing executive Steve Stoute.
Kanye with Jay Z and Steve Stoute at the Lakers game tonight pic.twitter.com/K0in3eY5SC
— Kanye Direct (@KanyeDirect) April 14, 2016
Jay-Z tweeted, “Mamba out!”
Mamba out!
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) April 14, 2016
This photo of him at the Staples Center was taken by ESPN senior writer Arash Markazi:
Jay Z taking his courtside seat before Kobe’s last game. pic.twitter.com/tTyIS9DMt5
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 14, 2016
Here, he poses with rapper Kendrick Lamar and Q.
Q, Jay & Kendrick in the building for Kobe! #ThankYouKobe pic.twitter.com/CtUHeYQGln
— NBA (@NBA) April 14, 2016
Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine tweeted, “Kobe. Legend. Thank you for 20 years of inspiration.”
Kobe. Legend. Thank you for 20 years of inspiration. #MAMBA
— Adam Levine (@adamlevine) April 14, 2016
He was also spotted with wife Behati Prinsloo at the game, as seen in this photo snapped by ESPN Sports Business correspondent Darren Rovell.
Courtside at Lakers game: Adam Levine & Behati Prinsloo pic.twitter.com/p5Z1vEKh45
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 14, 2016
Justin Timberlake tweeted a photo of him with the NBA legend at Game 7 of the 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinals.
#MambaDay https://t.co/mu1LPz1Ckc
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) April 13, 2016
Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel tweeted, “I didn’t think the finale of Breaking Bad could ever be topped, but you did Lakers.”
Wow @kobebryant – I didn’t think the finale of Breaking Bad could ever be topped, but you did #Lakers
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) April 14, 2016
Snoop Dogg posted a selfie at the game:
R&B singer Ne-Yo tweeted an old video of Kobe in action:
#MambaDay pic.twitter.com/fqTqojNkpv
— NE-YO (@NeYoCompound) April 13, 2016
Singer-actress Brandy, who Bryant once took to prom when she was 17, wrote a heartfelt tribute along with a photo of him at a LA Lakers-Houston Rockets game.
She wrote about her good friend, “I wish today wasn’t real. I encourage you to let go and Let God tonight! We are all so very proud of you Bean, you have NOTHING to prove!!!”
Singer Demi Lovato couldn’t help but cuss about Kobe’s performance at his final game.
#ThankYouKobe still gotta play that game of horse soon @kobebryant
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) April 14, 2016
SHUT THE FUCK UP WITH THIS GAME RIGHT NOW #ThankYouKobe
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) April 14, 2016
Actor Wilmer Valderrama tweeted, “It’s been a real privilege to witness the journey & legacy of your heart for the sport. Officially immortal.”
.@kobebryant, it’s been a real privilege to witness the journey & legacy of your heart for the sport. Officially immortal @Lakers #MambaOut
— Wilmer Valderrama (@WValderrama) April 14, 2016
Lakers superfan Jack Nicholson appeared on TV to say, “You don’t know what you had until you don’t have it. Fortunately, we do know what we had.”
“You don’t know what you had until you don’t have it. Fortunately, we do know what we had.” – Jack Nicholson https://t.co/RA2W4fIMVp
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 14, 2016
Maria Shriver, NBC anchor and the estranged wife of former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, shared that her son (she didn’t specify whether it’s Patrick or Christopher) “Doesn’t know what to do with himself” after Bryant’s last game. She also said that she felt the same, but congratulated Bryant for an “impressive cap to an impressive career.”
My son says @kobebryant has played basketball his entire life & he doesn’t know what to do w/ himself now that he’s retiring I don’t either!
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) April 12, 2016
Congratulations @kobebryant Impressive cap to an impressive career #FarewellKobe #ThankYouKobe #MambaDay #LivingLegend @Lakers
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) April 14, 2016
Knowing when to go and how to go out!!! @kobebryant did it right. Bravo What a game, what a career #MambaDay #ThankYouKobe
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) April 14, 2016
She also congratulated the Golden State Warriors.
And congrats to another California team @warriors broke the @NBA record tonight!! Go #California #Warriors #GoldenStateWarriors
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) April 14, 2016
Bryant’s fellow athletes saluted him, too.
Cleveland Cavaliers player LeBron James shared his photo with Bryant, where both of them were wearing the kit of the national team.
Football player David Beckham posted a photo of him and Bryant, and wrote, “It’s been an honor watching this man win championships and to have done it in style just the way this city expects… Easier said than done… Congrats my friend on a career that many people dream of.”
He also attended the game.
Celebs in the house for @kobebryant final game @adamlevine @SnoopDogg #DavidBeckham pic.twitter.com/AKOLjNk8l0
— STAPLES Center (@STAPLESCenter) April 14, 2016
Tennis player and Nike endorser Rafael Nadal sported a black and gold pair of Nike shoes, with “4.13.16,” Mamba Day, embroidered on it.
Honoring a legend #mambaday #justdoit @nikecourt pic.twitter.com/EmS4pp4yRb
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) April 13, 2016
#mambaday #justdoit pic.twitter.com/kxv7ZInhC4
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) April 10, 2016
Renowned golf player Tiger Woods, “a diehard Lakers fan,” thanked Kobe “for all the memories and of course the 5 titles.”
As a diehard @Lakers fan, thank you @kobebryant for all the memories and of course the 5 titles! pic.twitter.com/XsNb8Giy7Q
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 12, 2016
Filipino stars who tuned into the game paid tribute as well.
Liza Soberano shared that Enrique Gil was “literally crying about Kobe Bryant leaving,” and found it “so cute.”
Quen’s literally crying about @kobebryant leaving. Hahahaha so cute #MambaOut
— Hope Elizabeth (@lizasoberano) April 14, 2016
Actress Sarah Lahbati tweeted, “So much love and respect for Kobe.”
so much love and respect for kobe… #mambaout
— Sarah Lahbati (@SarahLahbati) April 14, 2016
TV host Bianca Gonzales-Intal, the wife of local basketball player JC Intal tweeted, “What a way to end a career!!!”
What a way to end a career!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #MambaDay
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) April 14, 2016
“What can I say? Mamba out.” NAKAKAIYAK. #MambaDay
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) April 14, 2016
YouTube personality Mikey Bustos wrote, “I don’t follow basketball but I can feel on social media the great love and respect for a legend who brought the world happiness.”
I don’t follow basketball but I can feel on social media the great love and respect for a legend who brought the world happiness. #MambaDay
— Mikey Bustos (@MikeyBustos) April 14, 2016
Bogart the Explorer posted a funny photo of the “Philippine Kobe.”
– Rappler.com
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