The good news for Nuggets fans who want to get a last look at L.A. Lakers star Kobe Bryant is that the Lakers still have both games of the season series left to play in Denver.
Bryant announced this season will be his last in a heartfelt poem on the Players Tribune on Sunday evening. He’ll get the farewell tour in most every NBA city he visits from here on out.
The Lakers play at Denver on Dec. 22 and March 2.
It will also be interesting to see how much oomph the Nuggets give it in recognizing Bryant’s brilliant career, given Bryant’s sexual assault case that played out just two hours away in Eagle. Though those charges were dropped, he remains a controversial figure in the Mile High City.
Still, this is an on-court thing, and few in the history of the game have been better than Bryant. His accolades include five NBA titles, two NBA Finals MVPs, one NBA MVP award, four All-Star Game MVPs and 17 All-Star selections.
“With 17 NBA All-Star selections, an NBA MVP, five NBA championships with the Lakers, two Olympic gold medals and a relentless work ethic, Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in the history of our game,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “Whether competing in the Finals or hoisting jump shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the game.
“I join Kobe’s millions of fans around the world in congratulating him on an outstanding NBA career and thank him for so many thrilling memories.”
Follow Chris Dempsey on Twitter @dempseypost or email him at cdempsey@denverpost.com
