On this day 7 years ago, Laker faithful witnessed the last moments of Kobe Bryant’s prime.
In a game that will forever be remembered by the NBA world, Kobe left it all out on the floor as he tore his Achilles late in the 4th quarter of a crucial game against the Warriors.
Seven years ago today, Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles.
He limped to the free throw line and knocked down two free throws.
One of his greatest displays of Mamba Mentality.
(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/riG8cKBxmn
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 12, 2020
Back in 2013, the Lakers were in a critical part of the season, needing to win seemingly every game just to have a shot at making the playoffs. Kobe looked superhuman down the stretch of the season, logging multiple 45+ minute games as he gave everything he had.
Throughout the game against the Warriors, Kobe seemed to take hard hit after hard hit. There were multiple times before the injury that he fell to the ground and used every ounce of strength he had to keep going. With how much he had been playing recently, everyone watching had a terrible feeling that on one of those falls there was a chance he wouldn’t be getting up. Well, they were right.
With 3:10 left in the game, Kobe was driving towards the basket when, after planting his left foot on the hardwood, he tumbled towards the ground. There was no recovering from this fall, as even Kobe knew right away what had happened.
Incredibly, he still managed to walk to the free-throw line and knock down his final two points of the season. This was the night that the Mamba Mentality was on full display like never before. Most people who tear an Achilles can’t even stand, let alone walk to the free-throw line and make a pair. Unfortunately, this would be the last of prime Kobe Bryant.
Kobe gave his entire life to the sport of basketball, and the world is better off for it. He taught players to give it their all, and that under no circumstances should they be afraid of the moment. His love for the game transcended every other part of him, and Lakers fans had the privilege to see it every day.
As we remember this game today, let’s appreciate what we had in him and make sure the Mamba mentality and spirit lives on.
