Like every other game this year, Kobe Bryant wasn't at morning shootaround before the Lakers' season finale, but the retiring icon had his fingerprints all over the session.
A horde of media from varying states and countries packed the El Segundo practice facility and huddled around head coach Byron Scott.
“Twenty unbelievable years in this NBA,” Scott said. “The things that he’s accomplished — tonight is all about Kobe, and it should be.”
The Lakers have numerous plans for Bryant's final night, but Scott chose to keep silent on those, as well as how many minutes he plans to play the 20-year veteran.
“Like I told him,” Scott said, “’This is the last hurrah. Let’s have some fun and go out with a bang.’”
Scott maintained that the moment will likely hit Bryant at some time that night, be it while addressing the Staples Center crowd, his teammates or otherwise.
Bryant's longtime teammate, Metta World Peace, suspects that he is ready for the occassion.
“I can’t see Kobe being affected,” World Peace said. “He prepared for this. This is what he wanted. It’s not like a surprise to him. It’s a surprise for everybody else, and it’s very exciting for everybody.
“Maybe it’s bittersweet for him, but this is what he wanted since he was maybe 8 years old. He knew that this day was gonna come where he would retire and it was gonna be the biggest day ever.”
Once the final horn sounds, the Lakers officially enter the Post-Kobe Era. Though Scott and co. are focused, for the night, on honoring Bryant, they acknowledge that nearly unprecedented pressure will follow.
“There hasn’t been a void like this since Magic (Johnson),” Scott said. “Obviously there’s big shoes to fill for whoever attempts to carry this torch next.”
Likely, it will take a group effort to try to fill that hole. One player expected to help in that department is Jordan Clarkson, who referred to Bryant as his basketball "godfather."
“I’m just gonna say, ‘Thank you,’” Clarkson said. “I appreciate it, because he gave basketball to all of us. We watched him as kids growing up. He was our (Michael) Jordan.”