Although Kobe Bryant has been seen as the villain for most of his career, many fans have changed their opinions about the star. Hate him or spite him, whatever it is, it’s out the window. Kobe’s farewell tour has brought out all fans of the game to celebrate and appreciate his 20 year career.
The NBA All-Star Game was focused on Kobe’s last rodeo. Mingling and joking with other All-Stars, Kobe has always been surrounded by the elite members of the league. Stephen Curry is definitely in the conversation of the NBA’s best player and Kobe has voiced his opinion on where Steph stands in the league. According to Baxter Holmes of ESPN, Kobe believes Curry is the toughest player to guard:
Toughest player to guard in the NBA? @kobebryant says it has to be @StephenCurry30.
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) February 23, 2016
Curry is the reigning MVP and continues to be an offensive powerhouse. This season, he leads all players in scoring with 29.8 points per game. Not only is Curry lethal from the perimeter, his ability to get to the basket and to get his teammates involved created a monstrous Warriors squad. The Warriors are currently 50-5 and look to surpass the NBA’s best regular season record (Steve Kerr’s Chicago Bulls’ 72-10 record).
With the Los Angeles Lakers’ inability to compete at an elite level, Bryant’s send off has been bittersweet for the Mamba. The Lakers are 11-47 and look to keep their top 3 protected pick for the 2016 NBA Draft.