"You'd miss the first dozen attempts"- WWE superstar John Cena once trolled Kobe Bryant for his historic 60-point farewell game
WWE Superstar John Cena hosted 2016 ESPYs and trolled some of the biggest NBA players, including NBA and LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. The latter was in attendance when Cena took over the stage in 2016.
The 16x WWE World Champion trolled Bryant for missing a bunch of shots in his final game early on before he turned the heat up and dropped 60. Here's what Cena said (via T-Mac Highlights on YouTube):
"Kobe, my man! What a career... I'm excited too! I wanna run right down there and give you a high-five. I just really feel you'd miss like the first dozen attempts."
Bryant missed his first five shots of the game. He made only seven of 20 shots in the first half, including two-of-nine from 3-point range, tallying 22 points. The Lakers trailed 57-42 at halftime due to Kobe's streaky shooting.
However, the five-time NBA champion put the team on his back in the second half and turned back the clock. Bryant bagged 38 points in the final 24 minutes, shooting 15-of-30, including four three-pointers to tally a historic 60-point performance in his farewell game. The Lakers won the contest 101-96.
Kobe Bryant scored 15 of the Lakers' 17 points in the game's final three minutes, helping the team erase an eight-point deficit in that stretch and win the contest.
Kobe Bryant's Hollywood finish to NBA career will likely remain unmatched
Kobe Bryant's decline was brutal. The one-time MVP award recipient struggled with a series of long-term injuries towards the end of his career and failed to make the playoffs in his final three seasons. Kobe played only six games in 2013-14 and 35 in 2014-15. He played 66 in his final season but was far from the player he was in his last full season in 2012-13.
Bryant averaged 17.6 points per game on 35.8% field goal shooting in 2015-16. Entering his final career game, nobody expected him to go off for 60. Not even close. However, the Black Mamba had one last special performance left in him.
Bryant went out on his terms, dropping the sixth 60-point game of his career in his final game. Fans were a bit tense about the Lakers succumbing to one of the worst losses in league history after Bryant went solo and missed a bunch of shots early on.
However, Kobe Bryant ensured that wouldn't happen on his watch as he willed the Lakers to a win one last time in the final game of his illustrious career. The ending was fitting for a legend like him, who had been a true professional throughout his NBA journey.
To this date, it remains the greatest farewell performance ever and one that could be unmatched for ages.