The “Kobe Bryant Swan Song” is in full swing as the NBA prepares for the Black Mamba to retire at the end of this 2015-16 season.
All-Star game snubs and opposing teams giving full blown dedications will always be the norm when a player of Bryant’s caliber decides to call it quits. But one of the final players who’s still playing from when Bryant first started playing, San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan, is still maintaining the laser focus away from distractions. This time, the focus was on facing Bryant’s team, the Los Angeles Lakers instead of focusing on the festivities involving Bryant. The Spurs defeated the Lakers 119-113.
From Los Angeles Times
Spurs center Tim Duncan isn’t sad he played Kobe Bryant for the last time Saturday. In fact, Duncan, in his 19th NBA season, said after the game that he felt “no emotions” at all.
“I’m here to play a game and win a game. I’m not worried about that stuff,” Duncan said when asked what it was like to face Bryant a final time. “He’s a great competitor over the years, but this wasn’t about him. It was about us trying to get back on track.”
When asked again if he was sad, Duncan reiterated that he was not sad nor worried and ready to move on.
But when asked once again whether he felt sad that he would never again share the court with Bryant, Duncan responded, “No,” and raised an eyebrow when reporters still appeared befuddled.
“Why is that a surprise?” Duncan continued. “No. We played for many years. It’s been great. We’re moving on.”
