Mr. Kobe “Black Mamba” Bryant is retiring, and the world is celebrating him like the king that he is. The Mamba recently played his last All-Star game and was honored NBA-style by his greatest fans (and fellow All-Stars) at the The Gentlemen’s Supper Club, hosted by Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwayne Wade at Parcae Restaurant during NBA All-Stars weekend in Toronto.
Dressed to the elevens, the NBA superstars hit the stage of this intimate candlelit setting–as Kobe sat with his arm wrapped around his queen, wife Vanessa Bryant–and lined up with words of respect and a few gifts to help ease the great fade-away-thrower comfortably into retirement.
“I think one thing we all have in common,” LA Clipper and All-Star Chris Paul said, kicking it off, “is that at some point in our career, we all just wanted to earn his respect.”
Miami Heat’s Dwayne Wade took the mike and confessed, “When I entered the NBA 13 years ago, my goal was to have one person in the NBA look at me as an equal. And it was the best two-guard in the game. It was Kobe Bryant.”
He also thanked everyone for coming and said, “It was important for us to be able to have a moment to thank and appreciate one of our favorite players and one of the game’s greats.”
Chris Paul shared some pretty funny stories. They gave him a really sweet Black Mamba-themed lounge-wear, a cane, and some (probably astronomically expensive and amazing) booze. NY Knicks Carmelo Anthony rounded out the memorable evening by sharing from his heart.
“For him to take me under his wing during the Olympics,” said Anthony emotionally, “that meant more to me than [any advice or help] from anybody else. He’s like a mentor to me. He’s my advisor, my big brother, and I love him to death.”
So do we Carmelo. So do we.
