Kobe Bryant wanted to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star game and based on the first returns, the Black Mamba will be around for his last performance with his fellow All-Star players.
Bryant amassed a whopping 719,325 votes, a wide disparity from second top vote getter Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors at 510,202, according to ESPN. Bryant's total was so huge that third top vote-getter LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers had barely half of his total votes.
As things stand now, the only way Bryant will not be appearing is if a major injury happens between now and February. It will be Bryant's 18th and final All-Star appearance before he finally calls it a day in the NBA by the end of the season.
The turnout, apparently, surprised Bryant. Unfortunately, not everyone shared the same reaction, believing that Bryant deserved a slot in the annual meet which should be another fitting send-off to the high scoring guard.
Curiously, Bryant was voted in as a small forward. It will mark the first time that he will start at that position where he is most likely to combine with Oklahoma City Thunder star forward Kevin Durant.
Durant garnered 349,473 votes, second to Bryant in the Western All-Star forward voting.
Such will also no longer require the assistance of NBA commissioner Adam Silver who made it known that he wanted Bryant in the All-Star game, which will take place in Toronto.
Silver was planning to do everything he could do on his end to make sure that Bryant will be around for the All-Star game, but it seems he doesn't have to resort to any kind of special treatment with the first returns.
Bryant's last appearance is likely to be met with a special ceremony as the NBA pays tribute to the 37-year-old future NBA Hall of Famer.
