Due to nagging shoulder pains, Kobe Bryant left last night's game against the Denver Nuggets after less than a quarter of action, but that didn't stop him from hooking a few young fans up with an unforgettable parting gift on his way out.
As the Lakers fell 107-117 to the Nuggets in Bryant's final appearance in the Pepsi Center, Bryant decided to have some fun with a group of fans. Instead of simply handing over the signed pair of Nike Kobe 11 PEs, the Mamba made them work for it. "They earned them," Bryant told The Denver Post.
"They wanted to know what the name of my pet dog was so I gave them a clue. I said 'it's in a (Harry) Potter film.' So every time, they threw out like 15 names. The deal was if they got it, I'd give them my shoes. And they got it," Bryant said. The winner "Crucio," the name of Bryant's black Labrador Retriever.
Now, with last night's loss behind them, the Lakers begin a lengthy home stretch before heading to Phoenix on March 23.
