Kobe Bryant is still trying to avoid having his farewell tour look like a farewell tour.
The Philadelphia 76ers did a nice pregame ceremony honoring their hometown guy Kobe — Dr. J presented him with a Lower Merion High School jersey — but that may be the last pregame ceremony we see. Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report has this little note.
Kobe has requested not to have any on-court ceremonies or gift presentations from opposing NBA teams. He does not want to detract from game.
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) December 4, 2015
So NBA teams wanting to honor Kobe when Lakers visit will be limited to video tributes or private moments. Kobe prefers business as usual.
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) December 4, 2015
Video tributes will be the norm, but some teams will try to do a little more. For example, the Lakers are in Atlanta Friday night, and the Hawks teamed up with the Atlanta Zoo to name their Black Mamba snake “Kobe.” I’m not making that up. I don’t speak Parseltongue, but I’m fairly sure snakes do not respond to having their name called.
There is going to be a buzz in the building wherever Kobe goes this season — tickets for Lakers games have been gobbled up and the prices now on the secondary markets are insane. Kobe may try to avoid the trappings of a farewell tour, but this is one nonetheless.