Suns reflect on Kobe's historic career ahead of final matchup
PHOENIX -- During the early part of Kobe Bryant's NBA career in Los Angeles, Earl Watson played guard across town at UCLA.
But it was the then-19-year-old Bryant's relentless workouts on Watson's doorstep that left a lasting impression on Watson, who is now the Phoenix Suns' interim head coach. Watson said Bryant would practice every day on the UCLA campus from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. and then play a pickup game until 5:30.
"He set the tone for us as far as work ethic," Watson said. "He has never let anyone outwork him."
Now 37, Bryant will retire at the end of the season. His retirement tour makes its final stop in Phoenix Wednesday, when the Lakers star plays his last game against the Suns.
The game can be seen on FOX Sports Arizona and FOX Sports GO, starting at 6:30 p.m.
"He took his talents and combined it with his hard work, determination, his drive, his addiction to being great, and that's Kobe Bryant," Watson said.
Suns center Tyson Chandler came into the NBA five years after Bryant, battling him multiple times over the years and playing alongside him in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
"He was a special player and I was fortunate to be able to go up against him," Chandler said. "He's given the fans and the game so much. I'm glad he's getting the type of appreciation he deserves."
Bryant has had some incredible achievements in his long, prolific career -- five NBA championships, 18 NBA All-Star appearances and two Olympic gold medals. He scored 40 or more points 121 times, punctuated by an 81-point outburst in 2006 against the Toronto Raptors.
Suns center Alex Len, who was 3 when Bryant made his NBA debut, said he watched him play growing up and described seeing Bryantgo as a "bad feeling."
"You don't want somebody like Kobe Bryant, one of the biggest starts to retire, because everyone enjoys watching him play," said Len, who has been in the NBA with Bryant for three seasons.
During his 20-year career, Bryant was viewed as a fierce competitor who would sometimes rub opponents the wrong way. Watson, who faced Bryant multiple times during his 13 seasons as a player, said Bryant is misunderstood.
"He's the ultimate competitor," Watson said. "He's dedicated his mind as far as the soul to the body and the production of what you get is what you see now is the championships, the 80-plus-point games, the visuals and just this hatred among opposing teams."
Watson said Bryant's intimidation and intensity played a central role in his greatness.
"If you're doing the best you can do and dominating for your home team, every other opposing arena should hate you, so he's left his mark," Watson said. "Now in the end return, coming full circle, it's really love, because they just hate him because he just beat their team but they love him because they respect him, they appreciate him and they loved and wished he was on their team. So now he's getting his appreciation."
Asked for one word to describe Bryant, Watson chose the word "ineffable" defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as "too great, powerful, beautiful, etc., to be described or expressed."
Bryant will enter Talking Stick Resort Arena for the final time as a player Wednesday having played 1,333 games, 48,297 minutes and scoring 33,995 points in his 20 years in the NBA.
"He's blessed beyond, you can't even put it into words," Watson said.
