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Podcasts Take Two
Kobe Bryant's final game: Take Two listeners look back at a career Laker
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Apr 13, 2016
Listen • 15:14
Kobe Bryant's final game: Take Two listeners look back at a career Laker
Love him or hate him, Bryant has relished his role as both a hero and a villain. Take Two looks back at the good, the bad and the ugly of his two decades as a Los Angeles Laker.
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 02: (Editors Note: Image has been converted to black and white) Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Washington Wizards in the first half at Verizon Center on December 2, 2015 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Washington Wizards in the first half at Verizon Center on December 2, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Editors Note: Image has been converted to black and white)
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Rob Carr/Getty Images
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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 10: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers scores a basket against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on December 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers scores a basket against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on December 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
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Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
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Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates victory following Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena on June 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The Lakers won the National Basketball Association championships defeating Orlando 99-86 for their 15th title and first since 2002. Bryant had 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Lakers completed a four-games-to-one victory in the best-of-seven NBA Finals. AFP PHOTO / Emmanuel Dunand (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates victory following Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena on June 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The Lakers won the National Basketball Association championships defeating Orlando 99-86 for their 15th title and first since 2002. Bryant had 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Lakers completed a four-games-to-one victory in the best-of-seven NBA Finals.
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EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
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CHICAGO, UNITED STATES: Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant(L) and Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan(R) talk during a free-throw attempt during the fourth quarter 17 December at the United Center in Chicago. Bryant, who is 19 and bypassed college basketball to play in the NBA, scored a team-high 33 points off the bench, and Jordan scored a team-high 36 points. The Bulls defeated the Lakers 104-83. AFP PHOTO VINCENT LAFORET (Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant(L) and Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan(R) talk during a free-throw attempt during the fourth quarter 17 December at the United Center in Chicago. Bryant, who is 19 and bypassed college basketball to play in the NBA, scored a team-high 33 points off the bench, and Jordan scored a team-high 36 points. The Bulls defeated the Lakers 104-83.
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VINCENT LAFORET/AFP/Getty Images
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PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 19: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers adjusts his jersey during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on February 19, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 102-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers adjusts his jersey during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on February 19, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 102-90.
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Christian Petersen/Getty Images
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 17, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 17, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
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Christian Petersen/Getty Images
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Love him or hate him, Bryant has relished his role as both a hero and a villain. Take Two looks back at the good, the bad and the ugly of his two decades as a Los Angeles Laker.

Kobe Bryant wraps up his 20-year career with the Lakers at the Staples Center Wednesday night.

Bryant entered the NBA fresh out of high school at 17 and along the way won five titles, a pair of Olympic gold medals and a slew of individual honors.

He also will be remembered for his controversies — from a feud with Shaquille O'Neal to his arrest in connection with a sexual assault investigation.

Love him or hate him, Bryant has relished his role as both a hero and a villain.

The NBA star will be hitting career milestones in other ways Wednesday as the Lakers face the Utah Jazz.

As the Associated Press reports, even if he doesn't score a single point, he will finish with a nearly 25.0 career scoring average, and one free throw shot will put him at 10,000 for his career. Only four other players can claim that stat.

Tonight in Staples Center Kobe Bryant wraps up his twenty year Lakers career.

Kobe entered the NBA fresh out of high school at 17 and along the way won five titles, a pair of Olympic gold medals to go with a slew of individual honors.

He also will be remembered for his controversies such as his feud with Shaquille O'Neal and his arrest in connection with a sexual assault investigation.

Love him or hate him Bryant has relished his role as both a hero and villain. Today we look back at the good, the bad  and the ugly of Kobe's two decades as a Los Angeles Laker.

First we hear from you - our dear Take Two listeners. 

Via Facebook and Twitter, you weighed in with your memories... 

Many of our younger listeners were born after the hey-day of Michael Jordan, so for them, Kobe Bryant was their first huge hoops star. 

"Kobe Bryant to me is the greatest basketball player I've ever seen play," said Patrick Rodriguez. "The biggest games, the biggest spotlight. He didn't shy away from it. He had that killer instinct that you don't really see in the NBA anymore, or in sports really."

On the other hand we had Young-Sun Kim on Facebook who was less sentimental. He said of Kobe,  "Go away already. Time to build a team we can be proud of. No more ego driven, dead weight."

A lot of fans are hoping that Kobe Bryant leaving the Lakers will be the first step to them being good again.

But Kobe Bryant has a LOT of negativity associated with him as a basketball player. That includes his entire career, not just the last few years. But Kevin Brousard from Colorado Springs, Colorado says he won't let that deter him from remembering Bryant as a quality player.

"I will always remember Kobe Bryant for his competitive drive and his willingness to do anything to win," Brousard said. "He's been called a diva, he's been controversial, been called a bad teammate, a ballhog. But everything he did he did to win."

Andy and Brian Kamenetzky join Take Two to also look back at the good, the bad and the ugly of Kobe Bryant's two decades as a Los Angeles Laker.

To hear the full conversation click the blue player above.