In good spirits, the now-retired Kobe Bryant sat for an interview with Ellen DeGeneres on “The Ellen Show,” April 27.
The interview is the first time the 37-year-old ex-NBA star has spoke of his retirement since his record breaking final game.
“I couldn’t believe that it actually happened, that this moment was actually here, that this was the game,” Bryant said of the big night on April 14.
Despite the growing anticipation of his final game, Bryant said when he woke up that morning he was calm—but entering Staples Center changed everything.
“When I walked in the arena and you can kind of feel the electricity, you just kind of start getting nostalgic,” he said. “Then you realize everybody is here to watch this final game–don’t suck.”
Even Bryant’s two daughters, Natalia and Gianna, were impressed by his performance on the night.
“It was like, ‘Dad where did that come from?’ and I was like, ‘Honey, I used to be pretty good back in the day.’”
Bryant says his wife, Vanessa, 32 and his girls, aged 13 and soon-to-be 10 respectively, are very competitive and says “we'll see” when Ellen asks about possible basketball careers for them.
