he "Black Mamba" scored 60 points on 22-50 shooting, the most shots taken by anyone in an NBA game in the last 30 seasons, according to STATS. He also had 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

Scoring 60 points — on 50 shots — Bryant's career came to a close Wednesday night with the Lakers beating the Utah Jazz 101-96. Bryant hugged former teammate Shaquille O'Neal in the final seconds and scored 23 points in the final quarter.

It was a storybook finish, the sixth 60-point game of his career.

Bryant checked out with 4.1 seconds left, serenaded by "Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!" chants. He retires as the NBA's No. 3 all-time scorer and won five championships. No one in NBA history ever scored more points in his last game.

In the hours leading up to his last game Wednesday, when Bryant would lead the Lakers to a 101-96 comeback victory over the Utah Jazz with his season-high 60 in one of the greatest farewells by an athlete, many thousands of those fans packed shoulder-to-shoulder into the plaza outside Staples Center, the arena that opened just as his legend was beginning to grow.