“MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 14: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers waves to the crowd after passing Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list with a free throw in the second quarter of the game on December 14, 2014 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)”
MINNEAPOLIS — Well after he cemented himself in the NBA history books yet again, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant strolled down a hallway here at Target Center, stopped at the loading dock and heard a thunderous sound that did not fade.
Even as the team bus stood outside with its engine rumbling, a much louder noise kept rising and rising at a feverish pitch.
“Kobe! KOBE! KOBE!!!!!” dozens of fans roared through these walls. Bryant has heard that sound plenty of times during his 19 seasons amid public appearances, game-winning shots and championship parades. But this whole sequence of events just startled him. The Lakers secured a 100-94 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Yet, plenty of the 15,0008 fans here applauded him in nearly every instant.
When he he hit a 26-foot 3-point field goal with 1:02 remaining that all but secured the Lakers (8-16) earning their first three-game winning streak of the season. When Bryant made a pair of free throws with 5:24 left in the second quarter that eclipsed Michael Jordan’s 32,692 career points for third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. And just as Bryant would board the team bus.
Only moments earlier, Bryant struggled processing it all.
“I’m so used to being the villain all the time on the road,” Bryant said. “It took a minute to adjust. But I got to say it felt good to be appreciated.”
The Timberwolves (5-18) and their fans sure showed their appreciation.
Once Bryant eclipsed Jordan on the all-time scoring list, the game immediately stopped. The crowd gave Bryant a standing ovation. While Bryant shook hands and exchanged hugs with teammates and opponents alike, the Timberwolves played a video tribute in Bryant’s honor. Minnesota owner Glen Taylor then presented Bryant with the game ball. Bryant called the gesture “classy,” while Lakers coach Byron Scott called it both “very classy” and “impressive.”
“I’m used to being the villain,” Bryant said again. “You have moments like that when you’re not expecting a hug and you get a hug and it’s like, ‘This feels pretty [darn] good.'”
It seems understandable why Bryant initially struggled processing this reality.
He has faced criticism his entire 19-year career on every issue imaginable. Bryant was perceived as a showboat as he leaped from high school to the NBA. Despite winning three NBA championships together, both Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal clashed amid fighting over the lead role and having philosophical differences regarding work ethic and team play. Though former Lakers owner Jerry Buss traded Shaquille O’Neal in 2004 to Miami both for monetary and health reasons, the perception lingered that Bryant ran O’Neal out of town.
Bryant faced sexual assault charges in 2003, only for them to be dropped. Bryant demanded a trade in 2007 amid frustration over the Lakers’ rebuilding process, only for him to soften his sentiments. Even this season, Bryant sparked criticism for a number of issues. A perception lingers that marquee free agents do not want to play with him. Bryant’s two-year, $48.5 million extension that he signed last year heightened criticism over whether that hampered the Lakers’ ability to build a roster around him. Bryant also went on a profanity-laced tirade during a portion of Thursday’s practice open to the media. That entailed trash talking with teammates and complaining to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak about their play.
Amid all that, Bryant encountered plenty of antagonism in opposing team’s arenas. It does not help the Lakers have a heated rivalry with the Boston Celtics. It does not help the Lakers remain an unpopular team against basically every Western Conference opponent.
“When it comes to basketball, that’s just what I am naturally,” Bryant said. “I think competitive nature is something that frightens a lot of people. When you peel back truly what’s inside of a person to compete and be at that high level, it scares a lot of people that are comfortable just being average. I think if you look at Michael’s retirement speech, people really got a chance to see how he ticks. It scared a lot of people, right? But that’s just the reality of it. You can’t get to a supreme level without kind of channeling the dark side a little.”
But would this compromise Bryant’s chance to have a farewell tour with the same adulation New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter attracted?
“Derek and I are different people,” Bryant said. “He hides it a lot better, but I guarantee you our competitive spirit is exactly the same. He just hides it better – or chooses to hide it. I don’t choose to hide it.”
Yet, Lakers trainer Gary Vitti predicted before the season started Bryant would experience positive receptions in opposing team arenas considering he has two years left on his contract. Vitti outlined five traits that are universally admired, including Bryant’s talent, competitiveness, work ethic, toughness and smarts.
“I don’t think there isn’t any place that won’t give him a standing ovation,” Vitti told L.A. Newspaper group before the 2014-15 season started. “To the point where it will bring tears to your eyes. You may not like him or even hate him. But there is no one who doesn’t respect him as a basketball player and what he’s done for the game.”
Plenty showed their appreciation toward Bryant when he eclipsed Jordan’s milestone.
It included NBA legends.
Magic Johnson sent out a series of tweets that included calling Bryant “one of the top five or six best players ever.” Jordan, who owns the Charlotte Hornets, also released a statement.
“I congratulate Kobe on reaching this milestone,” Jordan said. “He’s obviously a great player, with a strong work ethic and has an equally strong passion for the game of basketball. I’ve enjoyed watching his game evolve over the years, and I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next.”
It included Minnesota’s young crop of players that grew up idolizing Bryant.
Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine expressed gratitude he fouled Bryant instead of making a shot over him to surpass Jordan. But LaVine still considered it “cool” to see Bryant make history in person. Minnesota forward Andrew Wiggins gushed that he “witnessed greatness” and that he was “glad I was there to witness it.”
Of course, the Lakers showed their gratitude too.
Bryant hugged and shook hands with all of his teammates. He offered a deep hug to Vitti. Bryant did the same with Lakers coach Byron Scott, who also mentored him his rookie season 19 years ago.
“I told him how proud I was of him and how much I loved him,” Scott said. “And how much an honor it is to be coaching him and coaching his team.”
Bryant showed appreciation for all those gestures by smiling and waving to the crowd before play eventually resumed. But well after the game ended, Bryant stood just outside the loading dock and heard the chants of his name. He soaked it all in before walking over the team bus, accepting a new reality that awaits him as he continues making NBA history.
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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com