Mar 30, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) greets Sacramento Kings guard Isaiah Thomas (22) and center DeMarcus Cousins (15) before tipoff at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

There may not be a Los Angeles Laker more hated by Sacramento King fans than that of Kobe Bryant. However, last night, as the eventual Hall of Famer passed Wilt Chamberlain for fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, Kobe may have endeared himself to the purple and black loyalists, at least for a few minutes.

After a hard fought battle which resulted in the Lakers’ 103-98 win, the five time champion caught up with Time Warner Cable SportsNet where he talked about what could be his final game in the house formally known as Arco:

Reporter: This could be, well see what happens, your last game in this arena. What did the rivalry between the Lakers and Kings mean to you?

Kobe: Well, it’s meant a lot. Man, obviously it’s a huge part of our dynasty and this is just a very special place. It’s kind of a throwback arena, so hopefully it wont be the last one.

Later, local media caught up with Bryant in the locker room where he expressed to James Ham of Cowbell Kingdom that he predicts the Kings will stay in Sacramento:

Reporter: ….So you expect them (the Kings) to be here next year?

Kobe: Ah yeah. Man, look. They’ve been singing the same song for three years man. Enough already.

Bryant reiterated himself and his feelings to the Sacramento Bee:

“They’re (Kings) not going nowhere,” Bryant said, laughing, when surrounded by reporters late Saturday in the visitors locker room. “The cowbells are still (clanging) … I predict we’ll be back here next year. You guys have been saying the same thing for three years.”

November 21, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) struggles against Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans (13). Credit: Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE

It was a full-blown team effort by the Sacramento Kings against the Lakers on Wednesday, but Tyreke Evans distinguished himself. A man looking in the mirror, he pulled out one of his best performances to date.

18 points, on  7 of 11 shooting, 4 out of 4 free throws, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds

Behind him, his Rookie of the Year performance, squarely in front, his future legacy as an NBA player. But Wednesday night, Tyreke was in the moment on the battlefield court with NBA’s legend, in an age-old battle for dominance.

No longer the rook of three years ago, Tyreke emerged from the darkness of a five-game season losing streak, as the knight in battle with the aging king, known as Kobe.

Despite the weight of heavy external pressure, for all who watched, Tyreke looked like a kid having fun on the playground, smiling as he and his team twisted the arm behind the back of the Lakers. He didn’t display the grimace of a player in a daunting battle with sweat running down his face, struggling to catch his breath. No signs of that. He looked more like the kid taunting another, knowing full well he had the upper hand. Kobe Bryant responded in typical Kobe fashion, in desperation, when he senses imminent danger of losing.

November 21, 2012; Kobe Bryant (24) reacts after picking up his second foul. Credit: Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE

No matter how many points Kobe would put up, and he ended up with an impressive 38, nor how many of the starstruck mesmerized official’s calls would go his way, Tyreke was the one who would conjure up Ares, the Greek god of war, to seize victory from him.

There will be other games, future contests between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers, but for now, Tyreke and the rest of his team have a victory to savor.