16. A retired 60 points
A symbol more than anything. Before you turn your back permanently to his career, Bryant has made up the crowds against Utah last time. Successful (101-96) but also a show of which he has the secret. And above 60 points scored on his floor of the Staples Center. Is the highest total of the season for a player.
15. The night he surpassed Jordan
This time back to a little more than a year. December 14, 2014, Bryant became the third leading scorer in NBA history. Behind Karl Malone and Wilt Chamberlain, but surpassing his idol and inspiration Issue 1, Michael Jordan. In this area there at least, Kobe exceeded His Airness.
14. 12 3 pointers against Seattle
When we say “shooter” to 3 points, we do not spontaneously think of Kobe Bryant. It is not a pure specialist. It is obviously much more than that. Yet the twilight of his career, he still holds the baskets still record three-point registered in the same match: 12. It was January 7, 2003, against Seattle. Doynell Marshall equaled two years later, Stephen Curry (11) came close, but no one has done better than Kobe Bryant.
13. His first title
19 June 2000. The day Kobe Bryant became an NBA champion. The first of his 5 coronations. Of course, these Indiana to face Finals are flown by Shaquille O’Neal. Touched his ankle, Kobe young (21 years) only runs at 15.6 points to 36% shooting, but it remains an unforgettable memory for him. The first time is always special.
12. The post on Steve Nash
Final Western Conference 2006. 2. Match Bryant leads the Lakers to victory (29 points, 10 rebounds) and turns the series on an equal plane. At 3’13 “from the end, it captures an image of his career with a monumental poster dunk over Steve Nash, twice MVP of the NBA title. The front while causing the fault to remain hooked to the circle. WOW Effect guaranteed.
11. The two “circus shots” against Portland
A time almost forgotten. And yet … It’s the last game of the 2004 season with 55 wins, the Lakers are quietly playoffs but they are still struggling with Sacramento for the division title. Los Angeles moves to Portland. In two improbable 3-point shots, Bryant pulls the extension then the victory over it. Ruben Patterson, the player of the Blazers, will even get an autograph after the game. And get it.
10. Double clutch against the Suns
1st round of the playoffs 2006. Match 4. Phoenix leads 89-87 to eight seconds of the match. With the ball. On the throw, the Lakers and Bryant pass interception equates to 7/10 of the match. Extension. A 7 seconds from the end of it, Phoenix has one point. Bryant is back and slams a mid-distance shot at the buzzer. Lakers 99-98 victory. Los Angeles lose the series 4-3 but both Kobe baskets made date.
9. Clutch time against the Pistons
The Finals 2004 are not good memories for Kobe Bryant and the Lakers swept 4 wins to 1 by the much higher collective Detroit. But in Game 2, the only victory L.A. in the series remains a high point in the career of Bryant in the playoffs. While the Pistons leading 89-86, Kobe takes a monumental three-point basket to tie and pull out the extension. In it, he still shows decisive and finished with 33 points. Not his best series, but it has rarely been as “clutch” in that final in that game 2 against Detroit.
8. His first Olympic title
Kobe Bryant has two Olympic gold medals, conquered in 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London. But this is the first of these two consecrations that left the strongest impression. Bryant then remarkably surrounded with Wade, Anthony and James, but good leader, he leads the way when Team USA has the most need him. As for the final against Spain, during which he scored 13 of his 20 points in the last quarter, while the band Pau Gasol showed even threatening. He also finished the game with 6 assists.
7. 40 points average over a month
This is not a specific time or even one game in particular. But a hallucinatory period. This is the most special month of the career of Bryant, statistically speaking. In 2003 he buckle in February to 40.6 points average. It aligns same nine straight games over 40 points, equaling the record of Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan. This is his series: 46, 42, 51, 44, 40, 52, 40, 40 and 41, from 6 to 23 February.
6. The first title without Shaq, and the MVP
The first three titles of Kobe Bryant, those of the “threepeat” 2000, 2001, 2002 were won with Shaquille O’Neal. That of 2009, after seven years, so has a special meaning for Bryant. One way to answer those who, ill-intentioned or not, suggested that he would never win without Shaq. Kobe was then still very well supported, we do not win a single title, but this team was more than ever his. A happiness never comes alone, he was also named MVP of the Finals 2009. His first since 2002. O’Neal had monopolized in three 2000 With 32.4 points 5.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists average during the series against the Magic, difficult to challenge the legitimacy of this crowning for Bryant.
5. The alley-oop Kobe-Shaq
One of the most memorable matches in the young history of the Staples Center. Spring 2000, the Lakers have not won the title for 12 years. With O’Neal and Bryant, they dream. In the finals of the Western Conference, they are opposed to Portland. Game 7 was held in Los Angeles. The Lakers led 71-55. Then they stick to a 25-4 Blazers in the 9-minute space. Kobe Bryant takes full part in the comeback of fire and victory was sealed L.A. 40 seconds left on a Kobe pass to Shaquille O’Neal. Perhaps the most famous alley-oop in NBA history. Staples roof almost did not recover.
4. The 61 points Garden
Madison Square Garden is often considered the Mecca of basketball. The legendary New York dining almost always smiled at Kobe Bryant who, like Michael Jordan loved to play. In 16 games at the Garden, Bryant turned 30 points average. On 2 February 2009, he signed a true recital 61 points with a perfect 20 of 20 on the repair line. It was then the highest total of points ever scored by a player at MSG. Carmelo Anthony beat since, but it remains the record for a visitor. And a very special evening for KB.
3. … 62 points in three quarters-time
A month before slamming his match with 81 points, the rear angelino had already signed a mammoth performance. The day before, the Lakers, pathetic on offense, have scored just 74 points. Bryant gets angry after his teammates, and balance that is unacceptable, that it alone could score as much. So, Dallas will pay the bill: Kobe to 32 points at the break and it adds … 30 in the third quarter-time! Before the last period, he scored 62 points alone, one more than the team from Dallas. At 34, Phil Jackson decided to leave his star at rest. 62 points in 33 minutes. How much would he finished Kobe if Jackson had left on the ground?
2. His MVP
Incredibly enough, Kobe Bryant had to wait until his 12th season to finally know the honors of MVP of the regular season. Two months before his 30th birthday! Before the coronation, Bryant had seen since his debut in the NBA in 1996, eight players grab the ultimate individual award: Karl Malone, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. May 6, 2008, he finally held the trophy in his hands, after a remarkable season: 28.3 points 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and the best record in the West to the Lakers. His first and last MVP.
Kobe Bryant, MVP of the 2008 season – AFP
1. Night to 81 points
81 points. A surreal total, the second best in NBA history behind the legendary 100 points of Wilt Chamberlain in 1962. January 22, 2006, Bryant is touched by grace at Staples Center against Toronto. Its first half is remarkable: 26 points. The second outsized. He added 55 points, 27 in the third quarter and 28 in the latter, while the speaker, hysterical, announced at the discretion of the points the records that fall (the 69 points of Jordan, 72 Baylor, etc.) conducted a time 14 points, the Lakers prevail with a substantial margin (122-104) and Kobe registered two thirds of the points of his team. He finished with 60% field goal (28 of 46) 7 of 13 three-pointers, 18 of 20 shots but the 6 rebounds and 3 steals. “Like Michael Jordan, he made the impossible possible,” admires Phil Jackson after the game.
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