For all those Kobe Bryant fans out there, the last three years have been painful to watch.
The Black Mamba is a legendary figure, a man who struck fear into his opponents’ hearts with one of the most effective jump shots to ever grace a basketball court.
Kobe was the youngest ever to reach 30,000 points. He won five NBA titles in style. He captured two scoring titles and sits third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Bryant is a 17-time all-star. Somehow he only won one MVP award.
Bryant’s list of achievements deserve a book, and one day it will likely get one. But for now we can only reminisce on what the 37-year-old gave to the game of basketball.
Here are the top 10 moments from Kobe Bryant’s incredible NBA career:
10) 40 at 34
One of Kobe’s last signature moments came in 2012. At age 34, he is the oldest player ever to score at least 40 points in four consecutive games.
9) MSG scoring record
On Feb. 2, 2009, Kobe left those at Madison Square Garden in awe. He broke Bernard King’s single game record by scoring 61 points. Carmelo Anthony would eventually pour in 62 points, but the Black Mamba made a statement that day.
8) Kobe drops 55 on MJ
Throughout his career Kobe drew comparisons to his Airness, Michael Jordan. On March 23, 2003, Bryant dropped 55 points on a Wizards team led by M.J.
7) Behind-the-back beauty
Often criticized for being a ball hog, Kobe’s weapon of choice was the jump shot. Unbeknownst to many, Bryant sits 29th all-time in assists. If Kobe was in a sharing mood, great things happened.
6) Alley-Oop to start a dynasty
Another moment that proved the critics wrong. In Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference finals, the Lakers entered the fourth quarter down by double digits. Kobe finished the game with 25 points, 11 boards, seven assists and four blocks. His alley-oop pass to Shaq was the beginning of a dynasty.
5) The closest thing to Jordan
Let’s turn to those ball-hogging moments. In February of 2003, Bryant scored 40-plus points … in nine straight games.
4) The 50-point streak
March of 2007. Bryant pours in 50 in four straight games.
3) The all-around performer
In 2009 and 2010, Bryant won back-to-back Finals MVP awards. In Game 7 of the 2010 Finals Kobe scored 23 points, but the most impressive stat was his rebound total. With Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace and Pau Gasol on the floor, the guard hit the glass hard and came out with 15 boards.
2) The free throw
One of the greatest free throws of all time. Point No. 32,293.
1) 81 Points
You all know what No. 1 is.
Apologies to Raptors fans, but this is the greatest moment of Kobe’s career. Can someone go back in time and tell Sam Mitchell to double-team the man?
