Could Anyone Match Kobe Bryant’s 81 Points Today?
Following the 10th anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game, we take a look at which of today’s stars is most likely to replicate the feat.
Friday marked the 10th anniversary of one of the most remarkable individual athletic performances of our time and, perhaps, ever.
Ten years ago, Kobe Bryant did the unthinkable and went for 81 points in a single game against the Toronto Raptors.
Bryant followed up a 24-point half with 27 points in the third quarter and 28 points in the fourth on his way to a career night and the second greatest scoring display ever, ranking only behind Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain‘s 100-point game in 1962.
Many marvel at Chamberlain’s feat and that performance is the foundation of his legend. In spite of that, Bryant’s may be more impressive due to an increased level of difficulty.
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In the modern era with a shot clock and against presumably better athletes, Bryant dropped 81 in all kinds of ways. He went 28-of-46 from the field, including seven three-pointers, and 18 made free throws. He did this while being guarded by a total of six different defenders and without any reliable teammates to count on (the next highest scorer for the Lakers was Smush Parker with 13 points).
Add in the fact that the Lakers were down 14 at halftime and you have a performance for the ages.
In the wake of fans, media and fellow athletes alike celebrating the astonishing accomplishment, the question was posed multiple times as to whether or not any of today’s NBA stars could duplicate such a feat.
It’s an interesting question to think about in an era with so many new age volume scorers like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and James Harden to name a few. Of course, LeBron James‘ remarkable scoring performances also put him in the conversation as a candidate to challenge Bryant’s achievement.
But do any of these guys really have a shot?
In this article, we’ll weigh each of the aforementioned stars’ chances of matching or topping Bryant. Feel free to comment on who you think has the best shot or cast your vote for anyone you think we may have left out.
Next: The Reigning MVP