Hoops Habit
Fansided

Kobe Bryant: 50 Greatest Moments of Black Mamba’s Career

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) warms up before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) warms up before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
19 of 51
Next

33. First 50-Point Game

Kobe Bryant’s ability to score will be displayed and heralded throughout these 50 slides. That’s what makes this performance so significant, and why it cracks the Top 50—pun intended.

In a point-for-point battle with fellow young sensation Antawn Jamison, Bryant eclipsed 50 points for the first time in his NBA career.

Bryant’s battle with Jamison was a testament to the competitive fire that made Bryant the legend he is. When another player would go off, Bryant would take it upon himself to match the opponent shot-for-shot.

That’s exactly what he did in this unforgettable clash with the former National College Player of the Year.

Bryant poured in 51 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, two steals, and a block on 18-of-35 shooting. More importantly, he did everything he could to save the Los Angeles Lakers from the dreadful defense it was displaying.

It may have come in the form of a loss, but Bryant effectively made December 6, 2000 the platform for a powerful and resounding statement: he was next.

Next: When He Gets Hot...

Home/Los Angeles Lakers