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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 /
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17. Second Championship

The Los Angeles Lakers won a trio of championships behind the efforts of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The second of three titles was what propelled Bryant into

At 22 years old, Bryant emerged as a true star on a championship team.

Winning back-to-back titles is as glorious a feat as any in professional sports. The Lakers eventually took it a step further, but it was in 2001 that Bryant stepped into the spotlight as a star unto himself.

Bryant did a bit of everything for the Lakers, averaging 24.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game during the 2001 NBA Finals.

It was a critical series for Bryant, who averaged a then career-high 28.5 points per game during the regular season. After hurting his team in Game 1, shooting just 7-of-22 from the field as Allen Iverson routinely torched the Lakers’ defense, Bryant responded by helping his team win it all.

That includes his 31-point eruption in Game 2, 32 points in Game 3, and a near triple-double in Game 4.

Next: Redemption

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