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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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2. Ring No. 5

If No. 4 helped Kobe Bryant escape Shaquille O’Neal’s shadow, ring No. 5 is what pushed him ahead of the big fella on a vast majority of all-time lists. More could be factored in, but in most eyes, it was a fifth championship that Bryant needed to surpass O’Neal.

In 2009-10, Bryant did just that.

Bryant led the Los Angeles Lakers to 57 regular season wins to set up a grueling first-round matchup with a young Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka-led Oklahoma City Thunder team. After escaping OKC, history awaited Bryant and the Lakers.

Los Angeles swept the Utah Jazz 4-0, overcame its bitter rival Phoenix Suns 4-2, and set up an NBA Finals rematch with the Boston Celtics—the team to whom it lost in 2008.

It wasn’t pretty, but Bryant led the Lakers to a 4-3 series win over the rival Celtics. In turn, Bryant became the ninth player in NBA history to win multiple Finals MVP awards—a feat that only LeBron James has since replicated.

2008-09 and 2009-10 also marked the second time in Bryant’s career that he won back-to-back championships.

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