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NBA: Ranking My Favorite Kobe Bryant Performances

By DJoumbarey A. Moreau

January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) heads down court after a basket in the second half of the game against the Miami Heat at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) heads down court after a basket in the second half of the game against the Miami Heat at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 8, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) drives against Toronto Raptors small forward Landry Fields (2) during the game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) drives against Toronto Raptors small forward Landry Fields (2) during the game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

1. That’s Mr. 81 to You Sir

Date: January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors
Stats: 81 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals.

I remember the exact place I was at when I was watching the second highest scoring output in NBA history, Kobe Bryant’s 81 point game. It was 2005 and I was watching basketball inside of my Godbrother’s house because he had the NBA League Pass before it was extremely popular. My Godbrother was a huge Sacramento Kings fan and wanted to watch their games, which is the reason he had the NBA League Pass.

As we started watching the Los Angeles Lakers game, all I could see was Bryant going off against the Toronto Raptors. He had 26 points at halftime and I thought to myself, “Oh he’ll finish with around 40 to 50 points at best.” Bryant surprised everyone and scored 55 points in the second half alone. The only other person who scored more points in a half was Wilt Chamberlain when he scored 59 in a half against the New York Knicks, the night he scored 100 points.

Anytime this game comes on NBATV’s Hardwood Classics it’s a must watch. Just seeing Bryant make double pump fadeaway jumpers over Morris Peterson and Joey Graham is flawless.

It’s insane how people always gloss over this game. If Michael Jordan would’ve ever had a game like this we would never hear the end of it. Bryant is second to none when it comes to scoring the basketball at the shooting guard position.

Next: College Basketball Player Rankings: Stanley Johnson Epic Return To No. 1

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