Fansided

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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January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) guards Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) guards Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Kobe Claus Is Coming to Town

Date: December 25, 2004 vs. Miami Heat
Stats: 42 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal

Back in 2004 there was no game that was more anticipated than the Los Angeles Lakers playing against the Miami Heat. The game had everything anyone could ask for. There was a young Kobe Bryant who wanted to prove to everyone that the Lakers made the right choice when they decided to trade Shaquille O’Neal to Miami. There was a superstar center who wanted to show that he was still the most dominant player in the game in O’Neal. Also there was even a young and budding superstar in Dwyane Wade who wanted to validate himself to the NBA world that he too was among the NBA’s greatest.

O’Neal and Bryant competed against each other and no moment came more special when Bryant had to drive into the paint and got fouled by O’Neal who earlier in the week said this:

"“When you’ve got a Corvette that runs into a brick wall, you know what’s going to happen.”"

The Lakers would go on to lose the game in overtime but behind Bryant’s 42 points, he made a statement that he was worth keeping.

Next: December 2005 vs. Mavericks

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