NBA: Kobe Bryant’s best games against every team
16. Kobe v. Thunder (Seattle SuperSonics at the time), April 15, 2007
50 points (18-25 FG), 8 rebounds to clinch a playoff berth
With the Seattle SuperSonics (RIP) wearing their alternate yellow jerseys, the Lakers in their white home alternates, and a pixel count of about a dozen on the video, the highlights for this game are a bit confusing. But rest assured, that is Lakers v. Sonics basketball you are watching.
This victory was notable for two reasons:
- Kobe shot 72% from the field in this game, scoring 50 points on half as many attempts. Particularly in a 2007 season where he was forced to dominate the ball, this efficiency enabled the Lakers to win by a comfortable 11 point margin larger than it appears.
- This victory sealed a playoff spot for the Lakers, who had been to the postseason 42 of the 46 years they played in Los Angeles. This was the regular season’s penultimate game, allowing the Lakers to finish 42-40 and fall into the West playoffs’ 7th seed.
Soon after this game, the Lakers would be pitted against the Phoenix Suns, a team built fundamentally different from them. Lifting this roster past the NBA’s most dynamic offensive team would be one of the toughest challenges of Kobe’s career, and would result in some of his best games.
Next: #15