NBA: Kobe Bryant’s best games against every team

25. Kobe v. Bulls, December 15, 2009

42 points (15-26 FG) with a broken finger

It was tempting to mention Kobe’s final game against the Bulls – a 126-115 Chicago victory on February 21st played at the United Center – as his best game vs. Chicago simply because it was going to be the farewell between him and Pau Gasol.

Gasol was Kobe’s best teammate that he actually liked, so this would be the heartfelt farewell that would be the most significant. Folks weren’t tuning into the March 13th Lakers-Knicks game to see Kobe say farewell to Sasha Vujacic, so that Bulls was quite weighty.

BUT, Kobe finished that game with a ho-hum 22 points, far less impressive on the court than his performance in 2009. In that game Kobe wore a finger splint, having injured the index finger of his shooting hand. This was following the Lakers’ Finals win over the Orlando Magic (and right before the team’s win over the Celtics), but the Bulls were an emerging team themselves, in their final season under the shadow of head coach Vinnie Del Negro.

It didn’t matter; Kobe was playing at a different speed. Understand how good this game was, then think how we’re still in the first third of this list.

Next: #24