Fansided

Ranking Kobe Bryant’s 5 best games of his NBA career

By Jason Parker

Feb 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) shoots a three-point basket in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) shoots a three-point basket in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 04: Kobe Bryant
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 04: Kobe Bryant /

No. 4 – Kobe drops 40 in Game One of NBA Finals vs. Magic (2009)

After a three-peat to start the decade, the Lakers hadn’t won a championship since entering the 2009 NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic. The season before, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers had lost to the Boston Celtics, leaving many to wonder if Bryant could win another title without the big man.

Out to prove that he was still the best there was in the league, Bryant took over the entire NBA finals and got it started with a 40 point night in the opener. His explosive third quarter helped the Lakers go on a 25-10 run and put him in the company with Shaq, Michael Jordan and Jerry West with the numbers he finished with.

For the entire five game Finals series, Kobe Bryant averaged over 32 points and was named MVP of the series. More importantly, Kobe had finally got the ring as the unquestioned leader of the team, which he would follow up with another championship the following season as the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in a rematch of the 2008 Finals and all the classic battles from the 1980’s.

Next: No. 3 - Kobe goes for 61 at MSG (2009)

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