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

No. 3 – Bryant sets Madison Square Garden record for points (2009)

Entering the 2o08-09 season, no one had ever gone for 61 points in a game at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City, better known as the mecca of basketball to fans of the game. On one February night, Kobe Bryant changed all that and put his name on top of the record books.

In the midst of a season that would end with another championship, Bryant and the Lakers went across country and took down the New York Knicks in their house. Bryant went out on the night and, thanks to hitting 20 free throws, dropped 61 points in the win to set the scoring record for a game at MSG.

When you consider all the great who had played in that arena both for and against the Knicks (including Bernard King, Michael Jordan and so many more), Bryant was able to do something that had never been done before. The record would since be broken by Carmelo Anthony for the Knicks five seasons later, but Kobe Bryant set the mark and further cemented his legacy as one of the best to every play the game.

Next: No. 2 - Kobe goes out with a bang in his finale