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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Dec 23, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1 – Bryant scores 81 points in win over Raptors (2006)

Like we mentioned before, the years post-Shaq in Los Angeles were pretty lean for the Lakers when it came to being a championship team. For Kobe Bryant, it was a time to take charge and put the entire team on his shoulders if they wanted to win.

On one January night inside the Staples Center against the Toronto Raptors, Bryant did just that…and then some. Putting up 46 shots on the night, Bryant would finish the game with a stat line that included six rebounds, three steals…and 81 POINTS!

Bryant was an amazing 12 of 15 from inside the paint and dropped seven three pointers in the game to become just the second player in the history of the NBA to drop 80 points in the game, doing something that greats like Jordan, Magic and other idols couldn’t.

It would be another three seasons before Bryant would be able to call himself a champion, but for one night in Los Angeles that didn’t matter. Bryant was in elite company with just one other person (Wilt Chamberlain and his 100 point game) and that will stick with him for his entire legacy.

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