Kobe Bryant is possibly one of the greatest NBA players of all-time and the greatest Laker ever. Two jersey numbers in the rafters at the STAPLES Center prove it. Kobe was able to take over games in ways that not many players could.
His drive to win at any cost helped him succeed on and off the court. An 18-time NBA All-Star, five-time NBA champion and one-time NBA MVP, Kobe tragically passed away on January 26, 2020. Kobe’s game was influenced by Michael Jordan, he never denied it.
Eduardo Solano, from FOX Sports Radio 1340 AM Hopewell and AccuScore, wrote this about Kobe Bryant last year:
“I’ve always been a Chicago Bulls fan but I followed Kobe Bryant’s entire career! Kobe is one of my favorite athletes of all-time and I still can’t process that he is gone.”
Here are Kobe’s 10 Best playoff games:
- Game 2 vs. the Nuggets in the First Round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs
49 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds on 18-27 shooting, 5-9 from 3 and 8-9 from the free-throw line
Kobe led the Lakers to a 2-0 series lead in what would end up being a comfortable sweep of a loaded 50-win Nuggets team.
- Game 4 vs. the Kings in the Conference Semifinals in the 2001 NBA Playoffs
48 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block on 51.7% shooting, 1-1 from 3 and 17-19 from the free-throw line.
Kobe led the Lakers in a closeout game on the road to cap off an incredible series by him and Shaq. Kobe had 15 in the 4th quarter.
- Game 1 vs. the Spurs in the Conference Finals in the 2001 NBA Playoffs
45 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block on 54.2% shooting, 1-2 from 3 and 6-8 from the free-throw line.
Kobe made a statement in the first game of the series with 45 following up his 48 vs. the Kings just a few days prior. It was a dominant game.
- Game 4 vs. the Spurs in the Conference Semifinals in the 2004 NBA Playoffs
42 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block on 55.6% shooting, 2-4 from 3 and 10-13 from the free-throw line.
The Lakers needed a big game from Kobe with a possible 3-1 series deficit looming and he delivered with a huge performance.
- Game 5 vs. the Spurs in the 2008 Conference Finals
39 pts, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals on 53.3% shooting, 2-6 from 3 and 5-5 from the free-throw line.
Kobe ended the Spurs season with a big game 5 where he scored 17 in the 4th quarter with clutch shot after clutch shot.
- Game 1 vs. the Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals
40 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks on 47.1% shooting and 8-8 from the free-throw line.
Kobe set the tone in Game 1 by picking apart the Magic defense from start to finish. Great showing from the Mamba!
- Game 2 vs. the Rockets in the Conference Semifinals in the 2009 NBA Playoffs
40 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal on 59.3% shooting, 2-3 from 3 and 6-7 from the free-throw line.
The Lakers, who were down 1-0 in the series, desperately needed this game and Kobe was sensational torching Shane Battier all night long.
- Game 3 vs. the Nuggets in the Conference Finals in the 2009 NBA Playoffs
41 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals on 50% shooting, 2-5 from 3 and 15-17 from the free-throw line.
The series were tied on the road and Kobe knew he had to put his stamp on the game and he did so with a great showing. He had 13 points in the 4th quarter.
- Game 6 vs. the Suns in the First Round in the 2006 NBA Playoffs
50 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals on 57.1% shooting, 5-8 from 3 and 5-6 from the free-throw line.
Kobe was otherworldly in this game but some heroic shots late in the game by the Suns and most notably Tim Thomas, put a big damper on Kobe’s great game.
- Game 3 vs. the Suns in the First Round in the 2007 NBA Playoffs
45 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block on 57.7% shooting, 2-3 from 3 and 13-13 from the free-throw line.
Kobe refused to go down 3-0 as he dominated from the start and had 15 big points in the 4th quarter to seal the win.
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