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24 quintessential moments of Kobe Bryant's career
Jan 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo (9) defends Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) in the first quarter of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

24 quintessential moments of Kobe Bryant's career

Baller. Global Icon. Selfish. Rapist. Legend.

Kobe Bryant has been called those words (and many more) in the 20 years he has been in the public eye. Whatever you want to call him, there is no denying that impact he has had on sports in Los Angeles.

After 1,566 games, five championships and a couple of Finals MVPs, the former Los Angeles Lakers guard was honored by the Los Angeles City Council by having August 24, or 8/24, be “Kobe Bryant Day.” The 18-time All-Star will also be honored for his work with the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, which is dedicated to helping families in need.

"For 20 years, we were all the beneficiaries of Kobe's incredible talent and legendary work ethic, and on 8-24 we'll gather to say, 'Thank you, Mamba,’” L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar said in a statement.

Bryant has provided fans from around the world with some of the most memorable moments in sports. From his incredible athleticism, otherworldly work ethic and insatiable drive to win, “the Black Mamba” struck fear in his opponents and gained the favor of many fans during his exceptional career.

In no particular order, here are 24 great (and not so great) moments that are classic Kobe Bryant.


1997 Slam Dunk Champ


Let’s start at the beginning, though. A precocious 18-year-old Kobe Bryant was just getting his career started when he burst into the spotlight with a series of high-flying dunks to win him the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest in front of the stars of the NBA. It would one of many trophies Bryant would collect in his career.

 

Putting Vincent Yarbrough through the spin cycle


One of the prettiest poster dunks ever seen. It wasn’t enough that he dribbled the ball behind the back to get the necessary room to set up the dunk, he added a 360 when he could have easily just put it in with one hand. Only Kobe.

 

Welcome to the league, Dwight


If you don’t think that this contributed to Dwight Howard’s disdain for Kobe, you’re more naïve than Lakers management, who thought they could retain Howard after the fiasco in 2013.

 

Great Wall of Yao crumbles


At 7’6, Yao Ming was a center that didn’t have many challengers. As one of the greatest players ever, Kobe Bryant never saw a challenge he couldn’t solve.  Something had to give (hint: it was Yao).

 

Averages 40 points…for a month


Some NBA players have a great stretch of maybe five games where everything they put up goes in. For Bryant, however, a great five-game stretch was the standard. An entire month of incredible scoring performances in February 2003? Now that is something to behold.

 

Shooting free throws with a torn Achilles


Never, EVER question Kobe Bryant’s toughness.

 

Two threes to win against Portland and claim the Pacific Division in 2004

The Los Angeles Lakers needed to win against the Trail Blazers to secure the Pacific Division and a higher seed going into the playoffs, but Portland was not going to go quietly into the night. But that’s why you have Kobe Bean. You can take that to the bank, Ruben “Kobe Stopper” Patterson.

 

Four straight games of 50+ points, 2007

The NBA 2K video game series has ruined the standard for amazing performances done in real life. Bryant got pretty darn close to making the real thing looks like the game at the rookie difficulty setting with this stretch of games.


Downs Spain in 2008

After the fall from grace that Team USA basketball had in 2004 (thanks, Larry Brown), Kobe Bryant signed up to bring the United States back to the top of international basketball. Spain was looking to play spoiler to the USA’s re-coronation with the Redeem Team in 2008, but the best player on the planet showed up when his nation needed him the most.

 

Kobe stops shooting vs. Phoenix, Game 7, 2006 Playoffs first round

If we embrace all the positive aspects of Bryant’s playing career, we should also recognize the negative ones. After scoring 50 points in a Game 6 loss against the Phoenix Suns, the media blamed Bryant for being a ball hog and not trusting his teammates. In response, it appeared that Bryant passed up shot after shot to show fans and media what happened when he was not scoring. The result: getting blown out by 31 points. He sacrificed a playoff series to make a point; a point he denied on TNT, but the controversy still remains.


Matt Barnes inbounds play

Barnes is no slouch when it comes to toughness. However, when you face a legend, they won’t even react to your desperate ploys.

 

Profanity-laden rant at practice

The finals years of Kobe Bryant’s NBA career were not fun ones for him. The Lakers were in full rebuild mode and losing a lot of games to retain their first round picks. This didn’t put Bryant in the best of moods when the team wasn’t practicing particularly hard.

 

Kobe steps up with Shaq out vs. Pacers, Game 4, 2000 Finals

In Game 3 of the 2000 NBA Finals, Shaquille O’Neal fouled out of the game in overtime. The Lakers were only up one with 2:13 left in the game. Playing on a bum ankle, Bryant scored six of the last eight points for the Lakers to secure the win and a 3-1 lead in the Finals.


Fun with Alvin Gentry vs. Phoenix Suns, Game 6, 2010 Western Conference Finals

With a spot in the Finals on the line, Bryant was in top form against the Suns.  Up five with 35 seconds to go, he hit an impossible fadeaway over Grant Hill to stick the dagger in Phoenix. Not one to pass up the chance to throw a little salt on the wound, Bryant gave Suns head coach Alvin Gentry a little parting gift after sending Phoenix home.

 

45 points, 10 rebounds vs. Spurs, Game 1, 2001 Western Conference Finals

Top-ranked defense, top-ranked schmefense. The San Antonio Spurs were the best defensive team in the league and entered the series with homecourt advantage, but Bryant was not going to be denied in 2001. The Lakers would go on to record a 16-1 playoff record that year, which has yet to be equaled.

 

61 at the Garden

All NBA players can play, but only a select few can perform when the bright lights of the Madison Square Garden are shining on them. Forever on the quest to top Michael Jordan, Bryant surpassed MJ’s double nickel with a 61-point outburst in New York.


40-8-8 vs. Magic, Game 1, NBA Finals

After losing to the Boston Celtics the year before, Bryant still had many questions on whether he could win a title without Shaq. He quieted a lot of that with this Game 1 gem against the Magic.

 

You’re not the only one who can shoot threes, Ray

Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all-time, but it wasn’t because of his three-point shooting. Bryant had that weapon though, which was on full display against the hapless Seattle Supersonics.

 

 

Anything you can do, I can do better

It’s one thing to compete against your idols. It’s another to perform well. Jordan was well past his prime, but was still showing some spunk at his advanced age. Bryant was entering his prime and hung his own double nickel against his Airness to send him off into his third retirement.

 

Game-tying three vs. Pistons, Game 2, Finals 2004

Not a lot went right for the 2004 Lakers, but they were able to get to the NBA Finals with four future Hall of Famers in their roster. After dropping the first game against the gritty Pistons, the Lakers were in danger of dropping to 0-2 for the series. Not on Kobe’s watch.

 

 

Game-winner vs. Phoenix, Game 4, 2006 First Round

The return of Phil Jackson to the Lakers in 2005 got the team back into the playoffs. Unfortunately, they were facing off against the No. 2 team in the West in the seven-seconds-or-less Phoenix Suns. Up 2-1 in the series, the Lakers were down to the Suns by one with 6.1 seconds left. There was no doubt who was going to take the shot.

 

 

Kobe 62, Mavericks 61

He outscored an entire team by himself. BY HIMSELF. Even in high school this is a crazy achievement, and Bryant did it against grown men in the best league in the world.

 

 

81

Nothing needs to be said for one of the greatest performances of all time.

 

 

A glorious finale

Bryant couldn’t leave the NBA without one more signature performance. Not only did he erase a 10-point deficit with 2:16 left in the game, he hit the game-deciding jumper with 31 seconds left, and iced the game from the free throw line.

Thanks for the memories.

Can you name every player to win a championship with Kobe Bryant?
SCORE:
0/54
TIME:
10:00
2010 - F/C
Pau Gasol
2010 - F
Metta World Peace
2010 - G
Derek Fisher
2010 - F
Lamar Odom
2010 - C
Andrew Bynum
2010 - G
Shannon Brown
2010 - G
Jordan Farmar
2010 - G
Sasha Vujacic
2010 - F
Luke Walton
2010 - C
D.J. Mbenga
2010 - F/C
Josh Powell
2009 - F/C
Pau Gasol
2009 - F
Lamar Odom
2009 - G/F
Trevor Ariza
2009 - G
Derek Fisher
2009 - C
Andrew Bynum
2009 - F
Luke Walton
2009 - G
Jordan Farmar
2009 - G
Shannon Brown
2009 - C
D.J. Mbenga
2009 - G
Sasha Vujacic
2002 - C
Shaquille O'Neal
2002 - G
Derek Fisher
2002 - F
Rick Fox
2002 - F
Robert Horry
2002 - F
Devean George
2002 - G
Brian Shaw
2002 - F/C
Samaki Walker
2002 - G
Lindsey Hunter
2002 - F/C
Stanislav Medvedenko
2002 - G
Mitch Richmond
2002 - F/C
Mark Madsen
2001 - C
Shaquille O'Neal
2001 - G
Derek Fisher
2001 - F
Rick Fox
2001 - F
Robert Horry
2001 - F
Horace Grant
2001 - G
Tyronn Lue
2001 - G
Brian Shaw
2001 - G
Ron Harper
2001 - F/C
Mark Madsen
2001 - G
Isaiah Rider
2001 - G
Mike Penberthy
2000 - C
Shaquille O'Neal
2000 - F
Glen Rice
2000 - G
Ron Harper
2000 - F
Robert Horry
2000 - F
Rick Fox
2000 - G
Derek Fisher
2000 - F/C
A.C. Green
2000 - G
Brian Shaw
2000 - C
Travis Knight
2000 - F/C
John Salley
2000 - F
Devean George

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