Ranking Kobe Bryant's 10 Greatest Game-Winners

#3 vs the San Antonio Spurs, Western Conference Semifinals Game 4, 12th May 2002

(skip to 5:13 in the video below for the game-winning play)

In one of the most well-matched Western Conference Finals ever played, Kobe & Shaq's Lakers went up against the Twin Tower Spurs. Both teams had identical regular season records of 58-24, and Tim Duncan had won the regular season MVP award for the first time in his career that season.

The Lakers went into the game with a 2-1 series lead. Kobe had a rough shooting night, and indeed, in the play in question, he almost turned the ball over with Bruce Bowen on him. Derek Fisher rescues the ball and hoists a shot up with barely any time left on the shot clock. Kobe draws one of the toughest rebounds of his career (with David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker contesting him), and proceeds to score over a fierce contest by David Robinson.

While Kobe has knocked down numerous textbook jumpers to win games, this play by him is one of the best hustle plays of his career, and the importance of the game makes it imperative for us to rank it at #3.