5 players who always raise their game during NBA Playoffs

#3 – Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)

Black Mamba is without doubt one of the best clutch players in NBA history

Kobe Bryant is one of the most celebrated NBA stars of all time. Following a barrage of injuries, Bryant bid adieu to the game at the end of last season and it truly was the end of an era. Since his debut season in 1996/97, Bryant has won 5 NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 15 playoffs he has played.

Although he was named as Season MVP only once, in 2007/08, Bryant was named the Finals MVP on two occasions – in 2008/09 and 2009/10, the last two Championships that he won and that the Lakers won. His playoff game average of 25.64 PPG places him 11th in the all-time list of post-season averages. He is also fourth in the list of points scored in playoffs, only behind LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan.

Black Mamba is without doubt one of the best clutch players in NBA history, as he won the Lakers many matches with his timely and perfect shooting ability. Perhaps, the Lakers might never have gotten close to the Boston Celtics’ record of most NBA championships if not for KB24. In the 7 NBA Finals Bryant featured in, Lakers won 5 and lost 2.