8 reasons why Kobe Bryant is the toughest player in NBA history

#6 His first great Finals game

Kobe Bryant/Reggie Miller

The Kobe-Shaq Lakers made it to their first Finals in 2000 after beating off competition from the Kings, Suns and the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference playoffs. The Blazers were fancied to win it all at the start of the season, but lost in 7 games during the Conference Finals, and the Lakers had then replaced them as favourites to win the championship against a Pacers team that didn't have the same star power.

The series kicked off with the Lakers winning Game 1 on home court. But Jalen Rose's malicious move of putting his feet in Kobe's landing space caused him to have an ankle injury, and Kobe couldn't play Game 3 at Indianapolis. He made his comeback in Game 4 as the Indiana Pacers were looking to even the series at 2-2 at home, and they almost pulled it off.

But the Lakers held on in overtime despite Shaq fouling out with nearly 4 minutes left to play. Kobe put them on his back and got the game-winning put-back that gave the Lakers a 3-1 series lead. That he did so much while playing with a severely limiting injury is just another footnote to add to Kobe's collection of clutch moments.