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

#3 From shooting airballs to becoming the most clutch player in the league

Kobe in the 1997 playoffs

Byron Scott missed the game with a sprained wrist, Robert Horry was ejected for fighting with Utah's Jeff Hornacek, and Shaquille O'Neal fouled out with 1:46 remaining in the fourth quarter. The onus of generating all the offense for the Lakers fell to the rookie Kobe, who shot four airballs at the end of the game.

The Jazz won 98–93 in overtime to eliminate the Lakers 4–1. He first whiffed a game-winning 2-point jump shot in the fourth quarter, and then misfired three three-point field goals in overtime, including two tying shots in the final minute. O'Neal commented that "He was the only guy who had the guts at the time to take shots like that."

O'Neal's words would turn prophetic as Kobe hit game-winning shots or free throws for the Lakers on 36 separate occasions through the years and become NBA GMs' most trusted player to hit a game-winner for 11 straight seasons from 2002 to 2012.