On January 26th, the sporting world remembers one of the NBA's greatest-ever players - Kobe Bryant. On the first anniversary of his death, players, teams, fans and the media will mourn together and share stories of what Bryant meant to them.
The LA Lakers legend transcended the game. He had a huge influence on those watching at home as well as players that would join him in the league as either teammates or competitors.
A lot of the moves and basketball IQ that Kobe Bryant portrayed on the court can be seen in the games of the league's current stars. His talent was other-worldly at times, and he averaged 25 points throughout his 20-year career.
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Kobe Bryant's highest-scoring performances throughout his NBA career
In this article, we look back at the times when Kobe Bryant's class was unstoppable. In the following games, he put on scoring clinics that no defense would have been able to stop.
#1 Bryant records staggering 81-point performance at Staples Center
On January 22nd, 2006, Kobe Bryant recorded the second-highest score put up by an individual player in NBA history. Shooting 28/46 from the field, he put up an astonishing 81 points in a Lakers home win over the Toronto Raptors.
After the game, even Bryant couldn't explain the feat that he had just accomplished:
"Not even in my dreams. That was something that just happened. It's tough to explain. It's just one of those things."
In the 122-104 win, Bryant shot at 60.9% from the field, including 53.8% from beyond the arc on 7 of 13 shooting.
Kobe Bryant was marked by every player on the Raptors team at one point or another, but there was no stopping the genius of his play. Even fouling him was no use on the night, as the 'Black Mamba' shot 90% from the line with 18 of 20 successful attempts.
Bryant scoring 26 in the first half wouldn't have been as alarming for the Raptors as one with hindsight might expect. However, Kobe Bryant's shooting prowess in the second half took him to another level in the NBA's history books, and this record will likely not be beaten for a very long time.
#2 Kobe Bryant explodes in overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers
Kobe Bryant's second-highest scoring game came just over a year after his 81-point haul. On home court again, he lifted the Lakers past the Portland Trail Blazers in a stunning overtime win in which the 18-time All-Star scored 65 points.
As with the Toronto game, Bryant just entered his zone and there was nothing anybody could do about it. Over a 14-minute stretch, he scored 33 points, including 5-5 from the 3-point line.
With the game tied at 68 points apiece, Kobe Bryant went off in the 4th quarter, scoring 24 of the Lakers' 30 points and adding a further 9 in overtime.
Kobe Bryant's accuracy was even greater than his 81-point feat, as he shot 66.7% from downtown, sinking 8 of 12 attempts. Only two other Lakers players in the game scored in double digits, and they weren't needed as it was clear Bryant had taken over.
#3 Kobe Bryant records first 60+ point game against Dallas
On December 20th, 2005, Kobe recorded his first 60+ point game and his third-highest overall in a 62-point showing against the Dallas Mavericks. We could have been seeing this performance at the top of our list had Bryant played the full game, but he sat out the fourth quarter.
Kobe Bryant embarrassed the future NBA finalists by outscoring the entirety of the Mavs team, including 30 points in the third quarter alone. Up 95-61 going into the 4th, he was rested. However, Bryant may have felt after the game that he could have continued his outstanding performance.
No other Laker player scored more than 9 points as Kobe Bryant shot 18 of 31 from the field as well as 22 successful free-throws. As with his other two scoring feats on this list, he also grabbed 3 steals in the game along with 8 rebounds.
Kobe Bryant proved his worth as one of the most well-rounded players of all time.
#4 Kobe Bryant silences Madison Square Garden with 61-point masterclass
At the world-famous venue, Kobe Bryant scored an incredible 61 points in 2009, and this remains an MSG record shared with James Harden for any visiting player.
Bryant enjoyed playing at the Knicks arena. He averaged 30 points over the 16 appearances during his career and was even met with MVP chants during his stellar showing.
In the first five minutes alone, Kobe Bryant had 11 points and went on to grab 34 by half-time. In just under 37 minutes of playing time, he was able to gain the record and cement his place in history as one of the greats.
Bryant shot 100% from the free-throw line with 20 attempts and used his patented fadeaway and up-and-under lay-ups to score 19 of 31 field-goal efforts. Along with his points tally, he also shot over 60% from the field during the game in what became his 5th 60+ point match.
#5 Kobe Bryant's NBA career ends with 60-point haul
Kobe Bryant finished his career in the most fitting way by pouring in 60 points against the Utah Jazz.
It was unlikely that Bryant would leave the league in any other fashion than by putting on a show at the Staples Center. The 5-time champion scored 38 second-half points to record his 6th 60+ point game.
For the Lakers' adoring fanbase, the performance was the most befitting way in which Kobe Bryant could have left the game. He took a career-high 50 field goal attempts of which he sunk 22, and scored 10 free-throws.
It was the most Hollywood finish to the NBA player's stellar career and will live on as long as the memory of the legend himself.
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