Lakers: Kobe Bryant’s Top 5 Moments Against the Suns
By Karan Karia
1. Two Buzzer Beaters in One Game
In 2006, expectations for the Lakers season were not very high. Despite being only a No. 7 seed, Los Angeles held a 2-1 advantage over the Suns in the First Round with Game 4 coming at home. The game was close throughout, setting up a tight finish.
The Suns took control late, holding a two-point advantage with 7.9 seconds left and inbounding the ball near halfcourt. Steve Nash took the inbound, where he was trapped by Smush Parker and Devean George. Parker knocked the ball out, and it ended up in Kobe’s hands. Somehow, he wound his way to the basket and put up a rainbow layup over a taller defender which swished through. That first buzzer-beater tied the game at 90 with 0.7 seconds to play, sending the game to overtime.
The end of overtime was even more insane. Luke Walton and Steve Nash faced off in a jump ball at midcourt with 6.1 seconds left, which Walton was able to control and tip to Bryant. Kobe raced up the court and got to his favorite spot, the right elbow just above the free throw line, and drilled a jumper over two defenders as time expired giving the Lakers a 99-98 victory and a 3-1 series lead over the heavily favored Suns.
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We all know how the series unfortunately ended, but this moment was the epitome of a dominant player carrying a team on his back and willing it to victory. And, without question, it’s the greatest moment of Kobe’s many against the Suns over his career.