8. Clutch Shots vs. Raptors
I’m going to cheat here and post three shots, but if you want to pick one, you can pick the last one. Either way, this was the epitome of Bryant’s clutch ability. In a season where LA needed every victory and in a game they were struggling against a lesser opponent, Bryant saved them from embarrassment with one of his greatest fourth-quarters of all-time.
7. Windmill dunk vs. Timberwolves
Young Bryant was one of the most explosive players in the league and a pleasure to watch for many different reasons than he is today. This is one of his finest displays of athleticism, driving baseline in the playoffs against the Minnesota T’Wolves and sucking the gravity out of the arena. I hope you buckled up for Bryant.
6. Dunk on Gerald Wallace vs. Nets
In one of his most recent displays of explosion (and unfortunately one of his final), Bryant surprised everyone by driving down the lane and finishing on the heads of Gerald Wallace and Mr. Kardashian. Considering it was the first year of the Barclays Center, I’m surprised Bryant was invited back considering how rude he was the first time he visited.
5. Buzzer beaters vs. Trailblazers
Again, I’ll cheat just a little bit, but the second shot in this video is the one I’d choose if I had to. A young Bryant won the Lakers the Pacific Division title on the final day with two impossible shots, one to send the game to overtime and the other to win it. With the Lakers seemingly always struggling in Portland, this was one of their brighter moments.