Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Western Conference guard Kobe Bryant (24) of the Los Angeles Lakers in introduced before the 2014 NBA All-Star Game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
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Kobe Bryant – 2002 – 31pts/5rbs/5asts/1stl/ .480 FG%
Bryant certainly had packed his big-boy pants for the trip to Philadelphia: the then 23 year-old collected his very first All-Star MVP award, dropped a game-high 31 points and lead the West to a resounding 15-point victory.
Bryant wooed the world in 1997 after he became the youngest ever champion of the Slam Dunk contest, but after winning two championships between then and ’02, Bryant’s year was about to get even better.
The Mamba’s monster stat line looks impressive on paper, yet it was even more enjoyable on-court as he took hold of the contest staring the 38 year-old Michael Jordan right in the eyes. MJ’s withered return to the All-Star weekend symbolized a passing of the baton between legend and protégé – OK, at least to some extent.
Kobe’s performance was magnificent, but his best was still to come…