1. 81 (1/22/06)
The best story from Kobe’s 81-point game, the second highest single-game total in NBA history, against the Toronto Raptors is from after the game when Scottie Pippen was asked about what the most impressive part of the scoring outburst by Bryant was. Pippen simply replied, “the two assists.”
However impressive the two assists may have been, Kobe put forth one of the greatest individual performances that the NBA has ever seen in January 2006. He shot 28-46 from the floor, 7-13 from three, and 18-20 from the floor. But even those numbers don’t do his performance justice.
Next: Kobe and The End of an Era
Bryant hadn’t even eclipsed the 30-point mark in the first half, but just went bonkers in the second half. There’s riding a hot hand, there’s a next-level type of individual performance, and then there’s what Kobe was doing in STAPLES on that night against the Raptors. That’s fitting since Kobe really has always been a cut above most.