Lakers: 20 Greatest Individual Performances in Franchise History

Shaquille O'Neal (L) and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the 1st quarter of game two of the NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets 07 June 2002 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers have a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. AFP PHOTO/Lucy NICHOLSON (Photo by LUCY NICHOLSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Shaquille O'Neal (L) and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the 1st quarter of game two of the NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets 07 June 2002 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers have a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. AFP PHOTO/Lucy NICHOLSON (Photo by LUCY NICHOLSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images) /
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15. Kobe Bryant Drops 60, Third Straight 50-Plus Point Game

Hello again, Memphis.

This game was not necessarily significant for the fact that Kobe Bryant scored 60 points in an NBA contest, for in his prime, that was happenstance and at the time the Pau Gasol led Memphis Grizzlies were one of the worst teams in the NBA, but more so, for the fact that it was his third consecutive 50 point game in a row.

Three 50-point games in a row?! Again to put this into context, in the 2015-16 season there have only been two 50-plus point scoring games, Stephen Curry with 53 and James Harden with 50.

To this day, Kobe Bryant trails only Wilt Chamberlain for the most consecutive 50-point games: Wilt has seven, Kobe has five. Further, Kobe dropped 60+ in two of the four of those contests, and narrowly missed chalking up a fifth consecutive 50+ point game by only seven points.

In his prime, Kobe would beat you from the inside, off the dribble, catching alley oops, from midrange, hitting fall away jumpers with ease and from the outside, draining threes at an astounding clip.

Considering the Lakers current circumstances and his current struggles, it is easy to take Kobe Bryant for granted, but man was he something.

Next: George Mikan's 61 Point, 36 Rebound Game