April 28, 2006 – Mamba Mentality
The 2005-06 NBA season was dominated by Kobe. Although the Lakers had a fairly average season with a record of 45-37, Bryant stole the show as he averaged 35.4 points per game. Moreover, he displayed one of the greatest scoring seasons in the history of the league.
Even though he led the league in scoring, the team’s subpar record would not allow him to win MVP. Instead, the award went to Steve Nash. In the first round of the 2006 NBA Playoffs, the seventh seed Lakers faced the second seed Phoenix Suns, and Kobe was given an opportunity to prove why he should have been the MVP.
After going down 1-0, the Lakers won two straight to take a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately, Kobe only averaged 22.7 points in those three games and shot a dreadful 39.7 percent from the floor. He did not care, however, as he only wanted to win – it was his first time in the playoffs since Shaq’s departure.
At the time, Game 4 was the most pivotal game of the series. If the Lakers won, they would hold a 3-1 series lead over the Suns. If the Suns won, they would tie the series 2-2 and still have home court advantage.
In the first three games, Kobe tended to the facilitator role as he averaged nearly six assists per game. In Game 4, however, he came out as the scorer he is. Bryant started the game 4-for-4 and had eight points. Sadly, he picked up his third foul only four seconds into the second quarter.
After sitting the quarter out, Kobe scored his remaining 16 points in the third quarter, fourth quarter, and overtime. Additionally, Bryant displayed his clutch gene as he hit the game-tying layup in regulation and his legendary game-winning jump shot in overtime. He would finish the game with 24 points, four rebounds, and eight assists while shooting 64.3 percent from the field.
The Lakers took a commanding 3-1 and it began to look like Bryant was the real MVP. Surprisingly, the team would go on to lose the next three games and blow the series.
Kobe, however, was not to blame for the series loss as he averaged 34.3 points on 55.9 percent shooting in the last three games. More importantly, he scored 50 points on 57.1 percent shooting in Game 5 and his team still lost by eight.
Bryant’s heroics in Game 4 and his overall play in the series made it clear that he was an MVP-worthy player. Furthermore, he made it clear that he was a killer in the clutch.