Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant’s best game against every team in NBA

Kobe Bryant’s best game against the Orlando Magic – Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Finals

In 2009 the Lakers and especially Kobe Bryant were on a redemption tour after going to the Finals and losing to their bitter rival the Boston Celtics the year before. They were on a mission to get back to that point and finish the job, so Kobe could silence the doubters once and for all and win a title without Shaquille O’Neal by his side.

This time around he had another All-Star big man Pau Gasol and their chemistry lead them all the way to Game 1 of the Finals where Kobe put on a legendary Finals performance. He filled the entire stat sheet by going off for 40 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and even had two steals, and two blocks on the defensive end as well.

The Lakers shredded the Orlando Magic and the game ended with a score of 75 to 100, and it gave the Lakers a huge mental advantage going forward in the series. The Lakers easily closed out the Dwight Howard-led Magic in six games and Kobe got his first and well-deserved Finals MVP.

This was one of Kobe’s best Finals performances of his entire career, and since it set the tone in the series that got them a championship, this is easily considered his best performance against their franchise.