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

Kobe Bryant’s best game against the Boston Celtics – Game 7 of the 2010 Finals

Game 7 of the 2010 Finals was one of the best games in Lakers history, but it was not Kobe’s best scoring performances against the Celtics, he made his mark in other ways. It was strange to see Kobe have an off shooting night in the biggest Game 7 of his career because he normally dominates the Finals scoring-wise.

However, his 15 rebounds speak to how hard he worked to still make an impact and will the Lakers to the title over their bitter rival Celtics, who beat them in the finals two years prior. This was one of the most important wins in his entire career because it gave him his fifth title, one ahead of the big fella that left six years prior.

Ironically the game was won not because of a buzzer-beater by Bryant, but because of a pass Kobe made to Ron Artest late in the game that led to an important game-sealing 3-pointer. Even Artest could not believe Kobe passed him the ball, and he even mentioned it in one of the most memorable Finals post-game press conferences of all-time.

This win definitely cemented Kobe’s legacy as the greatest Laker of all-time because only a few Laker greats have ever won five championships wearing the purple and gold. Even though he did not post gaudy scoring numbers, it should be considered his best game against the Celtics because of the end result and how he had to find other ways to impact the game.

The performance also allowed him to take home his second Finals MVP Award in as many seasons, becoming only the fourth player to ever accomplish that feat at the time. The image of Kobe celebrating on top of the scorer’s table after this victory will live on in Lakers’ memory forever.