3 defining moments in Kobe Bryant's career
There isn't much left for Kobe Bryant to conquer in the NBA.
A 20-year veteran, Bryant has won all there is to win in the league, and at the end of the 2015-16 season he'll step away from the court knowing he ranks in the upper echelon of the NBA's all-time greats.
Here are three moments that have defined Bryant's illustrious career:
Cementing the Lakers' dynasty
Phil Jackson, Shaquille O'Neal, Derek Fisher, and of course, Bryant: Four names that played critical roles in establishing the Lakers' dynasty at the turn of the millennium when the club captured three consecutive championships.
Though the numbers may say O'Neal led those teams statistically, Bryant proved just as tough a task for opponents to handle. In the 2002 NBA Finals, a 23-year-old Bryant posted a staggering 26.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals to help the Lakers sweep the New Jersey Nets in four games, and earn their third consecutive title.
Dropping 81 on the Raptors
Don't look so shocked.
While former NBA great Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game is a number that's all but untouchable, Bryant's 81-point blast on a virtually helpless Toronto Raptors squad on Jan. 22, 2006 may have arguably been more impressive.
The legitimacy of Chamberlain's performance has been questioned on occasion in regards to the true talent level of the team he faced that night. Bryant dropped only 19 fewer points than Wilt against a Raptors team that wasn't one of the NBA's best squads, but was a capable NBA team nonetheless.
He was guarded predominantly by Jalen Rose and Morris Peterson, two decent players who carved out respectable careers in the league. On that night, however, nobody could stop Bryant, who shot 28-of-46 from the field, 7-of-13 from beyond the arc, and 18-of-20 from the free-throw line. Ridiculous.
Who needs Shaq?
As his career progressed, Bryant earned scoring titles, All-Star honors, MVP awards, and a myriad of other individual accolades. But the critics and doubters grew louder anytime he and his Lakers were bounced early from the playoffs: "Can he do it without Shaq?"
It took him seven years without The Big Aristotle, but five games against the Orlando Magic in 2009 silenced his critics once and for all. Bryant averaged 32.4 points, 7.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks over the 2009 Finals against the Magic to earn his fourth Larry O'Brien trophy, and most importantly, his first ring without O'Neal.
To further quiet his critics, he won another ring the following year, raising his total title count to five, and all but confirming his eventual place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.