2000 Western Conference Finals, game 7. 20 year old Kobe Bryant leads the Lakers to a win against the most talented team I've ever seen. Kobe led the Lakers in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots.
Here is one that is buried in the storied past: Bill Russell (Finals gm 7)- 31 points, 40 rebounds, 6 assists, 18 blocks, 4 steals
After that 2000 series, I distinctly remember Phil searching Sheed out of the crowd to tell him how great he played. Such a talented player, but overall, I'd characterize his career as unfocused and immature.
The pile of strong eagle poop that landed on the back of Sheed's head from hundreds of feet in the air might somehow be reponsible for his crazy behavior?
That definitely was amazing, Kobe guarded like 5 different players that game, from Pippen, to Wells, to Stoudamire to Smith, possibly Shremph as well if I remember right. That one block where he flew out of nowhere and snatched the ball with ease straight back down was incredible. He made some huge shots down the stretch too and had the ball in his hands initiating the offense pretty much the entire 4th quarter. To have that level of trust from Phil Jackson and a roster full of mostly veterans around him at age 21 was really something special.
2021 NBA Finals game 7 : Ingram leads the Lakers to a 110-108 over the C Bags . 21 pts ,12 rebounds , 7 steals , 5 blocks , 5 assists
Yep and fools have the audacity to act like Kobe was a side kick or a role player during those years. Dude was the second best player in the game. Prime Shaq was just ridiculous and probably any other player in the history of the game would've been the second best player on that team. Living in the San Antonio area I've been lucky to witness a lot of Kobe's best games against the Spurs in person and one could argue during those series he was the best player in those series including Shaq and Duncan. I dinstinctly a game during the 2003 playoffs where the Lakers were down by 25 in San Antonio in a critical Game 5 and Kobe single handily brought them all the way back and they finally got the ball out of his hands and Horry missed a potential game winner. Damn shot was halfway down. Spurs end up winning the championship that year and if that shot goes down the Lakers probably win their fourth straight Finals.
ugh i remember it well...and i might be mistaken here but i remember that after the shot missed and the games outcome was known that they showed both kobe and fish with tears on the bench
That was my favorite Kobe performance besides his final one. I couldn't believe he outscored Dallas through three quarters. I'm still more blown away by it than even his 81. But still Kobe saved the best for last. 60 points in his final game in the NBA after 20 years in the league. Unreal.
