Two decades ago, on this very day, the NBA witnessed history. The second-most points ever scored in a game, and possibly the greatest individual performance in modern basketball history, happened. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers was an absolute terror, as if he were an asteroid with the intent to extinguish the Toronto Raptors. Number 8 at the time, dropped 81 points, setting himself only behind the legendary Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point performance. 20 years later, we are still talking about the dominant accomplishment: he carried the team to a 122-104 victory.
Kobe Prepares for the Raptors
In an NBA where teams had to go through the Detroit Pistons in the East and were used to the LA Lakers at the top of the West, things changed in 2006. It was a few years past the Laker three-peat, and the big man in the center parted ways. “Big Diesel,” “Superman,” and the future “Big Shaqtus,” Shaquille O’Neal was dealt to the Miami Heat.
After some on-and-off-the-court drama, the Lakers decided to build the team around their “MJ.” In hindsight, they made the right decision. Kobe Bryant stepped on the court on January 22nd, 2006, with a mission. In their previous meeting, the Lakers won 102-91, holding Bryant to 11 points. This time would be different.
According to The Players’ Tribune, former Raptors forward Charlie Villanueva said, “December 5th, we keyed in on Kobe, and he picked us apart.” He added, “Guess what the plan was for January 22nd? It was ‘Let Kobe have this.’” Well, Charlie, that didn’t make complete sense because the previous game was December 7th, and Kobe was held to 11 points, shooting 5-12 from the field.
With a starting lineup consisting of Lamar Odom, Smush Parker, Chris Mihm, and Kwame Brown, you aren’t exactly playing with future Hall of Famers. The days of having Shaq, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, and every other player trying to grab rings from the Laker dynasty were far behind.
Kobe Sets Franchise Record
It was a Sunday when Kobe Bryant stepped on the Lakers’ court at the Staples Center. The arena filled with fans, celebrities, and the buzzed allure as if they knew something special was going to happen. It may have been the night “The Black Mamba” was born.
At half-time, the future Hall of Famer had a modest 26 points. The team was down 18 to a subpar Raptors team. And then Kobe took over! He scored 27 of his team’s 42 3rd quarter points. Then topped his own greatness, scoring 28 of 31 points in the 4th, capping off the comeback 122-104.
A combination of 55 points in the second half to go with his 26, he would end with 81 total points! On 28-46 shooting, 7-13 from three, and 18-20 from the free throw line, Kobe dominated ball possession. He did add two assists, so other players in the gold and purple did touch the ball, occasionally.
Jalen Rose couldn’t guard him, “Mo Pete” probably got a call from Tom Izzo, “Who?” Mike James had no chance, and Chris Bosh wasn’t yet aligned with the Justice League. No one in the entire nation of Canada could have helped Toronto on the hardwood that night. Maybe if the Kings were hosting the Maple Leafs, they could have stopped Bryant (unless it was in the playoffs, right, Leaf fans?).
Final Thoughts
It is crazy to think Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a single game. This proves that Wilt Chamberlain’s record may remain untouched for all of history. Bryant is considered a top-5 player of all time and the closest thing we will ever see to Michael Jordan. The way he could take over a game like this, few could do the same. Even though we lost the legend too soon, his legacy will always live on.
