The Kobe Bryant 81-point game and a legacy that will live forever

On January 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a 122-104 victory over the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center. During his symphony of basketball brilliance, Kobe hit seven 3-pointers, knocked down 18 free throws and shot 28-of-46 from the field overall. The single-game scoring total currently ranks second to only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game for the most in NBA history.

Bryant performed like basketball’s version of Beethoven that night, whipping the 18,997 fans into a frenzy with every dunk, layup and jump shot he composed. With 4.2 seconds remaining, the man who would teach himself to play Moonlight Sonata on piano by ear walked off the court to a standing ovation before meeting Patrick O’Neal to discuss the historic effort.

KOBE BRYANT POSTGAME INTERVIEW | LAKERS vs RAPTORS JANUARY 22, 2006

“Kobe Bryant, absolutely incredible,” Patrick O’Neal began during the Fox Sports West postgame interview as the Lakers legend walked off the court following his 81-point performance.

“Last time I talked to you, you had 62, a career high. You just scored 81 points–the second most points in the history of the NBA. Second to only Wilt Chamberlain. It comes in a victory, what can you say?”

“We wanted to win this game so bad,” Kobe replied. “And they jumped out to an early lead on us. My ankle was hurting me. I was a little tired, but you know we needed to get this W, so I had to push through it and had a great performance.”

“Well if you had a healthy ankle, you would’ve broken 100 points, Kobe. Is this the stuff of dreams?” O’Neal asked.

“Did you dream of this as a little kid?”

“You know what, I couldn’t have dreamed of this as a kid,” Bryant said. “There’s no way possible. It’s just a blessing from above to be able to play this game. And more importantly, get out of here with this W. That’s what really matters.”

“You got the W, talk about the third quarter. Let’s talk about the win, the defense, everybody stepped up.”

“Yeah, we had to step up and play defense. In the first half, we were letting them get whatever they wanted. Second half we had to step up, be more aggressive, and kind of take them out of their rhythm.”

“Considering that road trip, the two losses–the tough loss in Sacramento–getting this win. You have four days off, then you have Golden State and then a seven-game road-trip—

“Kobe, they’re chanting your name. This is gut-check time baby.”

“You know what,” Bryant said, his voice rising in response to the collective ‘Kobe’ chants that were now echoing throughout the arena. “It’s fun to play here. These are our people, these are our fans.

“It feels great to put on a great show here at Staples Center, and see if we can’t get some more W’s in the process.”

“I can talk to you all night, I’ll let you go soak this one in–congratulations Kobe Bryant.”

Bryant shot 61% from the floor and finished a +25 during his 81-point effort. He also connected on 54% of his triples and 90% of his free-throws. The next highest-scorer in the game was Mike James who paced the Raptors with 26. Jalen Rose had the unenviable task of chasing Bryant at the defensive end. He added 17 points for Toronto while trying to defend the indefensible.

SHOWTIME AFTER SHOWTIME

During his career, Kobe would prove to be as much like Michael Jordan from a competitive standpoint as any player we’ve ever seen. But at the same time, his style and brand were uniquely his own. The son of NBA veteran Joe “Jellybean” Bryant was a ruthless competitor who unapologetically believed he was the best. He was simple yet extraordinary in that commitment, and there was poetry in his brashness.

It was that Mamba Mentality and unforgiving nature that helped earn Bryant five NBA championships and a seat at the table reserved for only the GOATs. It was also that same mentality that gave Kobe the audacity to even consider scoring 81 points in an NBA game. But that’s what Kobe did because that’s what Kobe believed he could do.

After joining the Lakers as an 18-year-old rookie, Bryant would quickly become Showtime after Showtime for the next two decades in Los Angeles. His rise to greatness would serve as a testament to mental toughness, unwavering dedication and relentless skill. Kobe’s 81-point game was far from his crowning achievement as a player, but more serves as a window into his competitive soul. Bryant was forever chasing unprecedented greatness even after he achieved it.

Kobe will be eternally linked to the game of basketball in the same way that history’s great composers are linked to classical music. He was prolific offensively as defined by his production. He was a competitor as defined by his scowl, and he was a champion as defined by his rings. Like Patrick O’Neal said as the curtains closed at Staples Center on the night he scored 81, Kobe Bryant was absolutely incredible–and his legend will never die.

Written By Brendan Bowers | @BowersCLE

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Quick Facts About Kobe Bryant’s 81-Point Game

When Did Kobe Bryant score 81 points in a game?

Kobe Bryant scored 81 points on January 22, 2006 for the Los Angeles Lakers during a regular-season game against the Toronto Raptors. It remains the highest scoring game for any NBA player since Wilt Chamberlain who scored 100 points on March 2, 1962.

How many shots did Kobe take in his 81-point game?

Kobe Bryant attempted 46 shots during his 81 point game. He converted 28-of-46 field goal attempts from the floor overall (61%) while shooting 54% from 3-point range and 90% from the free throw line. He also finished with six rebounds, two assists and three steals.

Which defender did Kobe score the majority of his 81 points against?

Jalen Rose was the Toronto Raptors primary defender assigned to guard Kobe Bryant on the night he scored 81 points. While Rose did not guard him for every single point that Bryant scored, he did begin the game covering Kobe and went on to guard him for the majority of the night.