In February 2003, Kobe Bryant had already experienced a historic and monumental heat stroke with nine straight games at 40 points or more. But it will be even stronger a few years later, in March 2007.
The numbers are dizzying. Between March 16 and 23, there are 225 points scored with 76 shots scored, i.e. 56 points on average at 54% shooting success! A prodigious record for a rear who shoots so far. We then add 56 free throws at 93% success, and we obtain the most impressive offensive series of the last 40 years.
65 points, second mark of his career
At the time, the Lakers’ season was not a long calm river. 26 wins in 39 matches to start the season before injuries darken the picture. Despite these hard knocks, Kobe Bryant shines, and has just been elected MVP of the All-Star Game with his 31 points in Las Vegas.
His streak begins against the Blazers on March 16. Kobe Bryant scored 65 points at 23/39 in shooting, 8/12 in 3-pts and 11/12 in free throws. We remember his magnificent award-winning shot on Zach Randolph 20 seconds from time to snatch extra time. Then, at 108-108 everywhere, he scored one of the most incredible shots of his career. A 3-pt in the corner when it is taken at two. His 65 points remain the highest score of his career after his 81 points in January 2006.
Next come Kevin Garnett’s Wolves. This time, the future 2008 MVP sticks 50 points in Minnesota, 17/35 to shoot. He made history by becoming the first Laker to record two straight 50-point games since 1962 and Elgin Baylor.
He joins Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and Elgin Baylor
Everyone is passionate about Kobe, and the March 22 game against Memphis is the center of attention. Can he score the hat-trick? 24 points at the break, then 19 in the third quarter, 17 in the last, the calculation is quick: 60 points at 20/37 on the shoot. At the end of the match, when a reporter asks him if he can repeat a similar performance in 24 hours, Bryant is clever: ” You will like. »
Again, prior to that fourth appointment, he had already joined Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan in history as only the fourth player to achieve that hat-trick.
“It’s special because it comes with three straight wins. It’s just huge because I grew up idolizing these players. From MJ to Wilt to Baylor, it’s a huge honor to be in the same league as these guys in the history books. »
The day after the game against Memphis, Kobe Bryant did not disappoint against the Hornets (which would become the New Orleans Pelicans). He has already stuck 27 points at the break. Phil Jackson can rest him well by placing him on the bench, nothing can extinguish the “Black Mamba”. He makes a new exceptional copy: 50 points at 16/29 on shots, 2/5 at 3-pts and a perfect 16/16 on the free throw line.
Alone outside on his planet
With 4 matches at 50 points in a row, he joins Wilt Chamberlain on a unique planet where he remains the only outside player. The performance is immense, historic, monstrous. Just choose the most precise adjective: “Kobesque” perhaps. The praise multiplied, the pure scorer Bryant was at his peak and never since Michael Jordan had the league observed such a phenomenon in scoring. So complete, so prolific, so fluid.
Obviously, for the next game against Golden State, the expectation is huge. The Internet and social networks do not yet have the power of today, but we have only been talking about Kobe Bryant for a week. Finally, he scored “only” 43 points against the Warriors. In addition to the historic performance of the league’s leading scorer in 2006 and 2007, the Lakers won during these four games, as well as against Golden State.
The secret of this crazy series? Anger !
In seven days, Kobe Bryant will have offered a fabulous show, a sublime technical demonstration and an orgy of points that remain in all memories. How to explain it? How was such a rise in temperature possible at this time of the season? Phil Jackson gives the key.
“Remember, two weeks ago Kobe was suspended for allegedly kicking. I think that’s the trigger. Now he is motivated like never before. »
A version confirmed by Kobe Bryant. “What irritated me was that I was considered a vicious, dirty player. I felt insulted. Now these same people refer to me for anything else and I prefer. »
We are still talking about it more than 15 years later. And for good reason, we have not seen such an incredible offensive series since, and above all, Kobe Bryant tragically disappeared on January 26, 2020.
