Kobe Bryant Full Highlights vs Spurs 2001 WCF GM1 - 45 Pts, 10 Rebs, 5 Dunks

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2001 Western Conference Finals Game 1, May 19, 2001 | In the middle of arguably his best playoff run, Kobe absolutely dismantles the #1 ranked defense in the NBA on their home court. In the two games prior against the Sacramento Kings, Kobe recorded stat lines of 36-7-4 followed by 48-16-3 to complete the sweep of the Kings. With the Spurs having home court advantage in the conference finals, Kobe would need a third straight dominant road outing to get a big win and steal HCA. Attacking a rim being guarded by the twin rowers of Duncan and Robinson all night, the bulk of Kobe's scoring came inside the paint. As the game went along, Kobe became more and more aggressive. He had 5 dunks in the second half alone, many of them contested. On 19 made field goals, KB finished the evening with a second consecutive 45+ point/10+ rebound game. I consider this period of Kobe's career the beginning of his status as an elite player and the best two-way perimeter player in the game. For the opposition, a nightmare became a reality as Kobe had become a road warrior while Shaq remained dominant in the games at Staples. This kind of supremacy is what leads to a 15-1 playoff run.
BOX SCORE -
www.basketball-reference.com/b...

[@Maal7432]

Afro Kobe, is one of the coolest players to ever lace em up. Don't argue, just nod your head yes.

[@ThaDreamMerchant]

+jmaal2345 Frobe!

[@jordanrioscreations]

+jmaal2345 Agreed, but how about non-Afro Kobe?

[@Maal7432]

+Jordan Rios Definitely.

[@LTSaboutit]

Indeed brother no question

[@amendo05]

jmaal2345 you mean frobe

[@MrAVGNdude]

This kobe would destroy all the other shooting guards playing in the NBA today

[@AJRAOfficial]

MrAVGNdude FACTS

[@robbereal1982]

Kobe would destroy any player today

[@joshuahaynes7128]

Easily .. better yet this 2001 laker team would own the warriors and rockets and cavs In a 7 game series . .

[@kevinchavis8462]

Joshua Haynes Na wouldnt own, with KD that would be a great series.

[@markelleaskew201]

Joshua Haynes what’s great is that if this team went against the warriors, the warriors would not be able to go to the basket because of Shaq and grant, then you have kobe whos a lockdown defender and the lakers who are all around a good defensive team

[@iloading_]

At 22 years old averaging 29.4 points 7.3 reb and 6.1 apg in the playoffs and averaging 28.5 points 6 reb and 5.0 apg in the regular season is just flat out amazing. Haters say he got carried lol

[@TheMediocreDev]

Idiot, those comments were made in the context of an ENTIRE postseason run & the argument is he was a "wingman" ala Pippen.

[@iloading_]

+thaxcutioner#1 wat?

[@stevencoardvenice]

those are unheard of stats for a 22 year old facing elite competition in the west playoffs. spurs (5 rings). that's why he's up there with jordan and needs to retire

[@stevencoardvenice]

22 Years old was senior in COLLEGE basketball at that time

[@malevolent9505]

+thaxcutioner#1 bro I see you on all these comments , what are you doing with life besides hating ? Can you even play basketball ?

[@EazyyMuthuLovinnE]

He was only 22 years old, fucking ridiculous.

[@stevencoardvenice]

two dunks in a ROW on the twin towers. wow I forgot how good the lakeshow was then

[@chrish3079]

+EazyyMuthuLovinnE He was the spurs kryptonite always lol

[@jakedodsonjake]

the prodigy man...

[@kwall55]

Its cause he came in at 17 years old

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

Jordan was 23 when he dropped 63 on the '86 Celtics. He didn't have a top 5 all time center and arguably GOAT coach helping it though.

[@SpacelyHendrix]

wow look at Shaq carrying kobe 45 & 10 rebounds lol

[@kanyesouth7869]

Lol..I kno right...I get so tired of hearing that

[@benwallace5364]

who got the finals mvp? who got the best stats troughout the finals????

[@latravisgriffin]

+Patrick Robertson you keep saying finals MVP like Kobe wasn't balling. Of course Shaq won finals MVP. Who dafuq was guarding him that was gonna give him trouble

[@kanyesouth7869]

+Patrick Robertson What does that matter? The point is Shaq didn't carry Kobe. This was a duo!

[@arturoluna475]

kobe did a lot of heavy lifting in each WCF series during their 3-peat, easily would have been WCF mvp if there was such a thing

[@armoda1057]

This Kobe would destroy any shooting guard currently in the league right now

[@benwallace5364]

Leper King no not really "destroy"

[@bryantalcorn1034]

No fuckin question

[@joshuahaynes7128]

Ben Wallace uh yeah he would destroy today's watered down weak NBA.. I've watched NBA since early 90s and today's NBA expecislly the east is the weakest I've ever seen and ita not even close

[@Lmoney86]

30+ppg/7rpg/5+apg...sidekick numbers, right?

[@TheMediocreDev]

Lmoney86 He wasn't the MAIN focus of the defense. Players used to help off Kobe to double Shaq & even when they didn't Kobe still got to play 1-on-1. Guys such as Antonio Daniels (a backup point guard) had no business checking Kobe 1-on-1 & you saw the result. On the other hand, Bruce Bowen & Tayshaun Prince did a number on Kobe in 2003 & 2004 while checking him 1-on-1. Kobe was basically Kyrie & Shaq was Bron, Kyrie could drop huge numbers but he's still the sidekick.

[@joshhaynes3389]

thaxcutioner I don't care what player it was playing with shaq in the early 00s shaq would still be the man it wouldn't Matter.if it was jordan lebron or whoever shaq was just that damn good in 01 I've never seen anyone so dominate at any position as the early 00s shaq it'll be along time before we see a center as dominate as shaq ... just imagine if shaq took training serious and wasn't lazy he could've easily averaged 40 and 20 easily

[@z4ng3tsu1ch1g0]

thaxcutioner You also have to consider how many free dunks Shaq had just from Kobe's ability to penetrate the D. Their inside-out game was too good as they complemented each other. Kobe played so well during that postseason that if they had a postseason MVP, he would be most deserving of it. He was arguably the best player with how he torched the Kings and Spurs

[@TheMediocreDev]

Spurs had no viable perimeter defender & Doug Christie was an over-rated defender. Kobe wasn't so hot when he had to go up McKie/Snow in the Finals meanwhile Shaq destroyed Mutombo who happened to be Defensive Player of the Year.

[@z4ng3tsu1ch1g0]

And that is Kobe's fault? Why wouldn't he expose that? Doug Christie wasn't even overrated either. That's your opinion. Dude was a 2nd-team all defense and Kobe made him look like a scrub = fact. I suppose it is also Shaq's fault he went up against old Rik Smits and Todd Mcculloch right? Mutombo might've been DPOY but he wasn't known for superior post-defense, plus he was a toothpick compared to the diesel

[@PeterJustGames]

Kobe is 22 here. Holy shit.

[@TheMediocreDev]

peterdabest94 It was his 5th seasons.

[@yungbarkley]

dunked on tim and david rob in the same game

[@maxschlepzig641]

one was with *the left hand*

[@marvinmarshall9257]

At the same time on the spin move

[@christianschneider6538]

Kobe went NUTS in the 2001 playoffs. Probably the best postseason run he ever had.

[@celf994]

That is a fact sir

[@eltonjohn946]

yeah i think so too bro.

[@thechamp1063]

Christian Schneider ehhh 2009 got sum to say bout that🤔

[@stealthiscool]

2009 is for me

[@mrsoftnessful]

Would also put the 2008 playoff run as well if he won the chip

[@tisdalelucas924]

At 22....The eye test says he was already the best player in the league.👀 Sheesh Kob! 🐐

[@patcisz3474]

This was the real finals that year and Kobe outplayed Shaq this series no question

[@VoidSurfer9]

Kobe baptisms in this video: Duncan (2x), Robinson (2x), Daniels (at least 2x) Blessed be thine soul as Bean committeth thee to the realm of the dead

[@seanbates282]

I'm 44 years old I've seen a lot of NBA players this man was the best and easily the most skilled R.I.P

[@bobbyanderson5601]

Jordan

[@AFROVISIONSMEDIA]

Yea Kobe was 2nd to Jordan.

[@Ariel-2255]

@@AFROVISIONSMEDIAJordan was 2nd to Kobe!

[@BallerStatus-jl7pd]

@@Ariel-2255Not in skill level Kobe is #1 all time in skill

[@purplehaze1805]

I'd like to see Harden score 40 pts on this defense. Can't believe some people actually compared him to Kobe. Rest in peace mamba

[@rickythoren9745]

Harden would never

[@bondsgoat25]

@@rickythoren9745 harden shot 61% from three as a inexperienced bench player vs the Spurs in the WCF and hit a dagger over kawhi to send his team to the NBA finals. So…. He did

[@RhandySvg]

Harden will kill this defense

[@blablablabla2572]

@@bondsgoat25Those weren’t the same spurs and it’s not like he it 40 on them

[@bondsgoat25]

@@blablablabla2572 if you were around back then you would know why he didn’t give them 40, he never got the ball, he was historically efficient that year but got few shots behind the scoring leader and the PG who’s never found a shot he hasn’t liked!

[@Press1ForSummon]

Doug Collins talking about Kobe knowing he had first hand view of a young dominant Jordan is chilling.

[@universal1151]

30 / 7 / 6 .... on 47% shooting.... how can you hate this guy's basketball gift. This is the good old days, i got shivers watching this. What a player.

[@hristijandimitrovski8664]

Actually in these series he averaged 33, 7 and 6 on 51% shooting.

[@andyraphael]

I swear you ain't lying

[@patcisz3474]

@@hristijandimitrovski8664 damn those are MJ type of numbers

[@hristijandimitrovski8664]

@@patcisz3474 yeah, exacly, that year he was phenomenal in these play offs. Very few people know about that and that's why all of them think that Shaq carried Kobe from 2000 to 2002 and nobody understand the full story, but Kobe was killer when he was 22 years old.

[@beattheodds6219]

@@hristijandimitrovski8664 those were his stats for the entire playoffs at that point in time. It was displayed on the screen at the beginning of the video. He finished the postseason averaging 29.4ppg though

[@dhj995]

COOKIN' EM!!! All skill! No step back travel 3 pointer. No offensive fouls barreling his way to the rim. Pure skill!

[@eugenepenson1547]

PURE SKILL💪🏽🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥GOAT

[@yungface012]

Art !

[@shonuff4323]

Even at 22 he was like man amongst boys.

[@MrMakaveli97]

He had no fear of Duncan and Robinson on inside.

[@TheMediocreDev]

MrMakaveli97 Robinson couldn't help off Shaq b/c he would just get an automatic offensive rebound & Tim was dragged out of the paint b/c of Horry thus was late to challenge most of those drives.

[@MrMakaveli97]

thaxcutioner It was still there job to protect the paint and Kobe attacked sooo what?

[@TheMediocreDev]

It made his job easier but yeah all credit to him for taking advantage.

[@MrMakaveli97]

thaxcutioner Exactly.

[@CrazyFoo501]

+Mr Makaveli97 Kobe was shooting right in their faces no matter who was on him 3:12 goes right into the teeth of 3 guys still nails the layup 3:18 weaves right between Duncan and Robinson for a foul 3:41 Shaq uses a screen which leads Robinson to double Kobe and give Shaq and easy basket, this is example of being damned no matter what you do 3:55 Kobe grabs the rebound, gets to the other end and the Spurs don't even notice Shaq right under the hoop, Kobe does 4:44 Kobe post up, both Duncan and Robinson collapse to help doesn't matter Kobe dunks right in their faces 5:07 Kobe gets by Robinson with the help of a Shaq pitch and screen then posterizes Duncan on what should have been an and 1 but refs miss the foul 7:02 Kobe has 3 players focused on him while Shaq is sitting, spins away with ease and draws a foul I could go on True Shaq helped Kobe score on a few of these plays but on the same merit Kobe could draw attention away from Shaq to get him easy looks. It's not like Duncan and Robinson weren't collapsing on Kobe at all or Spurs weren't getting back in transition, they were doing both Kobe was just finishing around the rim as if defenders weren't there when they were.

[@samuel2pac72]

Its hard not to call Kobe the GOAT.

[@SomeOneSeen]

LaMont Melrose is just another Kobe “The Black Mamba” hater!!! There is always a goat in every ERA and KOBE was THE GOAT by far in this ERA (time)!!!

[@bobanderson542]

Jordan

[@bobbyanderson5601]

Jordan the goat. That's easy

[@devangpatel5227]

jordan got the goat, but kobe is a far closer than people think.

[@rakimdupree4784]

@@devangpatel5227 i dnt know if jordan start an NBA game 8/8fg

[@josepreciado2479]

This has to be one of the greatest performances ever.

[@stephentrotter1653]

One of many from kobe

[@chrisboswell3576]

I think this game. WCF Game on away. Against the best team and best defensive team in the league. To set the stage for the sweep. It’s in Kobe’s best top 3. Game 6 vs suns 2010 is up there. The way he finished them off was just pure confidence. Game 3 vs Denver 09 was huge too. One of the biggest shots he ever hit. To silence the crowd. 41 points. Game 4 vs spurs 2004. Coming to the arena from the courtoom down2-1. Put up 42 with just utter skill. A performance that showed under pressure he can come thru. Game 5 vs spurs. 2008. 39 points. Clutch. Just took over and brought the lakers to the finals.

[@rshinsec]

And people actually think that Kobe wasn't the best player in the league by this point...please. He literally does everything. Looks like a grown man playing in a high school game.

[@11kful]

He was getting there, there will was Shaq, Timmy, and A.I. to contest that statement, but the leap with his play from 2k to 2k1, was eye popping. He began to assert himself as a true 1A option, set up the dominant run as the best 2-guard in the league until 2011.

[@BlackRoyalty_]

@@11kfulKobe was the best at 21 years old in the NBA

[@pjmills5587]

Kobe Is The Best Player Of His Generation

[@pomerlain8924]

RIP Black Mamba. There will never be another like you.

[@sandarabian]

It doesn't even look like hes going full throttle in this game like a westbrook or lebron style of play. He's just crusing along picking apart one of the legendary defenses in NBA history at the age most kids are graduating college. The scary thing is he added more to his game every year up until his Achilles injury. Freak of nature.

[@2020Viszion]

Mohammad Al-Abbasi Plus he put that work in too.

[@therealdakshina1051]

@Tom Ross TV RAW lebron would just brute force his way through

[@quick2bud]

@@therealdakshina1051 Lebron aint brute forcing his way through Duncan and Robinson. As proof Lebron is 1-2 in the finals vs the Spurs

[@therealdakshina1051]

@@quick2bud Robinson was already old by this time

[@SuperNitro52]

I adore watching highlights of a young Kobe Bryant. Pure entertainment.

[@michaelharvey935]

👍👍4real

[@stevencoardvenice]

spoiled

[@SuperNitro52]

meeg_2005 Why does this comment make me spoiled?

[@samuel2pac72]

+Jabari Chiphe shit up till the 2012-13 season. I can and have watched Kobe highlights for hours.

[@andrecarter3578]

Old Kobe was pretty darn entertaining too

[@mdubg23]

All in all, you take kobe from the lakers you have no championships...

[@emjay1249]

Agree.

[@emjay1249]

***** lmaooo

[@MrWillieb11]

***** LMAO!!! Actually the Lakers got 2 rings win they took Shaq away not sure where u we're in 09 n 2010 #FACTS

[@bruhman562]

***** lmfao 2 rings after shaq 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@mdubg23]

MrWillieb11 and kobe made the playoffs multiple times after he left

[@emjay1249]

3:45 kobe is the ultimate spurs killer

[@TheMediocreDev]

Nate Rivers The ultimate Spurs killer was T-Mac followed by PRIME Dirk. Bruce Bowen in his prime couldn't even handle post-injury T-Mac. He was just too big & lanky for Bowen thus could rise over him anytime he wanted (see the 13 pt in 33 sec game).

[@andrewskiiii]

thaxcutioner nope that fluke 13 point in 33 sec game was nice but Kobe was the ultimate Spurs killer, T-Mac was just as good offensively but he wouldn't have been able to do it against em for a full series like Kobe did and unlike T-Mac Kobe was a much better defender

[@jujurawks]

thaxcutioner 1 GAME doesn't top Kobe owning the Spurs in 4 different playoff series.

[@TheMediocreDev]

+jujurawks He sure did own them in 2003 with those tears streaming down his face & being run out of his home arena in 99. The fact is Kobe as the undisputed #1 option beat the Spurs ONCE & he ended up getting his kneecaps getting cracked by the Celtics.

[@jujurawks]

haters gonna hate thaxcutioner#1

[@Seibonn]

Shaq carried him they say , bs lol KOBE is the GOAT

[@robbereal1982]

I agre

[@emjay1249]

Lmao that's a joke. Kobe had tougher matchups than shaq. Shaq was dealing with weak ass bum center

[@TheMediocreDev]

MCR C Put 2001 Ray Allen/Vince on the Lakers & the result would be the same. Ray/Vince/Iverson were playing as well as Kobe if not better in the 2001 postseason.

[@Seibonn]

Dude hell no wtf no one on that list would score 45 on a WCF game

[@TheMediocreDev]

LoL, Vince (while playing w/ a bunch of scrubs) had 50 against the same Sixers squad Kobe faced in the Finals & Ray Allen was going toe-to-toe w/ AI in the ECF.

[@musiconcloud17]

I was almost 10 watching this live. Kobe was so unreal and he was so young. At 22, He had one the best post seasons in NBA history in the last 18 seasons.

[@bookieallen7448]

Kobe dominated The Spurs in his career

[@darnelldarden9429]

Just a killer, master at work, and he paced himself beautifully. Kobe with the fro was a different animal, he had no weaknesses in his game

[@Mike1122.]

Shaq won nothing before getting with Kobe. Sure, Shaq was a dominate inside force but Kobe did all the heavy lifting in the West playoffs and Shaq dominated the non centers in the east.

[@maddmoney9342]

EXACTLY

[@ctrlaltcreate3827]

Bro this is pure facts

[@MellandMalplayz]

Yup

[@marquismans9678]

Big Mike this what I’ve been saying every time I hear shaq got finals mvp Kobe did all the heavy lifting

[@masegomasibi8385]

And they never bring up this point..and Shaq was at his prime

[@FireAngelChris]

this is what greatness looks like

[@JustSayMilo]

THIS WAS THE SERIES WHEN KOBE CEMENTED HIMSELF AS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE AND THAT WENT ON FOR 10 + YEARS...PLUS SHAQ SAID "KOBE IS THE BEST PLAYER ON THE PLANET"

[@lucianotecuanapa9853]

Was crazy Kobe at 22 was average 30pts 5asst 7reb vs the spurs who at the time the best defense team with the best record in the NBA Kobe was just an other level

[@wilfredjones4042]

First three years without shaq, lakers missed playoffs then lost in 1st round two years straight.. Was he the best player those years too?

[@jdope2700]

@@wilfredjones4042 For three years after that, without shaq, lakers made the finals three years and won 2 straight. Was he the best player those years too? Pau Gasol is good but he aint shaq.

[@wilfredjones4042]

@@jdope2700 Dwyane wade had a 2 year stretch where he was better and far more efficient than Kobe. More assist, rebounds, steals and blocks. If wade doesn't sit game 6 against pistons Wade may have won two chips in a row.. I'm just saying Lebron and wade some of those years were arguably better. Give Lebron, lamar odom and caron butler they go to finals. They couldn't male the playoffs with Kobe

[@wilfredjones4042]

Not to mention Duncan, Garnett and possibly a few more

[@itssandrew]

all these lebron fans dont realize what kobe has done. he won 3 championships at a very early age... and he was a key part in winning all three of them

[@stevencoardvenice]

I agree. I forgot about this. and I watched all these games.

[@gillaaaboy]

+Prince Cyrill: Warriors fan since 2015! 6,1rpg , 7,4 apg thats godlike with 29 ppg

[@itssandrew]

***** yeah he a freak but he aint better than kobe. he had to leave his hometown to chase rings... with 2-3 other all stars.

[@russell9411]

lebron was 27 tho kobe was 22

[@ultrawweman7265]

@@mike2623 More like, Kobe is the 2nd behind MJ and Lebron is 6 behind Bird.

[@tykila1]

2nd half Kobe went absolutely berserk on two hall of famers.... my favorite player ever

[@Tonyoung55]

This was the real NBA FINALS....AND WHO WAS THE MVP OF THIS SERIES? KOBE

[@stealthiscool]

My favourite Kobe game of all time, he was unstoppable. We will miss you and Gigi Mamba 😪💔🌹

[@thelakerfannexxdoor7751]

I'm here cause I miss him :( Even I forgot how dominant he could be. Jeez.

[@paulespinoza1994]

I miss him too he was a gift to the world and not just basketball, business, arts and intelligence!

[@princetaheed]

Thanks homie for providing me with more killer Kobe footage. Young and fearless.

[@ParaditeRs]

Only Kobe could possibly abuse Duncan and Robinson like he did in this game. Ridiculous lol. James is a great player, but this, James ain't done anything like this.

[@alij8h]

CloutGod ur drunk

[@btl_0072]

Lebron is better at everything than Kobe lol, nice try tho. Better in every statistical category in the RS, playoffs and Finals. Also has way more accolades than KoBrick. Will eventually pass him in all time points as well, in less time which is sad.

[@zacharyrodriguez851]

BTL_ 007 in a weak eastern conference and a losing record against western teams in the finals LOL

[@muhammadrifkisetiawan2205]

@@btl_0072 accolades? Lol. How about kobe made 12 all defensive teams, 9 of which all defensive first teams and he played his entire career in the west you know. How many for lebron? Kobe won slam dunk contest at the age of 18. Did lebron ever participate or he was just too scared to lose? People who truly understand and follow basketball don't always give a shit about stats and accolades. It is championship that matters, the ultimate goal. 5 > 3 (with changing teams, stacked with franchise players, a bunch of really good veterans and even former all stars, if you remember who the likes of ray allen really was)

[@Mike1122.]

Mike lol, Lebron played his entire career in the east the weaker conference his number will be great. Kobe played in the toughest conference and put up astrological numbers. If they switched conferences Kobe would have 40,000 points. Kobe for 8 years deferred to Shaq, who did Lebron ever defer to. Stop it dude, kobe would never allow his teams to lose 6 NBA finals. Lebron played with numerous all stars and barely won 3 titles. Kobe way better than Lebron and it’s not even close.

[@Rorschach771]

How quickly do people forget about Kobe. At 22 yrs old he's already at his prime.

[@hoopsoutlier9917]

Kobe didn't carry shaq, nor did shaq carry Kobe. They were analogous, equal and attributed to one another, their values were equal, and their abilities were equal. Their contribution to those 3 laker rings was equal. You couldn't have won 1 without either of the 2.

[@dalx21]

Agreed. People who never got to see these two in their primes are going to look back and exclaim how unfair it was that the Lakers had the most dominant center since Wilt, and the 2nd most dominant guard ever, on the same team. It's a shame they only won 3 titles together as that duo should have won at least 6.

[@quick2bud]

Anyone who knows anything about basketball will tell you that Shaq's Finals numbers are inflated because the East teams they went against had garbage Centers and interior defenses. Of course the Lakers are gonna feed Shaq 30x a game when hes going against Rick Smits, Jason Collins, and an old Dikembe Mutumbo. Meanwhile Kobe had the task of checking Reggie Miller, Allen Iverson, and Jason Kidd, 3 Hall of fame guards.

[@realpistolpete4881]

Hoop's Outlier w

[@samnedumedja5323]

Great point!!!!

[@davidbrady1602]

Realest comment I’ve seen regarding a Kobe/Shaq argument. Kobe was regarded as a top 2 TWO-WAY player in the league when he was so young and could still give anybody work on the offensive end because the dude literally had any offensive move in the book, could give you 40 and you wouldn’t see the same move twice. Not taking anything away from Shaqs physical dominance/prowess on both the offensive and defensive end, but Kobe IMO had the tougher assignments defensively and was always the catalyst to the lakers offense to what Doug Collins was referring to as Kobe being to point guard which was also a fact that few people realize. Great point though man fr people just need to recognize this type of shit

[@JromeZeta]

This series was hands down Kobe’s most dominant performance ever in the playoffs. The Spurs had no answer for him.

[@oldJimmyWales]

RIP Kobe from a Spurs fan. Getting past this three peat Lakers squad is such a big part of Spurs history. We thought we were good winning the ring in ‘99 then these guys kicked our ass 3 years in a row! RIP GOAT! Respect!

[@chrisuncleahmad]

2 years. Suns beat them in 2000

[@lifetimeskater24]

Kobe torched the Spurs at 22 years old, WHILE the Spurs were YOUNG. The "freak of nature" and the so called "King" struggled to beat the Spurs when they were OLD and was lucky he even did once.

[@zeevee4239]

lifetimeskater24 tim was the only young player. Rest were veterans. Wtf u talkin about

[@zeevee4239]

lifetimeskater24 and tim alread y won a championship before this againt new york

[@htownborn92]

To be fair this was before Parker and Ginobili were on the team

[@tubenachos]

The Spurs were old. I think 4th oldest in NBA

[@LAFitCoach]

@@tubenachos David Robinson, Sean Elliot, Avery Johnson Tim Duncan would’ve given Ginobili and Parker a run for their money

[@mexia23]

I remember watching this game Kobe was unstoppable in that game.

[@stephcurrytheg.o.a.t]

mexia23 wish I was old enough at the time. I was to young. Kobe had my top two favorite games of his in this playoff run. The 48 and 16 vs kings and this game

[@musiconcloud17]

+mexia23 me too. Remember like it was yesterday. Kobe was the best player in the league after that playoff run.

[@joshuahaynes7128]

musiconcloud17 yelp...kobe was the best player in the world from 02-2010

[@IThinkThereforeIAm]

Rest In Peace. Hard to believe this was 19 years ago

[@ahmetkrhan1633]

-chill out brother you are just 22 yo, go have some fun with your college friends Kobe: No. Im just gonna drop 45 points and grap 10 boards in the biggest basketball platform in the world while have the most dominant player on my team!!

[@CJ-py8ns]

Averaged 37ppg against the Spurs at age 22

[@avoiredranger110]

Ppl watching Luka Doncic and saying "nobody in the history of the NBA has ever done so good at this young age" forgot about Kobe Bean 💜💛

[@larryfitz6567]

"Shaq carried Kobe" Nice Joke

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

Shaq was the #1 option. Shaq was the lead dog of that title team. Indisputable. Shaq four MVP's with Kobe. Kobe zero MVP's with Shaq.

[@thug8200]

no not all mvp doesn't shit you dont get carried when you average 30

[@lakerguy-fd4rb]

Finals MVP doesn't mean jack shit. The Lakers were always tested most in the Western Conference Finals, and it was here that Kobe out-shined Shaq. 2000: Backs against the wall, down 15 in the 4th, Game 7, Kobe's defense and all-around game was sensational. Kobe: 25 pts, 11 rebs, 7 ast, 4blk on 9/19 from the field. Shaq: 18 pts, 9 rebs, 5 ast, 2 blk, 5/9 from the field. Kobe was the aggressor and the catalyst for the comeback and the series win. After this, Indy was a wrap, but it wouldn't have happened without Kobe's superior play in the game with the highest pressure. 2001: This game, and his series numbers overall, speaks for itself. Vs. the #1 Defense in the League, Kobe: 33.3 ppg/ 7.0 rpg/ 7.0 apg/ 1.5 spg/ 0.8 bpg/ 51.4% fg Shaq: 27.0 ppg/ 13.0 rpg/ 2.5 apg/ 0.8 spg/ 1.3 bpg/ 54.1% fg Kobe was clearly the superior player in the series that challenged them the most. Don't be fooled by the fact that they lost to the Sixers in Game 1 of the next round; San Antonio was a much better team. They just got demolished by a bigger dog, spearheaded by Kobe. 2002 was the first WCF series in which Shaq (30.3 ppg/13.6 rpg/1.6 apg/ .4 spg/ 2.4 bpg/ 53%) was clearly superior to Kobe, but he still averaged star numbers of 27.1 ppg/ 6.3 rpg/ 3.9 apg/ 1.4 spg/ 1.1 bpg, though on a weak 41.9%. So yeah, when the chips were down, Kobe > Shaq at the highest pressure, 2 of the 3 years. Just because Shaq feasted on garbage and/or undersized East frontcourts in the Finals doesn't mean that he was anymore valuable than Kobe was throughout the playoffs, particularly in the WCF, the toughest series each time (Blazers/Spurs/Kings). The NBA should adopt a Playoff MVP system like the NHL has, and I guarantee Kobe wins in 2001 for sure had that been the case.

[@larryfitz6567]

+lakerguy2432 shaq had 16 against Portland and some of his shots like the famous lob from Kobe to shaq was all Kobe.

[@joint2joint2k]

Excellently said.

[@russell9411]

forget the playoffs how is shaq carrying kobe if kobe avg 28.5 points in 82 games? lls kobe haters will never appreciate kobe greatness

[@moneybagshawty7086]

Ballin Too until it’s too late smh

[@melvynsngltn27]

82 games Kobe missed 16 games this season what the heck are you talking about

[@ultrawweman7265]

Kobe missed 14 games*. But I agree Ballin that Kobe was averaging almost 30 points a game in the regular season then was straight dominating the Spurs and everyone else who came in his way.

[@rashadgraham4142]

I had to screen shot the stats when they put them on the screen to send out to all those "Kobe haters" and remind them what dominance looked like in the western conference plus throughout the league by a 22 year old phenom. But Shaq was the reason for the lakers success 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂👍 righhhhhhh.

[@kobischpiek8520]

It was all on Kobe and Shaq the rest of the team was trash with the exception of horry

[@dreambiggmedia]

22 years old beasting

[@mikeatlanta9306]

Rip the the legend Kobe Bryant! Still can't believe it ....

[@seanlittle5505]

kobe would have averaged 35 points over his career if he played now

[@tubenachos]

40+ easily

[@dailyoptions7832]

This Kobe is goat....if during that time in life anybody 1 on 1 him, he could even destroy Jordan the way he played

[@yobelabraham4317]

I think that this shows how underrated Kobe AND Kevin Durant's playoff careers are. Before making the finals Kobe went through the Kings, Spurs, Blazers, and Timberwolves during his first run and the Rockets, Nuggets, Spurs, Jazz, Mavericks and Thunder. Durant went through the Grizzlies x3, Mavericks x3, Lakers x2, Nuggets x2, and Spurs x3. Don't bash them for not making the Finals every year, there is just REAL competition in the always loaded West.

[@dr.murder2690]

LeBrick couldn't even make the playoffs in his first year on the west with a team full of young talent.. Kobe and KD are way above and better than LeBrick..

[@JahleelX-xx9wd]

@Bo Stephens lol how about now?

[@JahleelX-xx9wd]

@Bo Stephens naw idgaf about all that. He supposedly can't compete on the west. I don't care what u think about him but dont say no dumb shit like he can't compete in the west. And if u go from the main option to a third option your stats will drop.

[@JahleelX-xx9wd]

@Bo Stephens u also forgot to mention the lakers was 4th seed in the west before his injury and that was his first major injury in his career. That is neither here nor there.

[@JahleelX-xx9wd]

@Bo Stephens like u really said they didn't make the playoffs cuz lonzo was injured.

[@daNXT81]

Wow. Kobe with 2 knees was UNSTOPPABLE. RIP the legend.

[@jus3278]

This was Kobe at his best in my honest opinion. He was young, agile, efficient, a great defender, and was still looking to get others involved. This was HIS moment.

[@Tonyoung55]

this was the real NBA FINALS AND THAT WAS NARRATIVE WHEN IT WAS HAPPENING AND KOBE WAS THE MVP....

[@artieedeee480]

Kobe couldn't be stop Complete all around best player in the world !!!

[@marquispicks7611]

Bro this man so good magic stood up lmaooooo bro this man played un real man

[@onepiece6529]

*2001 West Finals Lakers vs Spurs 4-0* Kobe *33.3PPG /7.0RB/7.0AST/1.5STL/0.8BLK* *FG 51%, 3P 35%, FT 76%* (22 years old) *Game 1 104-90 W* Kobe *45pts 10rbs 3asts 1stl 1blk 4TO/ 19-35FGM, 1/2 3PM, 6/8FTA* (13pts in 4th qtr) *Game 2 88-81 W* Kobe 28pts 7rbs 6asts 2stls 1blk 2TO/ 11-24FGM, 1/4 3PM, 5/6FTA (9pts in 4th qtr) *Game 3 111-72 W* Kobe *36pts 9rbs 8asts 1stl 0blk 3TO/ 14-27FGM, 2/4 3PM, 6/9FTA* *Game 4 111-82 W* Kobe *24pts* 2rbs *11asts* 2stls 1blk 2TO/ 10-19FGM, 1/4 3PM, 3/3FTA

[@JellyBean2144]

KOBE!! One of the greatest players of the last 20 years, post Jordan. Yes Tim Duncan is among that list of great players over the last 20 years.

[@hardwork3122]

Shaq: "i know i got a kid that could give 40 to 50 points any given night" "i dont need to train during the offseason"

[@quick2bud]

Keep in mind this Spurs team was regularly keeping teams under 90 points and the best defense in the league at the time

[@marloaffical6516]

So Kobe was rim running at David Robinson and Tim Duncan... who’s greatness is based on rim protection.

[@chrisboswell3576]

Honestly this game, is totally slept on. Game 1 WCF Away. Kobe set the tone for this whole series man. He was the best player in this series which you could argue was a tougher matchup than the Sixers.

[@gardenshock51]

I remember going to school each morning and hearing about how Kobe literally never misses. They would go over every stat and made it sound like he was a comic book hero to them.

[@clericg77]

GOAT

[@joshuavergara5816]

I wear no. 8 because of Kobe I just want to share a little story of me in my first game in our summer league i had a really bad game i just score 2 points I am so frustrated to myself it is like I am just relying on my teammates so after that game I sleep in 9 pm and I woke up at 4 in the morning going to the basketball court trying to hmm shooting in mid range trying to do Kobe's move the fadeaway one of his deadliest moves of all time then I work everyday everynight just to become better and I always believe that hard work pays off so I lead my team in to a quarter finals and we lose but i am happy because I always believed that Kobe taught us about hardwork

[@fredrickjohnson9473]

my favorite player

[@ramannoodeles8916]

Y'all took this man for granted he's only 22 playing like this!

[@jsx7362]

Kobe was every bit as valuable as Shaq. Give that version of Kobe his own team, he could make a championship run easily.

[@marquispicks7611]

Kobe just crushed their spirit with them dunks

[@realtalkwithjordan8026]

Duude Kobe is shredding the defense and dominating the paint with Duncan and Robinson inside. He's doing this without a bunch of outside shooting but with Shaq clogging the middle. Kobe was somethin special

[@averybailey9263]

This is the time period I first fell in awe of Kobe as a kid and that passion I had for him never left as I grew into an adult. RIP Mamba😥

[@jkd32332]

My favorite Kobe game of all time.

[@tony0785]

Rest in Power Black mamba

[@andrecarter3578]

People think Shaq was better because he has the finals MVPs but they don't stop to think that the western conference finals were the real finals the east teams they played had no one to guard Shaq and no one for him to guard so it was easy for him

[@m.davinci9285]

I been saying this since back then kobe use to carry shaq threw the west then kill teams in the nba finals cuz it was no centers that cant stop him all of the big men was in the west

[@solost6855]

Most lethal baller I ever seen

[@masegomasibi8385]

Shaq needed kobe as shooting guard to win.

[@stlyelove417]

Kobe best playoff game wearing#8 hands down goat

[@unablezhy]

the reaction from magic and mitch......

[@djish5567]

张瀚元 🈵🈲🈴🈳🈺🈹L̶e̶g̶e̶n̶d̶a̶r̶y̶🌚Mamba

[@TheMrKobeBryant2012]

That's when Mitch knew they had to hang on to Kobe.

[@AngelBluhh]

just gonna have his highlights playing indefinitely

[@thekububeach]

Man, I miss that Lakers team. Two superstars and bunch of great hardworking supporting players

[@grod323i]

This is all I got now. R.I.P. Kobe.

[@mauricedavis1740]

grod323i 😭🙏🏾👼🏽

[@michaelvaldez538]

The announcers made this video 100x better. Gave Kobe’s performance the proper words and praise

[@mariobryant8803]

This dude was super dangerous

[@Zexa21]

frobe reached god mode in this game(and did many times). steals, dunks, passes, blocks and scoring in every way one possibly can. absolute bball poetry, and with a flare and swagger you can't teach. man I loved this era

[@kjackson9000]

Kobe Bean was on some other worldly level and only 22?

[@JustSayMilo]

FROM THIS GAME HE HAS BEEN THE BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE..PERIOD..CAUSE WHEN THE PHYSICAL FADE. .HE BEATS U MENTALLY #ALLHAIL P.S..IF U KNOW BASKETBALL THEN U WILL AGREE,U DON'T HAVE TO BE A LAKER FAN TO KNOW THAT

[@jorgeybae3056]

Rip MAMBA man this was the game that turned him into a MAN, destroying a prime Spurs with max confidence 🔥

[@musiconcloud17]

2001 playoffs he averaged 29pts 7rebs & 6asts at 22 years old. How quickly people forget how great he was. He definitely wasn't no fucking sidekick.

[@eddycasseus4015]

Kobe Lord have mercy you put on the Spurs you punish them boy Wow OMG Rip to goat Kobe amazing that's all I can say

[@samuelperezgarcia]

Those Lakers were one of the top 5 greatest teams of all time. Imagine them against the 72 win Bulls, what a spectacle that would be.