Kobe Bryant greatest games: 36pts 9rbs 8asts vs Spurs (2001 playoffs - G3)

(2001) WCF Game 3: Kobe scores 36pts + 9rbds & 8asts leading his team to a 39pt historic blowout.
The Spurs series in 2001 WCF is one of Kobe Bryant best ever. He was only 22 years old and he destroyed the team with that year's best record in only four games.
Kobe Bryant stats in that series: 33,3pts (on 53% shooting) 7rbds 7asts
Game 1: 45pts 10rbds + 5 dunks
Game 2: 28pts + clutch 3 in final min
Game 3: 36pts 9rbds 8asts
Game 4: 24pts 10asts
Game 3 is full of highlights by a then #8: reverse dunk, no look pass, tip jam, long jumpers.. Kobe put on a show at age 22 and was at his spectacular best.

[@youngrizzle2003]

The 2001 lakers are one of the 5 greatest nba teams of all time.

[@sirtakalot]

They were absolutely dominant especially in the playoffs, but talent-wise, I will personally always favor the 2000 team with Glen Rice. One of the best all-around shooters ever. Similar to Ray Allen in terms of style.

[@SniffyPoo]

they underperformed in the regular season. Fisher was injured most of it. the Spurs werent nearly as good as they would get a few years later when Parker arrived

[@preachdatruth69]

@@SniffyPooand Kobe beat them without Shaq

[@mivado3]

Kobe was entering in his prime in this year's playoffs. Even though Iverson was the MVP this year, I truly believe that Kobe was the best player in the league.

[@ruebencastro3642]

Kobe 4-2 against the Spurs in the playoffs

[@samuel2pac72]

"I told Kobe today he was my idol, he's playing phenomenal. The mark of a great player is how you make the players around you play, I now can truly say that Kobe Bryant is the best player in this league" - Shaq in 2001 at 2:42.

[@harriszai9467]

"Michael Jordan-like" at 22 years old. Just unreal.

[@KungaMatata]

Yet he had 16 rebounds, distributed and controlled ball the whole game, played terrific defense, and made all the big FT's when it was needed, Yes he played played poorly, but based on his performance in all 7 games and the things he did beside scoring in game 7, I think he deserved Finals MVP in 2010

[@svenshrempf]

he only played poorly in Game 7, he was a beast even in game 6 to tie the series.. everyone played poorly, even KG who was shooting well, started missing in the 4th qtr

[@liljuve13]

kobe was by far the best player in the league in 2001, not even close.

[@liljuve13]

gary bush Who was then? Shaq? Thats the only player I can think of...hmm

[@khamalrajaad8730]

shaq was the most dominant but ur right kobe was the best/most complete all around player in 01

[@mamba9381]

gary bush Tmac was only MIP that year. Kobe was the NBA leading scorer through the first three months of the season. When you watch the last minute of the all star game that year, he took over like a veteran. At age 22, he was already THE man. Of course Iverson had a better season but Kobe has an amazing run in the playoffs, even averaging 33pts 7rbds 7asts during the Western Conference Finals vs the Spurs. There were great players during that time but Kobe was in the top 3 with Shaq & Iverson.

[@mohamoudmohamed9182]

Nah Shaq and AI were both better than Kobe at that time.

[@facelessandnameless]

gary bush MIP is Most Improved Player. And TMac wouldn't get to Kobe's level until a couple years later...

[@dcjr7921]

How long has Kobe been shitting on Duncan & the Spurs? Still, it never gets old

[@rchamp247]

Kobe probably gave the Spurs nightmares for years. They never figured out how to stop him.

[@juanleiden]

this team was the most dominant ive ever seen during the playoffs series

[@jayyoon9075]

It's not really how much he scores as is the remarkable ease and variety with which he scores. His game was so creative and so fluid, yet so dominant.

[@scorpionJB]

the move Kobe did at 6:54 may be the greatest move he ever unleashed in his career....this is god frightening what he did right there.......damn...

[@Randomnoobi]

Look at how effectively Kobe was able to get to the basket and do his scoring. Interestingly, it was right after this season that the NBA instituted the zone defense in the league. Just imagine if Kobe were allowed to play the entirety of his career without the zone. His numbers would be astronomical.

[@JahHoopz]

Kobe was slowly becoming the best in the game from 2000.

[@mamba9381]

I know what I'm talking about. They beat Portland (50 wins that season) 3-0, then Sacramento (55 wins) 4-0. They destroyed San Antonio (58 wins) 4-0. In game 1 vs the Spurs, they win by 14, by 39 in game 3 & by 29 in game 4. Entering the finals, they had a 19 game winning streak. After a loss vs Phila in game 1, they won 4 straight vs the Eastern champ. They never lost on road during the entire playoffs to finish with the best postseason ever (15-1 record). So I know what I'm talking about.

[@xsalvioutlawx]

People seem to forget how athletic and quick Kobe used to be. It's amazing how long it has been on how relevant he still is today. Older superstar in the NBA in his 16th season.

[@Thuggishdeer]

this is a prime example of what the people in the lebron era are missing. these highlights are old and nobody sees them anymore so people dont know how kobe did things without shaq. shaq didnt draw doubles like he did for wade, kb created his own shots as well for shaq. and dismantled the spurs best defense.

[@Dreamewalker]

Man...to have a player like Kobe and a big scoring and defending machine like Shaq on the same team. The league had no chance these 3 years...

[@cruz363]

Tell me again how Shaq carried Kobe to 3 rings?

[@SniffyPoo]

what was Kobe's scoring avg with Shaq out of game? He created openings as well as scoring, I dont think Kobe had nearly the same gravity at this stage of career

[@arv9993]

SniffyPoo Kobe was the one feeding shaq, he helped Shaqs numbers too. Look at what shaq in the video and it’s also a clip of Kobe penetrating and making it easy for shaq.

[@Abel-yo9mf]

@@SniffyPoo 🤣🤣🤣 Kobe had an nba all time record 9 straight 40 point games in 03 when Shaq was out with injury…

[@SniffyPoo]

@@Abel-yo9mf yes, because the rest of the team was old and creaky from years of deep playoff runs with no new young blood. I remember they started 3-9 or something w/o Shaq that year and barely made it to 50 wins, and Horry was starting at center.

[@rafaelmeza725]

@@SniffyPoo still won 2 rings without him🤡🤣😂 regardless it was going to be Kobe s team at some point as dominant and Shaq was 😤🤡🤡

[@tiger1649]

THE GREATEST SERIES PLAYOFF'S PERFORMACES AGAINST THIS KIND OF COMPETITION IN NBA HISTORY! ESPECIALLY GAME 1, WHICH IS THE BEST! WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE SEEN THE GREATEST SKILLED PLAYER IN NBA HISTORY! THE MOST COMLETE, AND UNLIMITED PLAYER EVER! PERIOD!

[@chriswalls5831]

Kobe said he take 01 Lakers to beat any NBA team in history

[@Chrisisballin]

greatest of all time hands down..kobe bryant

[@KreolaBoy]

These ignorant folks be like " Kobe was just a side kick " LOL Hilarious

[@rossell30]

Kobe and Shaq was monsters how could you possibly beat this team.

[@kennethwhite8045]

Better than Jordan at 22 years of age. Period.

[@rooseveltdarbey9493]

No he wasn't

[@Theterminato2013]

I wouldn’t go that far saying he was better than MJ at age 22 but he was definitely better than Lebron at the same age.

[@scorpionJB]

this was the series that KOBE became the best player in basketball, he absolutely destroyed the SPURS, he took it to DUNCAN and ROBINSON, and made DANIELS look like a high school player......even SHAQ acknowledged that KOBE was the best in the league right after game 1 of this series....

[@2kking4reel]

kobe, the best to ever play the game

[@paranz]

kobe toyed with the spurs defense.. kobe was (and still is) a beast... awesome player

[@KungaMatata]

Yep. totally agree. Every great haters are gonna have haters, but sometimes they're so freakin ignorant and fail to see the truth in stats.

[@jacobmelkonian9028]

Kobe is the G.O.A.T. i dont care what anyone else has to say!!

[@svlajkov]

almost every team in the nba has the strength to win the title but the only the smartest,most talented,and those with the best mentality do and thats exacly what kobe is in this decade.

[@keyon11000]

Thankyou!!! People don't remember kobe's great athleticism and his ability to play over the rim. and his ability to do it all. Handle the ball, post up, great on the fast break, he could pass, he had developed into a great shooter, he had great footwork even back then, and he was a great defender! In many ways, he was better than he was in 08. He was just not a smarter player back then.

[@jraposo]

17 seasons and has been top 3 player for 14 straight years, you can't name one player who has been in the discussion for best player for so many straight years. even if he wasn't first, that level of play for such a long stretch makes him the best for that time.

[@scorpionJB]

Kobe was playing on a shot knee and extending tons of energy being the only player in this league to lead a team featuring a 7 man rotation to the title....and yeah, he played bad the first half, but still outscored everyone in the 4th quarter and hit crucial free throws and had 15-16 rebounds to boot.....Lebron totally imploded in that game 4 on every level imaginable....

[@scobum]

thats what cracks me up when they say kobe can't win without shaq. yeah... and shaq couln't have won without kobe or finals mvp dwane wade. duh... and jordan couldn't win without pippen, rodman duh... it take a bit of a team to go along with a superstar player. great video, I remember that year. kobe shaq and fish on the side. best playoffs in history only losing 1 game in the entire playoffs :)

[@JahHoopz]

absolutely my dude

[@IsaacMSingleton1]

Kobe absolutely tortured the twin towers in this series 😂 you wanna talk about all time great series? This 1 from Kobe has to be there

[@bharsini]

Just looking at their games, Kobe is more smooth and fluid than Lebron. I believe that Kobe is way more skilled than Lebron in terms of footwork and mid range game

[@8jwest]

holy crap. kobe used to be soooo quick. i can't believe it, he makes derek anderson look like he's standing still.

[@SwaaaggyB]

and still 2nd in the league in scoring.. just simply amazing

[@abbasakhoundi5838]

this was shaq at his best and kobe was still the closer and at the same time had the better number.

[@chitownmo]

Gasol is an all star calibur talent. Odom has exceptional talent. A 6'10 player that can handle, pass, rebound and post up. Fisher is solid on the perimeter and a reliable defender. Vujajic is a shooter. Walton is a solid passer and secondary player that fits in the Triangle offense. Bynum is a potential all star. Farmar is a starting guard on teams outside the top 6 teams in the League. The Lakers have a team.

[@brandonreed3670]

Yeah. Too be fair, Kobe was still playing with a prime Shaq and there were still players like AI and Tim Duncan. But Kobe had just averaged 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists that past season so there was definitely an argument to be made that he was the best.

[@manhbx96]

Kobe was nice with his shit lebron wasnt doin 2001 playoffs line 29.4 points 7.3 rebounds 6.1 assists second straight ring priceless

[@ncstate122]

thank you for agreeing. No one gives kobe the credit he deserved during this time. He made a name for himself

[@atlien1988]

people don't even watch the games...they just look at stats and run with it...I can pull up stats on LeBron that say he's the GOAT, but watch tape and see poor decisions, missed shots, missed assignments, etc. Stats aren't everything and they CAN lie.

[@TrevorBarata]

Everyone arguing on here is stupid. kobe is kobe. MJ is MJ. Appreciate both for what they brought to the game and all the amazing moments they brought.

[@showtimeman17]

isnt it crazy how kobe's face is still as young as it was back then? gosh his body is still as just as young just the agility has sorta left but he can still go fast no doubt about that.

[@lionelangemario]

i don't even know if i ever saw him played better than during that series.maybe game 4 2004 against those same spurs and bruce bowen,particularly because of the context but...this performance literally was mind-blowing. he just destroyed the great spurs every single game.

[@SrustinLim]

To be honest, Kobe Bryant is probably the greatest offensive player the NBA has ever seen. His post moves, his crossovers, his jumpers, his footwork is unparalleled. Jordan will go down as the best player ever but Kobe will go down as the greatest individual offensive player in league history. Kobe = Jordan v2. Their games are similar but Kobe's offensive game is just a little more polished.

[@manhbx96]

Kobe hall of fame

[@NBSpielkind]

His airness created his own reality, in which nobody could touch him, and he did it with his will n sum other mental mechanisms. Kobe got an unreal will too, n believe me I love his game. But the reason Jordan and his bulls are still greatest of all time is that nobody else had and has this mental realitycreatin ability

[@PeterJustGames]

Man 22 years old and playing like this. No way shaq could of won those 3 without Kobe. You can't replace Kobe either. Kobe during that 3 peat was the best SG in the league. He was dominant at both ends of the floor which no other SG did as well as Kobe.

[@najeefareed8890]

did tht announcer say kobe being the best player in the league as 'over the top'?

[@ArmandoKozomara]

I think its weird how Marv Albert speaks calm and easy, while Doug Colling screams, sounds like he's yelling as much as he can

[@DeltaForceSFODD]

I miss young Kobe.

[@scorpionJB]

I love it....an entire decade....that's a looooooong time...

[@VeraciousMind]

These are the brilliant games that people forget about. I'm convinced all of my basketball arguments today are with people who didn't start watching NBA basketball until 2007 Smh

[@mamba9381]

Kobe created for Shaq more than anyone else. Have you ever watched those games from the three peat era?

[@moses0686]

I remember watching this live, they did this to an nba championship caliber team

[@Darkhearttw]

Kobe is not just a goat. He is the best goat :D

[@KungaMatata]

IMO Bryant was the best player from 2002 to 2010. Yes Lebron won MVP in 2009, 2010 but Kobe won back-to-back Finals MVP during those years and made the most gamewinners in the league. I look at playoff success to determine how great star players are. Kobe won 2 titles, while Lebron lost in the second round both years. Plus Lebron didn't really have the clutch gene back then. Kobe could take over big games and finish off teams. Not saying Kobe is perfect, but the shit he does every game is crazy.

[@TBryant20]

Man this version of the lakers was so good. if it hadnt been for Iverson's absurd performance n game 1 of the finals, they would have SWEPT throught the whole playoffs.

[@chitownmo]

Whatever it took to win, Miles did it. Score, rebound, pass, defend, and lead. Have games of 31, 18, 8, with 5 blocks and 3 steals. His teammates believed in him and knew they could win everytime they played. Kobe should have been like that from day one instead of having conflicts with Shaq and Phil.

[@jektopi]

This was one of Kobe's best series ever!

[@gocelts34n7]

That was KB at his best ever, he went all-out at the beginning of the year and the team wasnt as good, thengot hurt n sat for a few weeks adn they were rollin, its almost like he saw how great the team could be if he played team ball a little better and boy oh boy did he, he was MJesque in the stretch run and playoffs, that boy killed EVERYBODY in that spurseries That was Kobe at his best, and only 22, think how good he was in 05-06 and then imagine if he had a team around him like this! WOW!

[@cacak1234]

Kobe playoffs 2001 was the MVP ..Shaq 4 Chips, 2 MVP's and Kobe 5 Chips , 3 MVP's should be like that

[@RegnovaScott]

Mamba lets not forget about the KINGS series before this series.. When Kobe has 36, 48... @ 22 years of AGE!!!!!

[@edgarbatister8143]

36 points a game in road for kobe hahahahah and they say lebron is better my god

[@TheRAS3040]

dallas really showed how one deimensional kobe really is. if he cant score he cant make his impact on the game anywhere else! in 4 stright games dallas showed that. when it counts in the playoffs.

[@Makeveli420]

So sad... i miss these days, it really doesnt seem like that long ago.

[@Flatron565]

Bryant is best player ever play this game

[@cacak1234]

It´s just amazing how a young kid can hold that pressure. look at dwight now , he is all crying and it aint even WCF or something important. Kobe doesnt matter where he ranks as best of all time , but u cant say he isnt great and amazing.

[@chitownmo]

Kobe has at times placed an emphasis on scoring above playing the entire game and you cannot deny that. During the championship years he notoriously broke the team offense for himself, not always because he had to. How many times have you seen Kobe set picks, dive for loose balls, boxes out consistently, close out consistently on defenders. When Kobe hits big shots it is beautiful but when he gambles and gets beat off the ball people make excuses for him. Makes no sense.

[@andytwon91]

Who was the best player in the league at that time if it wasn't Kobe? Tmac , AI, Who?

[@AlphaMale505]

That's a silly question! SHAQ!!!!!

[@sirtakalot]

Kevin O Nice try. Shaq's MVP season was the year before. In 2001, Iverson was the MVP.

[@Randomnoobi]

The same format it is today. 2-2-1-1-1. Spurs had home court so they hosted the first two games. The next two were in LA. Had it gone to game 5 it would go back to San Antonio, a game 6 in LA, and a final game 7, were it necessary, would be played in San Antonio.

[@vivianbottino]

Larry: 3 rings, 2 finals mvps, 3 mvps, 12 all stars, 9 all nba first team, rookie of the year, 1 all star game mvp, and 3x 3 point contests Magic: 5 rings, 3 finals mvps, 3 mvps, 12 all stars, 9 all nba first team, 2 all star game mvps Kobe: 5 rings, 2 finals mvps, 1 mvp, 13 all stars, 9 all nba first team, 9 all defensive first team, 4 all star game mvps, 2 time league scoring champion and a slam dunk title

[@LazyMC23]

Damn look how many points Shaq used to average!!! Lechoke and Shaq duo will never be as good as the Kobe and Shaq duo!!

[@diegochavez6203]

Never seen a sidekick do that 😂

[@thatdudejojo9423]

to listen to these "experts" and "stat geeks" disrespect this basketball savant's game is entertaining but disturbing how so many get away with it without being called out on it....

[@thehiphopjones]

let;s not forget kobe scored 81 points in one game, holds the all times scored in one game at Madison Square garden is 6th all time scorer with time left....5 rings....13 time all star.....usa team 4 as long as u can remember.////all time leage defender at least 10 times....has a drive no one in todays basketball has still.....still the best in todays league.......and he HAS TIME LEFT when its said and done he could have 6 b 3rd of all time scoring if he does those 2 he ties mike exactly!GREAT

[@mS28811]

OMG, that reverse at 6:56 is so fucking ridiculous. I can't even believe that.

[@Dark01Dreams]

2000-2010 (2011) Kobe Time !

[@raykob95]

kobe should have got at least one finals mvp in that three peat kobe was dominant in the playoffs andshaq was dominanant in the finals

[@chitownmo]

This is an example. I coached a talented player of Division 1 college basketball calibur in a youth league names Miles Crumble in my area. I am not saying that he is as talented as Kobe when Kobe was 16, he is not but he is talented and was the most talented player in our league as Kobe is in the NBA.

[@gio05]

Hard to tell by these clips if Shaq made Kobe better or if Kobe made Shaq better... Those were the days...

[@zogood3495]

Both benefited from each other but if I had to say it was Kobe who benefited more. I see he had multiple 1v1 opportunities and open shots due to Shaq being doubled

[@Bausjeudisdh]

DAVID SPADE!! 8:00

[@scorpionJB]

GAME 4 OF THE 2011 NBA FINALS...THIS GUY IMPLODES AND SCORES 8 POINTS, THEN THE NEXT GAME 2 POINTS IN THE 4TH QUARTER, AND HE BLEW UP IN THAT 2010 SERIES AGAINST BOSTON, 15 POINTS IN GAME 5....I don't go by youtube comments...I go by what I've seen w/my own eyes, and what them scouts say, what his opponents say, what those assistant coaches say, what George Karl said, what Alvin Gentry said, what Doc Rivers has said...Lebron took the greatest shortcut in league history....

[@RegnovaScott]

Mamba MOst people who argue that the bulls team would have beat this lakers team.. are dedicated to the opinion of the media.. THis young lakers team was SOO dominant.. I think this is the best playoff team off all time.

[@chitownmo]

Do not go to far. It would have been a great matchup. Never underestimate a trio like Jordan, Pippen and Rodman. They always came up big especially Jordan.

[@GuguKenRockLakers]

1- Kobe Bryant 2- Michael Jordan / Magic Johnson 3- Larry Bird 4- Shaquille O' Neal / Kareem Abdul Jabbar 5- Tim Duncan

[@GL_FAB]

David Spade at 8:00 😂

[@JahHoopz]

Anyone who says Shaq piggy-backed Kobe to those 3 rings shouldn't talk ball 0:48

[@scorpionJB]

Kobe Bryant's basketball skill, coupled with his athletic ability during his prime would make Lebron cave in........

[@TheRAS3040]

KOBE IS A GREAT PLAYER AND I GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR HIS CHAMPIONSHIPS. THE 2 THAT HE WON WITH PAUL GASOL IS WHERE I START TO MEASURE HIM AGAINST THE OTHER GREAT PLAYERS IN NBA HISTORY BECAUSE THE TEAM WAS HIS. HE IS ONE OF THE BEST PERIMETER PLAYERS EVER BUT LETS NOT GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES. LETS GET ALL THE FACTS WHEN WE COMPARE HIM AND NOT JUST HIGHLIGHTS ON KZbin OR THE HYPE ON ESPN.

[@Thuggishdeer]

dude ur asking for perfection, cant be done.

[@7SkipToMyLou7]

Kobe as a sideckick = Lebrons best PO performers ever (dis year)

[@djb2285]

Thank you for these uploads :)

[@selam57]

Very nice Vid Bro !

[@vivianbottino]

Its hard to NOT put kobe in the top 5 all time at this point. when you compare his career to magic and larry's he compares quite favorably and he should have a few more years left of high productivity. He may have a Kareem-like career just based on his longevity.

[@chitownmo]

Michael never stoped scoring. He won 6 scoring championships when the Bulls won their 6 championships. Kobe does have the opportunity to win but that does not mean that he will.