Kobe Bryant Scores 44 Pts to Average 30.0 in Last Game of Legendary 2002-03 Season | Full Highlights

#kobe #alwaysandforever
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Kobe Bryant Full Highlights (Rare)
LA Lakers vs Warriors
April 16, 2003
The Arena in Oakland
- 44 pts, 6r, 4a / 16-28 fg, 3-7 3pt, 9-10 ft
(Game 82 of 82)
Entering the night, Kobe’s average was sitting at 29.8. Scoring 44 points bumped it to 30.0 and placed him alongside Elgin Baylor and Jerry West as the only Lakers ever to average 30+ in a season. Kobe also finished at 6.9r and 5.9a, just missing out on becoming the 4th player in league history (at the time) to average 30, 6 and 6.
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Kobe Bryant’s 2002-03 season was nothing short of brilliant. If Rob Horry’s three in game 5 against San Antonio had dropped, the realization of this greatness may have been even more definitive. The Lakers would’ve still been a long way from a 4-peat, but beating the Spurs would’ve opened the door to that possibility wide open. As I’ve stated in the descriptions of other videos, ‘03 Kobe defies human tendency. Following the success of a 3-peat, it would seem normal if satisfaction and contentment set in. It’s understandable that 3 consecutive crownings as the NBA’s most superior squad would prompt players to take their respective foot off the gas pedal. Because ultimately, it doesn’t get much better than that. The 1950’s Minneapolis Lakers, 60’s Celtics, and 90’s Bulls are the only other teams to win at least 3 championships in a row.
The heights reached by the 2000-02 Lakers did not generate relaxation from Kobe. It somehow enticed him to push even harder, overcoming standard human behavior (remaining content after immense success) in the process. He arrived at training camp having gained a visibly evident 10-15 pounds of muscle. There aren’t many existing articles detailing his summer 2002 transformation, but it was documented at the time. The following excerpt is from an insidehoops.com forum quoting a Sports Illustrated article that was written in the Fall of ‘02:
“The Los Angeles Lakers guard hit the weight room hard during the offseason, adding some 15 pounds to his 6-foot-7 body to bring his weight up to about 225. He said he wanted to be stronger this season and keep defenders off him.” (www.insidehoops.com/forum/show...)
Bill Walton had also taken notice, expressing his thoughts during the initial minutes of LA’s road opener in Portland on October 30th:
“A bulked up Kobe Bryant, 15 pounds - the determined weight lifting sessions all summer long, plus the maturation - 24 years old” ... “In the locker room prior to tonight’s game with Kobe, asked him about his three-point shooting which has dramatically improved - last year 25%, this year in the preseason 41%. He really feels that the weight training did help him on that. He got bigger, he got stronger but not too big.” ( • Newly Chiseled Kobe Br... )
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Kobe, 2002-03:
First 30 PPG season
Career high 38.3% 3pt
Career high 6.9 reb
Career high 2.2 stl
Career high 41.5 min
Played all 82 games (1st time)
NBA leader 2,461 total points
NBA leader 868 FG’s made
Playoff leader 32.1 PPG
All-Defensive 1st Team
All-NBA 1st Team
55 pts in game
- 42 pts in first half
- 15-29, 9-13, 16-18
51 pts in 31 minutes
- 36 pts in first half
- 15-28, 3-8, 18-20
46 pts at MSG
- 17-27, 4-4, 8-11
(12) threes in game
- 12-18, 45 pts
- NBA record (at time)
9 straight 40+ point games (50-47-83)
- NBA modern day record (tied)
40+ average in month (47-43-85)
- Feb ‘03 - 40.6 PPG (14 games)
- 3rd player ever (at time) to average 40+
in a month (Chamberlain, Baylor)
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Rare - few or no known highlights of player/game on KZbin at time of publishing.
All footage is property of the National Basketball Association (NBA). No copyright infringement is intended.

[@dcshow]

Make sure to hit thumbs up if you enjoyed this video. More content coming soon! Kobe, 2002-03: First 30 PPG season Career high 38.3% 3pt Career high 6.9 reb Career high 2.2 stl Career high 41.5 min Played all 82 games (1st time) NBA leader 2,461 total points NBA leader 868 FG’s made Playoff leader 32.1 PPG All-Defensive 1st Team All-NBA 1st Team 55 pts in game - 42 pts in first half - 15-29, 9-13, 16-18 51 pts in 31 minutes - 36 pts in first half - 15-28, 3-8, 18-20 46 pts at MSG - 17-27, 4-4, 8-11 (12) threes in game - 12-18, 45 pts - NBA record (at time) 9 straight 40+ point games (50-47-83) - NBA modern day record (tied) 40+ average in month (47-43-85) - Feb ‘03 - 40.6 PPG (14 games) - 3rd player ever (at time) to average 40+ in a month (Chamberlain, Baylor)

[@chitownkidd33]

30-7-6 in 2003 is equal to 36-9-8 in 2021.

[@strickyboiwonder]

no its not

[@chitownkidd33]

@@strickyboiwonder When you account for pace yes it is.

[@nikosofidemporas]

@@strickyboiwonder Plus,teams in 02-03 averaged 95 PPG. Compare that to 111 PPG average in today's league. Kobe would have 35+ easily considering the fact that he had 30 in a team with Shaq and a way worse pace than today that resulted to 16 less points and several less assists and rebs in average for teams.

[@BeefPapa]

@@nikosofidemporas Technically you may be right. But Bryant was built for that 90's iso pace.

[@johnnycee9325]

@@BeefPapa he is right. Which further explains the argument for his GREATNESS!

[@h-k7804]

Although he seems not to jump the highest but he gets up so fast and can posterise anybody at anytime. His athleticism is unique. He is definitely top 3 best in game dunkers ever.

[@AJRAOfficial]

FACTS

[@HRAHMAN91]

30ppg in an era with low scoring games and less possessions. 30ppg in 2003 is like 38ppg in 2022

[@jaxondakota7080]

That boi Kobe was trouble back in the day for any opposing team!

[@peytonlong5573]

The year of no shoe deal for Kobe was crazy he shoes were insane that year

[@strickyboiwonder]

Probably Kobe's best season. R.I.P Mamba

[@GJG_3]

Nah 06 was his best. Outscored Dallas and 55 in a half

[@kmoney8201]

​@GJG_3 no it wasn't in 03 he was better defensively

[@bettyjeanstokes360]

Thank you for this Kobe baby, man I just can't get enough of watching Kobe play. He is so amazing, the more you watch his games, the more you want to watch them when you don't have any of them to watch. OMG, that so incredible, Kobe man we love you and miss all of you, every one of you. I just love these games, they are never boring, just exciting. Thank you for sharing Kobe and the Lakers. Thank you.

[@HappyGuy343]

The way he was balling that year it’s shocking he didn’t average more. I guess him having to share with Shaq effected his numbers

[@ronin2981]

Coach Phil asked Kobe to slow down or else Shaq wouldn't be pleased if he broke MJ's 40pt streak.

[@sajeranshan24]

Miss you Kobe, forever my role model and basketball inspiration #MambaForever

[@ArmandoKozomara]

same bro same....:((

[@AHMAD-2324]

Kobe " The Closer " Bryant RIP LEGEND

[@mp6697]

That may have been the best Kobe dunk I ever saw!!

[@jonjonbailey4314]

Couldn't nobody stop Kobe 8!!@

[@ArmandoKozomara]

Man he got better and better, and 2003 was a machine. Then a little setback for a couple of years and got even better in 05!

[@lioninthesun]

Only a physical setback. He was there cerebrally the next season too. Remember he had a great series vs the spurs and wolves in 2004. Just the debacle of Detroit that ruined it

[@Ez3s]

Happy I got to watch these games live 🙏🏾 ❤️8/24

[@xctkillaprodigyx2586]

Same I started watching basketball in 01 and am a warriors fan from back then so I was tuned into this one. Kobe is the greatest player I ever watched even though Ik MJs the GOAT. Kobe's right there though!

[@TheDignam]

The last game of the Lakers season 2002-2003 (50-32).

[@lancertheanswer6351]

Clicked for the thumbnail, stayed cuz its 03 kobe

[@pinstripedynasty6117]

Another gem 💎 can't wait to watch this one

[@domo_3532]

Good Job Big Dog 👌🏽 Keep em coming!

[@dcshow]

Thanks and yessir will do

[@craigmackssj3680]

@@dcshow thank you sir I'm 1990 baby so I grew up on kobe

[@annie20232]

Hard to believe he didn't win the scoring title that year. He has like a 10 game streak of scoring 40 or something

[@anthonypreda1120]

I got even more respect for you being a late 90s baby and diggin in the crates for these videos. Keep up the good ish 💪🏼 PS - Adonl Foyle had no chance.

[@dcshow]

I appreciate that man, and will do. That dunk was absolutely filthy.

[@mariogv4083]

Great job. Thanks again for uploading this videos🙏🙏🙏. Its amazing to have all this content in KZbin

[@dcshow]

No prob, thanks for being a great supporter of mine.

[@andren8788]

I thankful for these videos

[@johnnycee9325]

Shaq was probably mad because he NEVER averaged 30+ for a season! 😂😂😂😂

[@2020Viszion]

Fresh line

[@Sheboygan.]

Great job as always, dom! And I appreciate the point you made about how rare threepeats are. From what I can see, a mixture of satisfaction from winning so much and wear and tear from playing 100+ games for 3 straight years usually caps how long a team can win before it needs to be retooled. I really wish the Lakers had defied that pattern and won the 02-03 championship, but that Horry three just wouldn't drop.

[@dcshow]

Thanks so much. I felt it was necessary to emphasize the satisfaction part. Its wild how kobe approached the summer as if they’d lost. His team came back looking like they’d been chillin all summer. But kobe came back with the muscle gain, ready to pursue that 4-peat. Resulted in by far his best season individually through that point in his career. I wish the same had happened for the team as well. 4 in a row would have been incomparable to anything in the modern era.

[@Sheboygan.]

@@dcshow You're right, the improvement Kobe showed that year is a microcosm of him as a player and person. The constant pursuit of improvement, whether he's coming off of failure or success. And the 4-peat definitely would have stood alone in history. The playoff losses in 03 and 08 are the losses that irk me the most when I think about Kobe's career. He played too well those seasons for them to not end in championships.

[@jamalabdelbaset6635]

Ah yes! The game where Adonal got FOYLED!

[@lorenzodawkins7500]

In the Jordan 8s

[@CaliJatt0809]

Bruh this was so nasty!

[@jonjonbailey4314]

Wow I 4got bout Dat so dey did both agree 30 he'll naw!! N Kobe used ta feast on Oakland except 4 when We Believe was Ballin. N when Splash Bros came. But don't 4get Jamison getting back ta back 51 point games vs Lakers w Kobe n Shaq!!

[@jonjonbailey4314]

It's a great time out!! GSW Hoop!! My Yayyy Area cats peep!! Not no new Chase account secret society folks, hey I can go c Steph play now!!