Kobe Bryant scores 42 points on 18-33 shooting in his last ever playoff game vs the Thunder 2012 WCSF G5
The end of Kobe’s prime was kind of sad. You knew he was wrecking his body trying to carry those regressing Lakers’ teams past better, deeper, and younger squads, but it was still impressive and fun as hell to watch.
It was some of my favorite stuff from him, even in these highlights you can see a lot of burst is gone, but he gets it done in various ways. Also watching this series, it was very understandable why the Lakers decided to just try something wholly new the next season (obviously didn’t work out)
That game against the Raptors where he made three straight 3s in the final minute or so to somehow send the game to OT, and then iced the game with a dunk, is the one that always comes to mind when I think of late-stage Kobe.
Vino Mamba had some nice games in 2013.
I’ll always remember his game against the Hawks.
Passionate and literally spewing spit/venom while hitting a 3 to beat the buzzer and the game winner layup.
2013 Kobe was must see TV. It was too much for his body. I’ll always appreciate Kobe for that.
Gonna be the same with Steph
Gonna?
Its not quite at that point yet. Kobe tore his Achilles and from that moment his prime was over and he was never close to the same. Steph is still awesome, hes just on a team that isnt really a contender anymore.
Watching Steph is still exciting even if he isnt on the best team; watching Kobe post Achilles was actually just a bummer
Tbh he is getting the kobe treatment in terms of people saying you replace so and so player(I don’t want to say names) and they would have the same success type of story. It’s a shame
Except for the fact that Steph is still elite despite being older than Kobe when he retired
Dude never gave up, he just plain refused to accept “no” under any circumstances.
That left handed shot around KD…mercy.
Only one with a deeper bag might be Santa.
This was a much more impressive game than his last regular season game.
No shit, Sherlock lol thanks for the expert analysis
Kobe Bryant was a Laker his whole career
Are you sarcastically providing more expert analysis?
No shit, Sherlock! lol Thanks for the expert analysis!
Lol don’t use my comment against me like that! I couldn’t be 100% sure it was sarcastic. There are some stupid ass comments here haha
The Lakers play in Los Angeles
Man he really went down swinging in this series. The gap between him and the rest of the roster that year was painful to watch because Pau and Bynum looked completely gassed. Crazy to think this was his actual last playoff game before the Achilles injury took away his peak years
Almost forgot about Thabo’s Air Maxes
Lakers and Kobe choked some games away. Not sure they win, but should have been a closer series
They did and KD also hit a cold blooded 3 in Ron Artests face in game 4. I think he also had an uncalled backcourt violation if I remember correctly.
Watching Kobe now really make me appreciate his competitiveness, his drive to win are all coming from a genuine place - yes he copied Michael, but he also wanted to surpass Michael.
Unlike the other phony, who doesn’t even have the credentials and yet self proclaimed himself the goat. Just peak cringe.
I did not like Kobe during his career, but looking at this footage really make me appreciate him. Kobe got that aura, he’s that guy.
He copied everyone man, not just Mike. Like just in this clip, he put up a Dirk fade when the defender had good position on him.
Kobe was the Shujinko of basketball.
Kobe Bryant the rapist? who gives a fuck
The only game he played well in this series.
He had 36 and 38 the previous 2 games on 25 and 28 shots.
Dude shot 35 fta in g3 and g4. then in g4, lakers entered the 4th up 9 and Kobe went 2 for 10 and shot them out of the game.
Yup shot 35 fts and made 32 in those games really impressive.
He still played well overal, i think it’s the wording that’s too extreme
This series always sticks with me because Kobe basically shot the Lakers out of g2 and g4. Those two collapses turned what could’ve been a 3-1 lead into a 1-3 deficit.
He did shoot them out of those games. No one else had any game left in the tank. He did, let off the gas in game 3 I think. Throwing an errant pass the started the energy shift in the series
Yeah I feel you