Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players ever. If you watch the game of basketball and pay attention to what he's done in his career, then you know very well that Kobe is easily a top 10 all time player, possibly top 5 depending on your criteria (social media would say otherwise, but we've established they know nothing). However, what about his performances in the NBA playoffs? For all of his greatness, does Kobe have great performances in the playoffs? Of course he does. Today, we look at the 8 greatest Kobe performances. Let's get into it.
*2002 NBA Finals (Game 3 vs New Jersey Nets)
-There are some great Kobe performances in the playoffs alongside Shaq and this is probably one of my favorites. Kobe stepped up in the Finals when his number was called upon, shooting an efficient 14 for 23 from the field, finishing with 36 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. The Lakers would end up sweeping the Nets and of course Kobe was a huge part of that. Don't ever believe that Shaq carried Kobe. Ever.
*2001 NBA Western Conference Finals (Game 3 vs San Antonio Spurs)
-With the Lakers up 2-0, they came in on a mission to take out the Spurs and put the finishing touches on their domination of the Western Conference. It should come as no surprise that the Lakers had a great performance from Shaq, who put up 35 points and 17 rebounds, but Kobe stepped up with a near triple double, shooting 14 for 27 from the field and finishing with 36 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Kobe was growing into his own and the 2001 playoffs were the beginning of his excellence in the playoffs.
*2006 NBA First Round (Game 6 vs Phoenix Suns)
-The Lakers would end up blowing a 3-1 series lead against the much better Suns team, but there's nothing bad about Kobe's performance in this game. With an efficient 20 for 35 from the field, 5 for 8 from three point range, and a 50 point finish alongside 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, one could only wonder what Kobe could have done if he had more help than just Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown, and Smush Parker. There was nothing more that Kobe could do, and this performance was definitely one of his best, even in a loss.
*2001 NBA Western Conference Finals (Game 1 vs San Antonio Spurs)
-Kobe was really coming into his own as a player and this was the game that really showed me he was the next one up. With an efficient 19 for 35 shooting on the night, Kobe finished with 45 points on the night alongside 10 rebounds for one of his best performances in the playoffs for sure. The Spurs would end up being swept in this series and Kobe was a huge reason for that.
*2008 NBA Finals (Game 3 vs Boston Celtics)
-While the 2008 Finals didn't go the way Kobe and the Lakers might have wanted it to, Kobe still put in one of his best playoff performances, and his best game during this Finals. With a very efficient 12 for 20 from the field, he finished with 36 points alongside 7 rebounds. Though the Lakers wouldn't end up winning the title this year, Kobe has nothing to be ashamed of in this performance. He was vital for the Lakers.
*2001 NBA Western Conference Semifinals (Game 4 vs Sacramento Kings)
-The Kings were really on the cusp of greatness, but could never get beyond the Lakers in the playoffs. In 2001, the Lakers were up 3-0 and looked to close the Kings out in the 2nd round. When the Lakers came in, they were set to do work, and while Shaq was solid with a 25 points and 10 rebounds night, but Kobe was amazing with 48 points and 16 rebounds, which helped the Lakers close out the Kings for the sweep in a clutch 119-113 victory.
*2008 NBA Western Conference First Round (Game 2 vs Denver Nuggets)
-For me, in the Western Conference, I was waiting for the Kobe vs Melo battle to turn into a great rivalry. It never really did, but I was still interested whenever their two respective teams went at it. In this case, we witnessed Kobe show that his era was still in full effect, and that he could be extremely efficient when need be. He finished the game with 49 points, knocking down 5 three pointers on the way to a very solid 18 for 27 shooting night and pulling down 10 rebounds. Kobe showed up and did what he does best.
*2009 NBA Finals (Game 1 vs Orlando Magic)
-This might be the greatest performance of his in the playoffs. It might be. Dominating the Orlando Magic through the game, the Lakers set the tone for their gentlemen's sweep that took place, as Kobe set the stage for his first Finals MVP victory. Kobe would finish game 1 with a near triple double, as he put up 40 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in one of the most electric performances of his playoff career. This is my personal favorite Kobe playoff performance because you could see he was on a mission to win and push his team to the promised land for the title.
Today, I wanted to take a break from NBA Finals coverage if you will, and discuss some of my favorite NBA duos. Right now, we're witnessing the growth of two players who could eventually end up as one of the greatest duos to ever do it in Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. We also see a possible legendary duo in LeBron James and Kyrie Irving becoming one of the best of this era without question as well. However, in NBA history, duos have shaped the landscape of the dominance. Let's take a look today at a few of the greatest.
*John Stockton and Karl Malone
-Quite possibly the greatest duo to never win a championship together, these two played together for many seasons, and had great chemistry. Malone could dominate in the post and Stockton was solid from three and was the greatest passer in the NBA. They were always in the playoffs, they were always a focal point in the Western Conference, but aside from two NBA Finals trips in 1997 and 1998, the Utah Jazz duo never tasted the big stage. It's a shame that they never got a chance to win a NBA Title, but their greatness is solidified. *LeBron James and Dwyane Wade
-While I think this duo is a bit overrated, there's no LeBron James championships in Miami without Dwyane Wade stepping up when needed. They went to 4 straight Finals together and teamed up with Chris Bosh when all three were still basically in their prime, something we had never seen before. LeBron and Wade together was something magical on the NBA courts and with two titles together, they are an extremely successful duo.
*Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson
-The Showtime Lakers were a true superteam if you think about it. There was no duo on that team more valuable than Magic and Kareem. The greatest point guard ever and arguably the greatest center ever playing together is almost unfair. With Kareem no longer in his athletic prime, he was still a tremendous post player and had the ability to stop you with blocks, pull down boards, and hit that illustrious skyhook. Magic was skilled in all aspects and young when they first teamed up, and together they would win 5 NBA Championships, and go to even more NBA Finals, making them one of the most dominant duos ever without question.
*Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant
-These two are included on this list for comparison. The truth be told, these two are extremely different players driven by different things, and while they should have had more success together, it's not a surprise that they only went to one Finals together. Injuries, lack of smart plays in clutch moments, and internal conflict makes this yet another Penny and Shaq style "what if" scenario, as Westbrook and Durant just couldn't win together like they needed to. Still, two of the greatest players to play the game today side by side with each other for as many seasons as they had together was always a joy to watch and the Thunder were a great Western Conference team because of it. Just not great enough to win championships.
*Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry
-It's too early to really gauge their success, but what if this is the start of the next NBA Dynasty? In one season together, two of the best players in the game (no. 2 and 3 if you ask me) have gotten to the big stage and so far, both are performing well. They've went 67-15 to give the Warriors another record regular season, and in the NBA Playoffs at the moment, they have racked up 14 postseason wins, which is a NBA record as well. If both are playing together at a MVP level, this duo will be very tough to stop and the scariest thing about these two together is that they are both just entering their prime and getting better. Could Steph and KD end up with their names in the lights next to MJ and Pippen or Kobe and Shaq? Only time will tell.
*Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway
-Aside from Stockton and Malone, and possibly Westbrook and Durant, this duo is the best to never win a title. They went to one Finals together, and perhaps if they added another piece to compete with the Bulls during the MJ return, they might have done more. However, their chemistry was just building as they ended up dividing, as Shaq and his ego, as we've seen, is too much to have a great duo together for too long. Shaq wanted to be the man and for Penny, he wanted to be the man. After a sweep by the Rockets in the 1995 Finals, and a loss in the 1996 playoffs, they were split, but this is yet another "what if" scenario.
*Tim Duncan and David Robinson
-These two are honestly amazing and legends in their own right, and for the seasons they played together, they were able to make amazing things happen. In the era of the Lakers and another legendary duo of Kobe and Shaq, the Twin Towers managed to win two titles together and Duncan took over Robinson's role as the leader of the team. This is one duo that was essentially the passing of the torch, showing what could be accomplished when egos don't destroy greatness.
*Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen
-Two amazing players. One playe that is the greatest NBA player in history. The other is a top 5 SF ever, probably top 3. Both in their primes. This is essentially something we've never seen before. This is why they were so successful. Jordan in his unstoppable zone, Pippen being a great scorer and a top defender, these two were just too much for the other teams. Jordan and Pippen won 6 titles together, and had two three peats as they remain the most successful duo in the history of the modern NBA. Jordan and Pippen are the standard.
*Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal
-The 2nd... maybe the greatest duo of all time. 4 NBA Finals in 5 seasons. Kobe and Shaq together dominated the Western Conference after a long road to perfect their formula. With Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones, the Lakers were a playoff team, but ego was getting in the way as both Kobe and Shaq were trying to get it together and win as well. However, once Van Exel and Jones were gone, Kobe and Shaq became the most dynamic duo in Lakers history (yes, even over Kareem and Magic IMO), winning three straight titles and elevating Shaq to an all time great center, maybe the greatest, and Kobe became one of the best players in the game during this time. It was as if while Kobe was finding his prime that Shaq was well into his and leaving out of it by the time their partnership ended. This is my favorite duo personally, as they showed just what dominance can be, but if they had put their personal differences aside, they might have ended up as 4 or 5 time champions.
