Kobe top vote-getter; Leonard, Lowry NBA All-Star starters

“I was locked in, determined, tuned in to what was going on out there”. Bryant finally got over the hump in terms of winning a championship without Shaquille O’Neal and it was great seeing him rebound after a tough loss the previous year.

As for his own offensive performance, Russell said he’s more patient and will “take what the game gives me the whole game, but by that time, the game is over”.

Despite scoring 19 point less than Wilt Chamberlain who scored 100 on March 2, 1962, basketball purists still argue that Kobe’s game was actually more impressive. Obviously, there was a huge difference in the speed of play, and that meant Chamberlain had far more opportunities to score than Bryant did. Instead of the Blazers offering a video tribute of Bryant’s greatness, Portland showed a highlight reel of its two previous victories against the Lakers this season by an average of 13 points.

“I’ll continue to work out and I’ll continue to stay in good shape”, he said. Why would the fans want it to be different? “It’s important for us to play the game we know how to play and let people sit back and enjoy what we do and not compare it to what they have done”. This is the time I’m walking away from the game.

“I was not keeping track of what he had”, Jackson said. “I’m going to miss loving the fact that you hate me”.

Ten years later, a generation of the NBA’s top scorers have not come within a half-court shot of repeating or surpassing the memorable feat, so Bryant’s lamentations may be more telling of his perfectionist and obsessive nature than any shortcomings on the court. He is a four-time All-Star Game MVP and the career leader with 280 points in the game – though James is just two points behind.

Entering the second half trailing by 14, Kobe went absolutely bananas in the third, scoring 27 points on 73 percent shooting, giving the Lakers a six point advantage at the quarter’s end.

Chamberlain’s game ended up 169-147, Bryant’s 122-104.

Bryant’s favorite memory happened in Game 3 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals when he blocked Portland center Arvydas Sabonis before the buzzer sounded to secure the win. Coming into the league, Bryant was often guessed to be the next Michael Jordan and to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor.