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LOS ANGELES, CA. JAN. 04, 2015. Lakers’ #24 Kobe Bryant all smiles after an assist from teammate Carlos Boozer in a game vs the Pacers’ in the 1st half of the game at Staple Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 04, 2015. LA Lakers play the Indiana Pacers in a regular NBA season game. (Photo by Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA. JAN. 04, 2015. Lakers’ #24 Kobe Bryant all smiles after an assist from teammate Carlos Boozer in a game vs the Pacers’ in the 1st half of the game at Staple Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 04, 2015. LA Lakers play the Indiana Pacers in a regular NBA season game. (Photo by Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
When the Charlotte Hornets picked Kobe Bryant as their No. 13 overall pick, no one expected him to rise above the rest. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he had a slow start as a rookie. In two years, however, Bryant was everywhere. The young No. 13 pick was dominating the league in a few years, leading his team to a title only four years after his debut.
By the time he retired in 2016, Bryant had won five NBA champions with the Lakers. Spending two decades with one team, the 2008 NBA MVP is considered to be the greatest of all time for countless loyal fans. Here’s a look at some stats that have proven Bryant’s playoff dominance.
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Kobe Bryant: Postseason monster
According to this one stat, Bryant was one player who seemed unphased while being on the road during the postseason. Everyone knows how tough a crowd can be, especially when they are supporting the opposing team during the playoffs. While on the road, one needs to be locked in to keep their head in the game.
The stat mentioned lists players with the highest number of 30-point games in NBA history, while they were on the road during the postseason. Here’s who made the list:
- Kobe Bryant (2009) – 9
- Kobe Bryant (2010) – 8
- Kawhi Leonard (2019) – 8
- LeBron James (2017) – 8
- Michael Jordan (1998) – 7
- Hakeem Olajuwon (1995) – 7
- Michael Jordan (1993) – 7
- Elgin Baylor (1962) – 7
Bryant was an 18-time NBA All-Star, who also bagged the NBA Finals MVP title twice. He is still ranked fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 33,643 points.
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA – FEBRUARY 05: Kobe Bryant attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards Nominee Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 5, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
The NBA legend passed away in a tragic helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. He was on board with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others. The world mourned the tragic loss, with tributes pouring in for months. The Lakers immediately retired his No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys in a move to honor the generational phenom.
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