Today, Aug. 24, is Mamba Day, or Kobe Bryant day, in Los Angeles. In honor of the late great Los Angeles Lakers legend, who would’ve turned 44 on Tuesday, we are counting down the 100 greatest games of his illustrious career until the start of training camp late next month.
We start with the 100th greatest game in his career, which took place on Nov. 30, 2014 against the Toronto Raptors.
Bryant had torn his Achilles in April of 2013, and although he had returned to the team early the next season, he appeared in only six games before suffering a lateral tibial plateau fracture that kept him out for the balance of the schedule.
Early in the 2014-15 season, it became clear Bryant was not even close to the same player he had been prior to the injuries. He struggled mightily to shoot a respectable percentage from the field.
But on Nov. 30, he turned back the clock, at least for one night.
Versus Toronto, which had run out to a 13-3 record, Bryant put up a triple-double with 31 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists while shooting a solid 11-of-24 from the field. It was his 20th career triple-double.
The Lakers overcame a fourth-quarter deficit, and after making a free throw to tie the score at 109, Bryant had his game-winning layup attempt blocked by Jonas Valanciunas.
But the Black Mamba scored six points in overtime to lead Los Angeles to a 129-122 victory.
