The 1999-2000 NBA season was Kobe Bryant’s coming-out party.
Although he wasn’t the big-time scorer he would soon become, it was the first time people regarded him as a superstar and one of the best all-around player in the game.
By averaging 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, he helped the Los Angeles Lakers win a league-high 67 regular-season games.
They began their quest for their first NBA championship in 12 years by facing the upstart Sacramento Kings in the first round of the playoffs.
The Kings weren’t the usual eighth seed, and after the Lakers defeated them in Game 1, Bryant made sure they didn’t stage an upset in Game 2.
He went off for a career playoff-high of 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting while making all three of his 3-point attempts, and he served up several exciting highlight plays.
Los Angeles won in a blowout, 113-89, and it looked like the team was on its way to a sweep.
As it turned out, it needed the full five games to knock off the Kings, but it was the first sign of things to come for Bryant in the playoffs.
