Kobe Bryant’s Top 5 Christmas Day Performances
Consider it the gift that keeps on giving.
Kobe Bryant will be playing on Christmas Day for the 16th and final time when the Lakers host the Clippers in a 7:30 p.m. showdown.
While this is a game between local rivals, the competitiveness is up for debate. The Clippers have beaten the Lakers seven consecutive times and 11 of their past 12, with a margin of victory nearly 20 points.
Therefore, the best stare down Friday night might be between Father Time and the NBA’s version of Father Christmas.
Despite Bryant missing the past two Christmas contests with injuries, no one has played more games that day. In fact, pick any day on the calendar, and none has featured Kobe Bryant in an NBA uniform more than Dec. 25.
On top of that, no one has scored more Christmas Day points than Bryant, who reached 383 in 2012 to surpass Oscar Robertson’s record of 377.
In his 20th season, Bryant has had his struggles. But lately, it’s as if the 38-year-old Lakers star has pulled a rabbit out of Santa’s sack.
After dropping 31 points on Denver on Tuesday night, Bryant is averaging 20.6 points on 48.2 percent shooting in his past eight games going into Wednesday night’s game against Oklahoma City.
So which Kobe Bryant is dropping down the Staples Center chimney Friday? That remains to be seen.
For now, fire up the chestnuts and pour yourself some egg nog.
Here are Bryant’s five most memorable Christmas Day performances:
2008: Lakers 92, Boston 83
Just six months prior, the Lakers were reeling from their 39-point Game 6 thrashing at the hands of the NBA champion Celtics.
Here came Boston again, its Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen boasting a 27-2 record and looking like shoo-ins for another title.
Bryant had other ideas. Playing a game-high 43 minutes, Bryant shot 13 of 23 for 27 points to go with nine rebounds and five assists.
And less than seven months later, it was Bryant & Co. calling themselves NBA champions.
Kobe always brought something special for the big TV audience on Christmas Day games as the all-time leading scorer in those marquee match-ups. (L.A. Daily News: Hans Gutknecht)
2004: Miami 104, Lakers 102 (OT)
Dripping in drama, this marked the return of a vengeful Shaquille O’Neal and his first faceoff against the Lakers since he was traded to Miami.
Lakers fans got a load of a slimmed-down and bulked-up Shaq, who stuffed Bryant on his first drive to the rim. And after that, the heat was definitely on.
Shaq finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out. Dwyane Wade saved Miami’s hide with a 29-point effort.
Yet it was Bryant who had a shot at the end clank off the rim, his 42 points and six assists all for naught.
Worth noting: Rounding out the Lakers starting five? Lamar Odom, Chris Mihm, Jumaine Jones and Chucky Atkins.
2007: Lakers 122, Phoenix 115
This one was fun.
Led by Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion, Phoenix was loaded and could run.
As if further motivation was needed, the Suns ousted the Lakers from the first round of the playoffs the two previous seasons.
Bryant and the Lakers were up to the challenge. Buoyed by Andrew Bynum’s career-high 28 points, the Lakers pulled away in the second half upon the shoulders of Bryant.
He scored 15 points in the third quarter, capped by a 3-pointer and reverse dunk in the final 33 seconds.
Bryant finished with a game-high 38 points to go with five rebounds and seven assists.
Showman that he was, Lakers fans could always count on a great performance from Kobe on Christmas Day. (L.A. Daily News: David Crane)
2009: Cleveland 102, Lakers 87
Yes, another loss and a blowout at that.
But if there’s anything the NBA loves about its Christmas clashes, it’s intrigue and star power.
This one had both. Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James. And the Cavaliers had some center by the last name of O’Neal.
Bryant wound up with 35 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, shooting 11 of 33 from the field but 12 of 12 from the line.
Yet it was Bryant with the last laugh. He was hoisting the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy in June.
2012: Lakers 100, New York 94
This is the last time Bryant played Christmas Day.
East met West as the Lakers, stacked with Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, came out on top after a rough start to the season.
Under new coach Mike D’Antoni, the Lakers defeated the Knicks for their fifth consecutive win to pull even at 14-14.
Bryant racked up 34 points to match New York’s Carmelo Anthony. It was the ninth game in a row in which Bryant, who shot 14 of 24 (58.3 percent), scored at least 30.