“MVP! MVP!” — the chants rained down from the stands at Staples Center as 27-year-old Kobe Bryant stepped to the free throw line with under a minute remaining. Of course, Bryant nailed his two attempts, bringing his scoring total to a staggering 81 – the second highest in NBA history.
Of the 1,280 games that Kobe Bryant has played in, this was it – his greatest performance. In that game against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star shot an incredible 28-46 (61%) from the field, and an even more impressive 7-13 (54%) from the three-point line. In 20 free throw attempts, Bryant missed just two (90%).
With his team down 18 in the early minutes of the third quarter, Kobe completely took over, scoring 55 points in the second half alone (27 in the third and 28 in the fourth), and leading his Lakers to a 122-104 rout.
Kobe Bryant’s second half shot chart
Kobe did more than just score in the victory — he grabbed six rebounds, dished out two assists, recorded three steals and one block.
In the record books, Bryant’s scoring total (81) sits behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, which occurred back in 1962. Only four other players – Wilt Chamberlain, David Robinson, Elgin Baylor, and David Thompson — have posted more than 70 points in a single game. Even the great Michael Jordan never eclipsed the 70 mark, scoring 69 once in 1990.
All NBA Scoring Performances of 70+ Points
| Date | Player | Team | Opponent | Points |
| 11/15/1960 | Elgin Baylor | Los Angeles Lakers | New York Knicks | 71 |
| 12/8/1961 (3OT) | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia Warriors | Los Angeles Lakers | 78 |
| 1/13/1962 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia Warriors | Chicago Packers | 73 |
| 3/2/1962 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia Warriors | New York Knicks | 100 |
| 11/3/1962 | Wilt Chamberlain | San Francisco Warriors | Los Angeles Lakers | 72 |
| 11/16/1962 | Wilt Chamberlain | San Francisco Warriors | New York Knicks | 73 |
| 3/10/1963 | Wilt Chamberlain | San Francisco Warriors | Syracuse Nationals | 70 |
| 4/9/1978 | David Thompson | Denver Nuggets | Detroit Pistons | 73 |
| 4/24/1994 | David Robinson | San Antonio Spurs | Los Angeles Clippers | 71 |
| 1/22/2006 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | Toronto Raptors | 81 |
Amazingly, the 81-point feat was one of several remarkable Kobe performances in the month of January 2006. It was a historic 31 days for Bryant, who averaged 43.4 points through 15 games that month.
Kobe vs. Michael, per SI:
According to the chart above, at 27, when Kobe had his illustrious 81-point game, the Laker averaged a significantly greater amount of points per game than Michael Jordan did at the same age.
This suggests that at that period in his career, Kobe was at the height of his prime, playing at the absolute top of his game. As records continue to be shattered, and bars continue to be lifted, it seems safe to say that Kobe’s magical 81-point game will forever have a place in NBA history.