Kobe Bryant 30 points vs Kings 2001-02 WCF Game 1

May 18, 2002
Arco Arena
Sacramento, CA

Boxscore: http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200205180SAC.html

Statline: 30 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 12-26 FG, 6-7 FT

HQ Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UwucT9Vnsk&fmt=6

The Los Angeles Lakers had won 2 consecutive championships with the ageless Phil Jackson and with 2 of the best players in the game, Shaquille O'neal and Kobe Bryant. Their team chemistery and their offensive execution of the triangle offense had been second to none. No team over the past couple years were able to hang with the Lakers. Yet it seemed as though they would have their pressence as NBA champions challenged this year by the Sacramento Kings. They had already become the favorites to win the NBA championship as they themselves had installed a variation of the Princeton Offense, an offense that had also become seemingly invincible. With 4 years under Rick Adelman, the Kings had matured under the offense and had begun to blossom as the elite team of the NBA. After 2 easy playoff series wins in that 01-02 season, it set the stage for one of the greatest battles of NBA history, the Los Angeles Lakers vs the Sacramento Kings in the WCF.

Game 1 was underway as the Lakers showed the Kings who the real champions were. The Laker's adrenaline seemed endless as the Lakers made 10 of their first 11 baskets in the game while Mike Bibby, one of the key pieces of the team, was dormant. Kobe Bryant was the main reason for the Laker's 1st quarter success as he either scored or assisted on 11 of the team's first 21 points. His composure on the court and his oncourt poise was a factor in silencing the Arco Arena, one of the most hostile basketball courts of all time.

Throughout the game, as the arena became desperate for a run, Kobe Bryant continually hit decisive buckets down the stretch to stop any rhythm the Kings could have gotten into. Despite continual dominance by the Lakers, Chris Webber keyed a run by the Kings in the 4th quarter to move within 5. The run sent all of the 17,717 Arco Arena into a frenzy. But once again, they had Kobe Bryant to deal with. Bryant knocked down a very timely floating jumper in the lane over the All NBA defensive 1st team member Doug Christie. Christie into 5 fouls, the last one which had been out of sheer frustration. Who could've blamed him, afterall you are guarding the most skilled player of all time. No matter who was guarding Kobe, he had shattered every last defender the Sacramento Kings had. The Kings even tried rookie Gerald Wallace on him without much luck. In the end, the duo of Shaq and Kobe were too much for the Kings to handle. The Lakers won 106-99.

Other Notes:

-Bill Walton calls Kobe the most skilled player in the game 3 times already when Kobe is at the age of 23.

-Kobe had 3 dunks in this game, all in the 1st quarter, 2 of which are overused in mixes.

-You will be able to hear the classic NBA on NBC theme song in this video

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Kobe
• Bryant
• Sacramento
• Kings
• Los
• Angeles
• Lakers
• championship
• 2000
• 2001
• 2002
• playoffs
• game
• blazers
• defense
• Shaq
• O'neal

[lk90jn65]

WHO ELSE MISSES NUMBER 8 HIGH-FLYING KOBE?

[ArchSynDrum]

lol I better watch out? Watch me son. I'll start it here. How about "the celtics only won the series cuz the refs cheated 4 dem", they had more fucking drama than shakespeare, and after 10, 12, and 13 years in league pierce, allen, and garnett finally won a ring. They're no match for the Lakers next season.

[Disposable5]

@NoName1325 his opinion is right. Do some research on that series. The kings had more foul calls going there way through out the entire series

[RKEreal1]

lol! I forgot Gerald Wallace even played for the Kings. He looked mad young back then haha

[NoName1325]

@LakersRule24 if it wasn't for your name, I'd give your opinion a chance.

[Jasminbaum]

@nitotech

oh man,Dirk is special AND ppl say kobe stayed hungry,thats NOT true,he just has the best supporting cast in thze nba,AND the most expensive supporting cast nin the nba,ppl like duncan,kobe and dirk get old,but the only one who gets better is Dirk...

[nitotech]

@Jasminbaum We'll see about that and Kobe's stats are actually pretty good for his age stupid actually one of the best ever in history. Yes he's gone old, all the great ones do eventually get old, but his game improves. we'll see how hungry Dirk is after his first one.

[Jasminbaum]

@nitotech

hahahhahhaha lol im actually laughing right now,wanna know why???im mavs fan babe, and were gonna kick your ass as many times as possible losers,need a broom?? btw kobes stats suck,hes gone old,very old...

[nitotech]

@Jasminbaum Ok.... Kings fan. Now watch Kobe destroy your team time and time again.

[Jasminbaum]

I AM EMOTIONALLY RIPPED...JUST WATCHED "THE GREATEST TRAGEDY IN SPORTS PART 7" WOW LA VS KINGS WAS SOOO FIXED!! OMG

[Jasminbaum]

wtf game 5 was NOT fixed..what was fixed? i saw it, game 6 was fixed as hell!!