Kobe Wins First Title
There’s nothing like the first one.
Kobe Bryant won his first NBA Championship in 2000, besting the Indiana Pacers in six games in the NBA Finals. Even though, at the time, Kobe was considered Shaq’s sidekick and still not had grown into the superstar that we know and love/hate now, he still played a vital role in the first of three championships that he and Shaq would win with the Lakers.
Kobe only played nine minutes in Game 2 and missed Game 3 because of an ankle injury. However, Shaq more than carried the load in his absence. Though, the Lakers don’t win Game 4, and take a commanding 3-1 series lead, without Kobe.
While guarding Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson on a heavily taped ankle, Kobe only scored six points and picked up four fouls in the first half. He even picked up his fifth foul in the third quarter. However, it was his overtime performance, with Shaq fouled out, that will be etched in Lakers fans’ minds forever.
During the overtime period, Kobe single-handily saved the game for the Lakers as he scored eight of the team’s 16 points in the extra frame. Kobe finished with 28 points (a personal series high) as he willed the undermanned Lakers to victory.
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