Remembering Kobe Bryant, one year after his tragic passing

Former Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Former Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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Kobe Bryant
Former Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) /

Remembering Kobe Bryant, one year after his tragic passing

It should have been clear what kind of year 2020 was going to be when Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant, and seven other passengers tragically perished in a helicopter crash. When Bryant was lost, it’s was as if things stood still.

Strangely, Bryant’s sudden passing served as a unifying moment, as tributes poured in for the legend from the sports world and far beyond.

One year has passed since the horrific morning of January 26, 2020, in Calabasas California. Today, we look back at the life and legacy of Bryant and we celebrate what a magnificent athlete he was on the basketball court for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kobe played 20 seasons for the Lakers – yes he spent 20 years with one team, in today’s NBA that would be unheard of, but Kobe did it – most of the years were great, while others could probably be forgotten. Before discussing some specific Kobe games, let’s appreciate some of the NBA records he holds:

  • Most Field Goals attempted in a single game – 50
  • Most Field Goals made in a single game – 28
  • Most Points scored in a single game during the 3-Point era – 81
  • One of 22 players to appear in at least 1300 career games
  • Eighth most minutes played in NBA history with 48,637

Those are some outstanding statistics. Now, let’s get into some of Bryant’s best games played.