Remembering Kobe Bryant, one year after his tragic passing

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s careers will forever be intertwined, both won championships apart, but they were better on the court together. Beginning in the 2005-06 season the post-Shaq era had arrived and Bryant was ready for the moment, as told by Sports Animal producer Josh Lea below:

"Looking back on Kobe Bryant’s career, some might have a difficult time picking a favorite moment. For me; however, it’s easy. The Lakers were playing the season opener for the 2005-06 season in Denver. Bryant was sporting the tights under the purple and gold. He led the Lakers to overtime that game. In OT with the game tied at 97 and six seconds left on the clock. Bryant gets the ball from Kwame Brown on the corner three-point line. He dribbles to the top of the key with two Nuggets players defending him. He stops, leans back for the fade and sinks it with .06 seconds remaining on the clock. This was the beginning of the post-shaq era for Bryant."

Perhaps, the Black Mamba’s game-winner set the stage for what he would do 82 days later inside the Staples Center in Los Angeles.