A closer look at Kobe Bryant's 5 highest scoring games

Kobe BryantKobe Bryant might seem like an old man to many after playing close to two decades in the league, especially after the two injuries he just revocered from-an Achilles tear and a knee injury. Nevertheless, he was the first guard in league history to be drafted directly from high school and at the young age of 18 he made his debut.Turning 36 on Saturday, Bryant still has a couple of years left officially as per his contract,but at the end of the day it comes down to the will of the Black Mamba. If he desires to play at the age of 38, he will work to make sure he can be an asset to the team and earn another extension with the Los Angeles Lakers.He has not only impressed many, but also become famous around the world for a consistent work ethic and a phenomenal threshold for pain. He has been yearning for that elusive sixth ring ever since he conquered the NBA in 2010 winning his fifth championship defeating the Boston Celtics in a seven game classic.As  sad as it sounds, it is true that with the current state of the Lakers franchise will leave the Black Mamba at five rings itself. He has left everything on the floor for the team every single time he took the court. He even learned from many Hall of Famers as to how to use his game to help his team get better and eventually stand a chance to win a championship.So on the occasion of his birthday, here is a closer look at the Mamba’s 5 highest scoring games in his career: 

#5 60 points against Memphis Grizzlies (22nd March, 2007)

Game stats: 60 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Shooting: 20-37 from the field, 3-7 from the beyond the arc and 17-18 from the free throw line.

Kobe Bryant was leading the Los Angeles Lakers through a miserable rebuilding phase and after missing the Playoffs the last two seasons the team was determined to return to where they belong. However except Lamar Odom, the Black Mamba still use to receive very little help from the rest of the very non-dependable roster.

He went berserk during this season of 2006-07, scoring 60 or more in four consecutive games becoming the fourth player after Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor and Michael Jordan to have scores of 50 and above in three consecutive games. Jordan was the last to do so in 1986-87, before Bryant broke that record in this game.This nerve racking game that went down to the wire was the third of the four encounters that Bryant scored above 60 in the season. 

With Bryant’s monstrous effort, the game should have been a cake walk for Lakers, but they escaped with a 121-119 win. There was a lot of talk around the game and the possibility of Bryant joining the elite 50 point club which led to a lot of early doubles and defensive moves shown by the Grizzlies. Although he did start the game 0 for 3, he did find his rhythm early and as the game progressed the intensity of the defense went up a notch, but still failed to stop Bryant from scoring.