“I play for my own love and enjoyment of the game. And to win. That’s what I play for. Most of the time, when guys feel the pressure, they’re worried about what people might say about them. I don’t have that fear, and it enables me to forget bad plays and to take shots and play my game.” – Kobe Bryant

Two for One Tuesdays.

Kobe Bryant serves Kris Humphries and Gerald Wallace the Two for One special.

Video of Bryant’s dunk in slow motion and high definition:

“Five beats one every time I look at it. And not that (LeBron) won’t get five. He may get more than that, but five is bigger than one.” – Michael Jordan, on why he’d choose Kobe Bryant over LeBron James

Throwback Thursdays.

Young Kobe Bryant.

If Looks Could Kill: ‘Death Stare-off’

Jan. 22, 2006 – Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors

It was the second highest point total in NBA history. Wilt Chamberlain had scored 100 points in a single game in 1962. With no footage of Wilt’s performance around, Kobe’s night was something that the NBA had never seen before.

“I’ve seen some remarkable games but I’ve never seen anything like that before,” said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who played against Chamberlain and coached Jordan.

NBA single-game scorers
100 — Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia vs. New York at Hershey, Pa., March 2, 1962.
81 — Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers vs. Toronto, Jan. 22, 2006.
78 — Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia vs. L.A. Lakers, Dec. 8, 1961 (3 OT).
73 — David Thompson, Denver at Detroit, April 9, 1978.
73 — Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco at New York, Nov. 16, 1962.
73 — Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia vs. Chicago, Jan. 13, 1962.
72 — Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco at L.A. Lakers, Nov. 3, 1962.
71 — David Robinson, San Antonio at L.A. Clippers, April 24, 1994.
71 — Elgin Baylor, L.A. Lakers at New York, Nov. 15, 1960.
70 — Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco vs. Syracuse, March 10, 1963.
69 — Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers, March 28, 1990 (OT).

Jan. 21, 2010 – Kobe Bryant became the youngest to score 25,000 points

Kobe Bryant became the 15th player in NBA history to reach 25,000 career points and the youngest to hit the milestone.

At 31 years, 151 days, Bryant got to 25,000 in 35 fewer days than Wilt Chamberlain, who finished his career with 31,419 points. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA’s career leader with 38,387 points.

Bryant holds or shares numerous NBA RECORDS:

• Most All-Star Game MVP awards won, career: 4 (tied with Bob Pettit)
• Most All-Star Game points scored, career: 271
• Most All-Star Game field goals made, career: 111
• Most offensive rebounds in an All-Star Game: 10
• Most All-Defensive First Team honors won, career: 9 (tied with Michael Jordan, Gary Payton, and Kevin Garnett)
• Most three-point field goals made, one game: 12 (on January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics; shared with Donyell Marshall)
• Most three-point field goals made, one half: 8 (on March 28, 2003 vs. Washington Wizards; shared with 5 other players)
• Most three-point field goal attempts, career-playoffs: 882
• Most field goal attempts, career-playoffs: 4,499
• Most three-point field goal attempts, career-finals: 153
• Most free throws made, four-game playoff series: 51 (second round vs. Sacramento Kings, 2001)
• Most points scored in one arena, career: 13,812 (as of March 9, 2012, at Staples Center, Los Angeles)
• Youngest player to score 22,000 points: (30 years, 99 days)
• Youngest player to score 23,000 points: (30 years, 171 days)
• Youngest player to score 24,000 points: (31 years, 76 days)
• Youngest player to score 25,000 points: (31 years, 151 days)
• Youngest player to score 26,000 points: (32 years, 80 days)
• Youngest player to score 27,000 points: (32 years, 160 days)
• Youngest player to score 28,000 points: (33 years, 131 days)
• Youngest player to score 29,000 points: (33 years, 199 days)
• Youngest player to score 30,000 points: (34 years, 104 days)
• Youngest player to be named to the NBA All-Rookie Team: (1996–97)
• Youngest player to be named to the NBA All-Defensive Team: (1999–00)
• Youngest player to start a game: (18 years, 158 days)
• Youngest player to start an All-Star game
• Youngest player to win the NBA Slam Dunk Championship: (18 years, 169 days)
• Only player in NBA history to score at least 600 points in the postseason for three consecutive years. 633 (2008), 695 (2009), 671 (2010)
• Most points scored at modern Madison Square Garden (IV): 61 (on February 2, 2009 vs. New York Knicks)
• Most points scored in Christmas Day games: 383 (as of December 25, 2012)

Not even the NBATV graphics guy or Chris Webber’s pregame breakdown could help the Lakers avoid 125-112 loss tonight against the Rockets.

via usatoday. photo credits: @MarvB_ on Twitter, @nsidhom24

Merry Christmas, from the Bryant family!

What If…