The fourth game of the 2002-03 season was a classic go-prove-something night for Kobe Bryant.
Fresh off of back-to-back-to-back championships, the Lakers had dropped each of the year’s first two games as Shaquille O’Neal recovered from surgery on his right big toe.
While some questioned whether Bryant could carry the load, he took it out on the Clippers by leading a 108-93 victory by stitching together the fourth triple-double of his career.
Bryant poured in 33 points, while shooting 12-of-18 from the field and 8-of-8 at the free throw line. He also got his teammates involved, with all five starters and reserve Slava Medvedenko finishing in double figures thanks, in part, to Bryant’s 12 assists — despite O’Neal and Rick Fox (suspension) being unavailable.