Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2017, but we’re re-heating it for the 15th anniversary of Kobe Bryant scoring 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. Enjoy.
Kobe Bryant’s place among all-time NBA greats probably isn’t going to stop being debated anytime soon. His fans will point to his five titles, MVP awards from the regular season and NBA Finals, buzzer beaters and more accomplishments and accolades, while his detractors will point towards his field goal percentage and their own overflowing cups of haterade.
One thing that no one can debate (and that probably won’t change for quite some time), however, is the fact that Bryant has scored more points in a single game than any other player in NBA history not named Wilt Chamberlain.