R ecently NBA superstar Kobe Bryant passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the LA Lakers’ franchise leader in field goals made. With a resume boasting 5 NBA Titles, 13 All Star Games, and 2 scoring titles, many now consider Kobe one of the Top 5 players of all time. But to some fans, the debate rages on as to who is the best Laker ever. Depending on what age one is, some consider Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal, or Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the NBA’s all time leading scorer, as the best ever. In my opinion, Kobe is the best Laker ever, so let’s take a look at why as we examine which of his 19 Lakers and NBA league records rank as most impressive. Kobe Bryant’s Top 10 Most Impressive Records:



During Kobe’s magical 81 point night in 2006, he also set another Lakers record for points scored in one half with 55 points. While Wilt Chamberlain’s marks of 100 points in a game and 59 points in a half could stand forever, Kobe should remain firmly in 2nd place just as long. Bryant’s 30 point 3rd quarter also ranks as 4th all time, but is the all time Lakers franchise record.



After scoring 37 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and recording 3 steals, Kobe tied NBA Hall of Famer Bob Pettit in winning his 4th All Star Game MVP Award in 2011. Never one to shy away from the limelight, Kobe chose the All Star Game to shift all of the attention away from Lebron James and Dwyane Wade of the East squad, and onto himself, proving even at the age of 32, he remains the best player in the game today.



During the 2006-2007 season, Kobe tied the great Wilt Chamberlain as the only two players in NBA history to notch 4 consecutive 50+ point scoring games in one season, highlighted by a 65 point effort vs the Trailblazers. Bryant will go on to set another Lakers record that magical season by topping the 50 point mark 10 times, including one in the post-season.



By being selected 9 times to the All NBA Defensive 1st Team and twice making All NBA 2nd Team, I think it’s safe to say that Kobe will not only go down as one of the best defensive players in league history, but is undoubtedly the best Laker defender ever. Even defensive demons like Michael Cooper(8 selections), Kareem Abdul Jabbar(7 selections), and Jerry West(5 selections), can’t come close to Bryant’s franchise record eleven, who continues to be one of the Association’s very best two-way stars.



One would think that a franchise with 16 World Titles would have a number of stand-out players lead them in Playoff scoring but once again “The Mamba” holds yet another Lakers record for most career points in post-season play by a wide margin over Jerry West and Kareem. Amazingly, Kobe has made the Playoffs in 14 of his 15 NBA seasons, making it past the 1st Round in all but the ’06 and ’07 seasons. He also holds the Lakers mark for most career Playoff games(208) over current teammate Derek Fisher(193).



While he shoots a respectable .339% from beyond the arc for his career, Kobe holds the NBA record for most 3 pointers made in one game by connecting on 12 treys against the Seattle Supersonics back on January 7th, 2003. The record was since tied by then Toronto Raptors forward Donyell Marshall in 2005, but Kobe is still tied with Ray Allen, Micheal Redd, Tracy McGrady, and Tim Thomas for the most threes made in a half, with eight.



Back on December 20th, 2005, Kobe became the first player since the invention of the shot clock to single-handedly outscore an opposing team through 3 quarters. In a game where no other Laker scored in double figures, Bryant scored 62 points to the Dallas Mavericks’ 61 points, before sitting out the 4th quarter of a 22 point blowout win. Kobe definitely had the Mavericks’ number back then, scoring 43 points against the Mavs only one week earlier.



Although Kobe’s staggering point total from the ‘05-’06 season ranks as only the 7th best in league history, it is the all time single season mark in Lakers history. In the first season without big man Shaquille O’Neal and after reuniting with coach Phil Jackson, he averaged a career high 35.4 ppg and set another Lakers record for most 40 point games in a season, accomplishing this feat 27 times.



Back in 2010, Kobe passed “The Logo” Jerry West’s 25,192 career points scored to become the Lakers’ franchise all time scoring leader. Earlier in his career he passed several other noteworthy Lakers like Kareem, Magic Johnson, and James Worthy. By once again ranking among the Top 3 scorers in the NBA and showing no signs of slowing down, upon retirement Kobe should put this Lakers record way out of reach.

