how many 40 point games did kobe have
List of 40-plus point games by Kobe Bryant The number of forty-plus point games players accumulate over their careers is often reported in media. Bryant has played 135 games in which he has scored 40 or more points; of these, 6 were 60-plus point games and 26 were 50-plus point games. He is third behind Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan, who scored 40 or more in 284 and 211 games, respectively.[8] In 2003, Bryant scored 40 points or more in nine consecutive games, tying Jordan, who accomplished the same feat in the 1986–87 season.[9] The only player with longer streaks of 40 or more is Chamberlain, who had 14 consecutive games twice in the 1961–62 season and 10 consecutive games in the 1962–63 season.[9][10] In 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. It was the second-highest number of points scored in a game in NBA history,[11] behind only Chamberlain's 100-point performance in 1962.[11] In 2007, Bryant scored 50 points or more in four consecutive games; this accomplishment is fifth in NBA history behind streaks by Chamberlain, who had 50 or more in seven, six and five (twice) consecutive games in the 1961–62 season.[12] Bryant has also played 12 playoff games in which he has scored forty or more points. Out of the 134 games, 21 resulted in Bryant notching a double-double and 42 resulted in losses. Bryant became the oldest player to score 60+ points (60) in his final game on April 13, 2016.
Kobe Bryant Bryant debuted in the Summer Pro League in Long Beach, California, scoring 25 points in front of a standing-room-only crowd. Defenders struggled to get in front of him, and his performance excited West and Lakers coach Del Harris.[32] He scored 36 points in the finale, and finished with averages of 24.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in four game.[33] As a rookie in 1996–97, Bryant mostly came off the bench behind guards Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel.[34] At the time he became the youngest player ever to play in an NBA game (18 years, 72 days; a record since broken by Jermaine O'Neal and former teammate Andrew Bynum), and also became the youngest NBA starter ever (18 years, 158 days).[35][36] Initially, Bryant played limited minutes, but as the season continued, he began to see some more playing time. By the end of the season, he averaged 15.5 minutes a game. During the All-Star weekend, Bryant participated in the Rookie Challenge and won the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, becoming the youngest dunk champion ever at the age of 18.[37] Bryant's performance throughout the year earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team with fellow bench teammate Travis Knight.[38] The Lakers advanced to the Western Conference semifinals in the playoffs against the Utah Jazz, when Bryant was pressed into a lead role at the end of Game 5. Byron Scott missed the game with a sprained wrist, Robert Horry was ejected for fighting with the Utah's Jeff Hornacek, and Shaquille O'Neal fouled out with 1:46 remaining in the fourth quarter. Bryant shot four air balls at the end of the game; the Jazz won 98–93 in overtime to eliminate the Lakers 4–1. He first whiffed a game-winning 2-point jump shot in the fourth quarter, and then misfired three three-point field goals in overtime, including two tying shots in the final minute.[39] O'Neal commented that "[Bryant] was the only guy who had the guts at the time to take shots like that."[40]