Kobe Bryant passed away on January 26, 2020, in a tragic plane accident. Basketball fans all around the world were left heartbroken to see an NBA legend pass away earlier than anyone expected. The “Black Mamba” made many memories on the court and gave several iconic performances. He spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers and achieved great accolades. Bryant had a remarkable and iconic NBA career, so let’s have a look at his 10 best seasons in the league.
10. 2000–01
In the 2000–2001 season, Kobe made a big jump from being an All-Star to the superstar of the league. He saw a six-point improvement in his points per game average from the previous season, scoring 28.5 during the regular season. During that time, Shaquille O’Neal was the best player for the Los Angeles Lakers, but Kobe was also right behind him. The Lakers had an impressive postseason performance in 2001 with a record of 15-1 and Kobe’s rise made it impossible to beat them.
9. 1999–2000
When Kobe Bryant won his first NBA championship, he also achieved supreme success early in his career. He wasn’t a star player yet, but showed signs of becoming an incredible player. Shaq was the MVP in that season, while Bryant contributed 22 points per game as a second. This was the first season for Kobe where he averaged more than 20 points and proved that he is going to be much more impressive.
8. 2001–2002
During the 2001–2002 NBA season, the conflict between Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant began. Even though the Lakers won their third consecutive NBA championship, the “Black Mamba” began to become a real threat to surpass Shaq as the team’s best player. He scored 25 points per game that season, out of which 47% were shot from the field. He was finally getting to that prime level that fans wanted.
7. 2004–2005
The feud between Kobe and Shaq came to a head in 2004 when the Los Angeles Lakers were defeated by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals. Bryant had already surpassed “Big Shamrock” as the team’s top player, but the two continued to feud with each other. Kobe started averaging 24+ points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists at that time, which showed he was ready to be the leader of the team. Kobe demanded a trade the following offseason, but the Lakers opted to trade Shaq based on Bryant’s impressive season.
6. 2006–2007
When the franchise traded Shaq in 2005, Kobe had to struggle to make the Lakers relevant again. In 2007, the Lakers once again suffered a first round exit, but the chemistry between the teams was building. Thanks to Kobe’s leadership, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom began to see their confidence grow. Bryant averaged 31.6 points per game that year, which is the second-best average of his career.
5. 2002–2003
Kobe Bryant became an even bigger star than Shaq during the 2002–03 NBA season. The Lakers’ winning streak ended after three years when they were eliminated in the second round by the San Antonio Spurs. The situation changed, and the management realized that Kobe and Shaq would have difficulty working together. Bryant averaged an impressive 20 points per game for the first time, but Shaq still wanted to be the top star.
4. 2007–2008
Kobe Bryant truly showed everyone in the 2007–2008 season that it was his time. Los Angeles acquired Pau Gasol following Shaquille O’Neal’s departure and became contenders for the championship after a long time. This season was special for Kobe, with his only regular season MVP award. He averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists and led the Lakers to the NBA Finals before losing to the Boston Celtics.
3. 2009–2010
During the three-peat of the Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal was seen above Kobe and the team’s lack of success hurt Bryant’s reasoning during the rebuild. 2010 was a rare time when fans saw Kobe as the best objective player in the league. The Lakers won two consecutive NBA Championships in the 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons, during which Kobe averaged 27 points per game. The 2010 season became a special one in his career.
2. 2005–2006
Kobe Bryant was in his prime during the 2005–2006 NBA season. He had astonishing statistics of 35.4 points per game on efficient shooting percentages from the field. His 81-point game in the 2006 season was the second highest scoring performance ever. He solely led the Lakers to barely make the playoffs as the 7th seed. His winning shots gave the Lakers a 3-1 lead in the first-round series over the second-seeded Phoenix Suns. Sadly, the Lakers lost three consecutive games and blew the series.
1. 2009–2010
Kobe Bryant won the NBA championship in 2009 and that too without Shaquille O’Neal accomplishing his huge goal. There was a lot of criticism that he couldn’t win a championship without Shaq, which he did in 2009. He averaged 27 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds, with Kobe finishing second in the MVP voting. The “Black Mamba” took his play to the next level in the postseason, averaging 30 points per game. Winning the title that season made Kobe’s unforgettable career more iconic.
Also Read: 10 Best Seasons of Michael Jordan’s Legendary NBA Career
