wilt chamberlains 100 pt game has basically reached mythical status especially because there werent any cameras there to record it, so all we can do is imagine what it looked like.
It was basically Wilt doing whatever the hell he wanted against a 6'10 center not named Bill Russell. Against the Knicks too, probly a shit ton of fadeaways, finger rolls, easy layups, maybe a dunk or too if he felt like it, i can imagine a good number of blocks and rebounds, winning the game by 22 in an era where the score shoulda never got up 169-147
I grew up in Southern California Kobe was my hero. He’s been dead three years now. It took me over two years to be able watch Kobe highlights without crying. Glad you enjoyed!
@@fezzik7619 I think I was 7 when this happened lol. I barely remember watching the game, and all I remember was bits and pieces and the announcers voices. It was crazy
That was one of sports most magical seasons for a player. Every night the Lakers played, ESPN would have a segment where they'd film players from other teams watching Kobe's latest exploits whilst they were either waiting for their game to tip off, or in some cases they were at halftime of their own game. Just like fans everywhere, the other star players around the league were also in awe of what Kobe was doing. He had a streak of 4 straight 50 point games (2 were over 60) in the midst of 9 straight games over 40 points. 2 weeks before the 81 point game, Kobe had 63 points in 3 quarters against Dallas and did not even play in the 4th qtr. Many people were upset because he was in such a zone that they thought he could get 100. He outscored the entire Dallas team through 3 quarters 63-60. And that same Dallas team ended up with 60 wins and the 4th best record in the league, so they were a good team and the Lakers were a very bad team filled with a roster of players, half of who were not even in the NBA 2 seasons later. 3 people in the Lakers starting lineup could not start for any other team in the NBA, so Kobe was carrying a teams of scrubs on his back. Kwame, Brown, Smush Parker, Luke Walton were the very definition of bench players, yet were on the floor starting next to Kobe, yet somehow Kobe dragged them into the playoffs and they almost upset the best team in the league that year, the Phoenix Suns, in a 7 game 1st round series.
What an honor it’s been to be able to watch Kobe play for 20 years in a Lakers uniform. I grew up with him as a kid from LA, and was devastated following his tragic passing.
Same for myself. Been a Laker fan since I was a kid. Lived through the Pat Riley days till Kobe retired. Still a fan, just not a fan of Lebron James and it's just not the same without the dream team playing together. These were great days of basketball indeed.
I cannot explain how happy I am to see you guys reacting to Kobe content. All I can say is, we need more! There is a very good video on his footwork which I can link if you'd like!
Wilt Chamberlain had 100 pts. There's a huge debate over if he played vs real competition or if he played against farmers - it's basically the Pele scoring record debate.
3:15 Dave has arrived to the conclusion that basic analytics told us not too long ago. What we now know as the smart thing to do is to take one more step back to turn that from 2 to 3 points, but back then, I think it was more about getting the shot you felt most comfortable with. Kobe liked those long mid-range shots but these days, you rarely see those since they’re about the least efficient shots you can take. I can’t remember the last time I saw someone take a long 2 like that where both feet were on the line. As a newer fan of the game who didn’t watch as much basketball in this time, it does honestly drive me insane, until you realize that the game has just changed so much in the last 10-15 years. It’s not that Kobe or really any player before today’s time was playing the game the wrong way, that’s just how the game was back then. I guarantee if Kobe or any shooter from the past was playing in today’s game, they’d be shooting less long 2s like that and take more 3s.
in certain situations it probably also catches the defense off guard. faking a drive to the rim and stopping right inside the 3pt line for a jumper has the potential to confuse the defense, but it's still a very tough shot for the point value of a layup/dunk
@@_WeDontKnow_ yeah but I would argue that the benefit of confusing the defense in that situation is minimal if it still results in you taking an inefficient shot. A good defense is probably totally fine getting “fooled” if it means you were still prevented from shooting a 3 or getting to the paint.
What analytics don't tell us is that if you master the mid range, and after you make a couple in a game it will open up everything else for you. Take Paul Pierce for instance...mid range master and finished his career 16th all-time scoring. His mid range opened up lanes and the 3 line for him. Pierce also finished 4th all-time 3pt scorer.
@@Alex-kd5xc yea that's a great point. and I also realized just thinking about it, the kinda move I referenced would likely be a step back 3 in today's game anyway lol. yea shot selection is just simply different nowadays
@@ΒΞΔΝ yeah but I think there’s a difference between mastering the mid-range and taking long 2s while standing on the 3 point line. Like Chris Paul (before this season) was absolute killing it from mid range and nobody was going to stop him from doing it because he was so good at it that it was efficient. But he wasn’t taking extra long 2s right inside the 3 point line because there’s really no benefit to doing that. Analytics doesn’t really say “don’t shoot midrange”, it’s more like “shoot GOOD midrange shots IF you’re good at them”. But obviously not everyone is a midrange god like Kobe or Chris Paul so most midrangers aren’t “good” shots for most players so you just stick them in the corner or along the 3 point line instead lol
Chamberlain set the 100 point record 60 years ago in 1962. He was 7’1” and 275 lbs. He was also the most athletic 7’+ player in history. He was a sprinter, he had an unusually high vertical leap and incredible endurance. He often played every minute of every game. There weren’t any other players in his era of his size or athleticism. That same season he AVERAGED 50.4 points per game, a record that hasn’t even been approached. For perspective, Michael Jordan’s highest single season average was around 37 pts.
The pace of play was different. The rate of scoring was around the same if evened out to Jordan's era of pace. There were many more possessions per game in Wilt's peak scoring days, and I'm saying this as a Wilt fan.
3:14 Yeah, Kobe was the king of the "long 2" He came from the era when guys didn't shoot many 3's, and dudes like Kobe, TMac, Iverson...et al were taking longer 2-point shots simply as an extension of the midrange. This was a few years before the 3-point revolution.
Another great Lakers player holds the NBA's all-time single-game scoring record with 100 points. This he accomplished when he played for the Philadelphia warriors. Great show.
As an American sports fan, seeing 81 scored by any basketball player this millennium was mind boggling...even for Kobe. Maybe he wasn't the greatest, but he always played as if he was. It was infectious, and looking back, that's why he has a special legacy
He's basically a top 5 player of all time, definitely well ahead of guys like Steph Curry and Lebron James. 11 time first team All-NBA(tied for 2nd only behind Lebron), and 9 time first team All-Defensive(tied for first with Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, and Gary Payton). To put the defensive side in perspective, Lebron has only been first defensive team 5 times, and Steph has never been voted to an All-Defensive team. Kobe's offensive gifts were obvious, but people forget that he is also one of the best all time lock down defenders. Him and Jordan are the best two way players the NBA has ever seen. He's top 5 in my book with Jordan, Bird, Kareem, and Russell.
@@Nelekets Definitely well ahead??? LeBron is 30k 10k 10k with more finals appearances, tougher finals competition, less help, and better PER and advanced stats across the board! Not to mention, Bron is FAR more efficient and should've won DPOTY over Marc Gasol and several more defensive first teams going by win-shares and effectiveness. Objectively speaking, Kobe is 5 - 10 all-time at best (certainly under LeBron who's #2 at worst). LeBron has more MVPs, better and more streamlined stats in all regards, and a far greater influence on victory. The only things Kobe did better than Bron were perimeter defense and shot-chucking ✌
He is not a top 5 player and neither is Steph 😂 y’all are casuals. Kobe had a 5-24 record against LeBron James, the worst record he has against anyone. Kobe was the main reason the Lakers lost to the Pistons because he was chasing a Finals MVP instead of trying to win
@@Nelekets Bruh you for real think Kobe is better than LeBron. LeBron is better than every category. Kobe has a worse record against LeBron James head to head than any other star
@@Nelekets also LeBron would have a Defensive player of the year but he got robbed by Marc Gasol, if you look at defensive metrics, LeBron should’ve won. He also should’ve been the first unanimous MVP but some dumb writer voted Carmelo Anthony first place for some reason. I’m just saving you a lot of future embarrassment by letting you know LeBron is head and shoulders above Kobe and Curry. Kobe couldn’t make the playoffs by himself while LeBron was taking sorry teams to Finals. Curry also has never carried a team
you saw my IG DM !!! This game was incredible !! Me and my brother were watching with my parents as kids and the lakers were down by over 20 after the first half, and down going into the late 3rd quarter/4th quarter. Dad decided to turn off the TV after the first half so me and my brother went to the other room with a very very small TV at the time and half way through the 3rd we knew something special was happening. We were yelling and our dad turned the game back on and it created one of the best kobe memories we have. I met Kobe at a starbucks in Newport Beach CA in 2016 and got to tell him how many moments in his career are attached to great memories for me with my family.
Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game on March 2, 1962. With his 7'-1" height he dominated the floor and that was before the NBA had the 3-point line.
to answer Mike's question about average score, most great players (scorers) will score somewhere between 20-30 points a game. 40 is a great game for a great player, 50-60 is an incredible game. we usually see none or very few 60 pt games every season. highest ever is 100 by Wilt Chamberlain, but it was more the result of his team feeding him the ball to get his score as high as possible. Kobe scored his 81 to get his team the win here. Kobe's is more impressive in my eyes
Lol, Kobe's 81 was the same thing. They saw how hot Kobe was getting and just started feeding him the ball every time. He had shot 50 times and shot like 15+ FT that game. Kobe was literally dropping 40 and 50 left and right as the run up to this game.
@@A-A-RonDavis2470 it wasn't the same thing lol Wilt's game was a blowout and teammates were prioritizing getting the ball to Wilt over good shot attempts. most of Kobe's 81 points were to take away a deficit and bring the game back
Yes but there was no 3 point line back in the day so Wilt scored 100 purely off 2 pointers, even if his team fed him that's still unbelievably impressive. Kobe wasn't exactly getting the team involved either, the second highest scorer on the team that night had 13 points on 16 attempts. 😂
@@dontreadmyprofilepicture8817 the whole 2 pointer thing makes it arguably less impressive to me lol. shots under 10 feet are much easier to hit than 3 pointers. especially in the context of hogging the ball and racking up as many points as possible. high % shots is the best way to do that 19 more points doesn't compare to Kobe actually doing it for a win instead of to hit some number for no reason. just my view on it though.
@@_WeDontKnow_ Not in an era where 3’s are chucked up for the hell of it most games, this isn’t the 90’s where 3’s were calculative risks and nobody took them, it’s 2006, everyone and their mom had the 3 ball integrated into their game. Scoring in a crowded paint being double and triple teamed is not more effortless than Kobe taking shots he takes everyday he wakes up.
Dave is right about Chamberlain, he was putting up that 100 in the 1960's against guys that worked as mailmen and accountants during the week when he stood 7'1 with skill. That's a record that hasn't and will not drop in the NBA
@@waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaluigi Hardly, players back then were playing with Canvans sneakers, nutrition has changed, training regimes weren't as advanced or strict, medical recommendations for healthier play simply didn't exist, hell it was only 10 years ago that the achilles tear was considered an injury you couldn't come back from, we simply have more knowledge than we did and that's a fact.
Basketball points to soccer goals translation: 1 goal lead in soccer is about a 10 point lead in the NBA (for the first 3 Quarters specifically), 2 goal lead is like a 20 point lead and so on. Just to help give you perspective.
Wilt is in everyone's top 10 but still very underrated. People take his game down several points because he was a big skilled black guy in an Era where there weren't many not realizing how hard it is to actually be that goog and agile at his height. By that assumption Yao would have been averaging 70 a game. It's actually harder to be good at his height compared to a smaller player but almost impossible to better and faster, stronger and more agile. Wilt was actually one of the biggest freaks of nature the world has ever seen, ever, not to mention talented. He not only holds records in the NBA but in other sports as well from his collage days. In my book to lower him anything under one of the top 2 in the sport just because he was taller then most is a crime.
He’s definitely not a top 5 he’s a career loser compared to the other greats in the top 5 he has the stats to put him in top 3 but his career is lower top 10
Wilt would have definitely been a good if not great player in todays NBA. You dont average 50 per in a season and not be talented in any era of NBA basketball. His record is what it is, and it'll never be broken. Kobe's 81 gets the higher degree of difficulty in my opinion.
He was definitely unconscious in this game however he has underperformed more often than any other great player in the NBA finals. He played in seven NBA finals series, four with team MVP Shaq in his prime and Kobe all new shot over 43% and one of those series, not very efficient at all despite having a dominant teammate that the other team had to worry about.
If someone would tell me my favorite player would be dead at 41 I would be in disbelief. I am still saddened by his untimely passing. I'm tearing watching this video. RIH LEGEND 🙏😇💛
The reason the cheers for Kobe's baskets at the beginning weren't so enthusiastic is yes, they were losing, but also because the fans were used to Kobe hitting shots like that every game lol
Someday say Chamberlain????? That’s that University of Kansas product, legend. High jump record holder, long jump record holder, Arnold Schwarzenegger even did Conan the Barbarian with him and Andre the Giant… It’s time to do a video on the legend that is Wilt Chamberlain. 7’2” beast.
Wilt played in the 60s. People try to downplay his dominance because he did paly in the era when white guys made up most teams, but he was a 7 footer with an amazing wing pan and vertical, he could play in previous eras. He did go up against other black players also. But that 100 pt record will most likely never fall, it is extremely hard nowadays just to get 40 and 50, it's becoming rare almost, you need to be efficient.
Kobe was 27 during this season and had already won 3 straight championships with the Lakers and Shaq in 2000, 2001, and 2002. This was his 10th season in the league (the halfway point of his career) as he entered the league in 1996-97 as an 18-year-old. Sidenote: this particular Lakers team did not have a great supporting cast so Kobe often had to just take over games to give them a chance to win, as evidenced by the huge comeback that needed Kobe's 81 points. So at this point he's a well-season veteran and face of the game, already on his way to becoming an all-time great. He was a star in the league well before this 81-point game, but this is definitely one of the many games in his career on his shortlist of untouchable games that puts his name in the God tier of basketball history.
lol. I'm a Raptors fan. I remember this game and was screaming. Jalen Rose(member of the Raptors during this game) said later that he asked the coach(Sam Mitchell who fucking sucks as a coach) why they weren't sending double teams at Kobe. Sam Mitchell just decided that single coverage was fine, and gave up the most points to a single player since Wilt.
One of the caveats to Wilt's 100 point game is that there was no offensive basket interference rule when he pulled off the feat. Meaning that as a seven footer, Wilt was able to essentially guide his teammates' shots in from right above the rim which would be illegal in the modern NBA. It would be ruled no basket and a turnover. When considering the circumstances Kobe scored these 81 points, it makes it just as impressive, if not more. A) He was a guard and had to score in a large variety of ways B) The Lakers needed all of the points to win the game, it wasn't some meaningless 30 point blowout and C) This era of the 90's-00's had some of the lowest point averages, lowest game pace, and more emphasis on defense than any other era in NBA history. The 81 points could easily be inflated to around 90 in the 80's or today's NBA. In this 2006 season, Kobe averaged 43 points per game in January, which was the highest monthly average since Wilt averaged 45 ppg in 1963. He scored 40 points in an unheard of 27 games this year, and topped 50 points 6 times. Yet the Lakers were still a mediocre team this year which probably explains why the Staples Center was so quiet at the beginning of this game. Kobe was such a transcendent talent, though, that he basically singlehandedly made the Lakers relevant through his sheer greatness, and even almost won them a playoff series against a much higher seeded Phoenix Suns team. It's funny Dave mentioned taking a player out as he is setting records, because it happens decently often in the NBA to prevent injury. Kobe once had a game where he outscored the Dallas Mavericks 62-61 BY HIMSELF through 3 quarters and sat the rest of the game because it was a blowout. As a Lakers fan, I love and miss Kobe a lot so it always makes me happy when I get to see anyone witnessing his greatness. He wasn't without his flaws, but Kobe is undoubtedly one of the most inspiring people to walk the face of the earth. To many people, when they think of sports, Kobe is probably the one athlete that epitomizes hard work, sacrifice, and where you can get with sheer force of will. It would be interesting if you guys could find a compilation video of Kobe Bryant stories because there was no limit to this man's legend and the amount of amazing stories people had about him. The sheer amount of people he touched with his determination and charisma is simply mind boggling. Anyway, thanks for providing the great reaction content, it's always a pleasure and I enjoy your guys' insights very much.
There are dozens of players who could have had extremely high scoring games. When players have hot shooting nights, that team is usually dominating the other team, so they get taken out early in the 4th quarter, sometimes sitting out the entire quarter. Thats what made this night so unusual, those points were needed as they were getting blown out. It's considered just bad sportsmanship if you're blowing out the other team, but the stars stay in. Also, risky as well, why play against frustrated and beaten opponents who are likely to commit hard fouls and running the risk of potential injuries, just ask D Rose. He was on pace for a HOF career, then suffered a career altering injury which kept him out many years. The worst part, he was playing in garbage time at the end of a game where the Bulls were dominant with about 1 minute of the game left.
The funny thing about Dave saying what about the players that were having the game of their life and got taken out is yesterday that happened. Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns had 51 points through 3 quarters and only missed 5 shots. He had already scored 70 points in a game before, so it would have been fun to see if he could beat his record. However, the Suns were up by so much that he sat the rest of the game
The NBA record for most points scored by a player in a single game is 100....Held by Wilt Chamberlain when he played for the Philadelphia Warriors (now the Golden State Warriors) in 1962 and that record still stands to this day
kobe was 41 years old when he died on january 26, 2020, and he retired in 2016, he was drafted by the charlotte hornets in 1996, but didn't get to play for them because he was traded to the los angeles lakers, he was 18 years old when he started his first season in the NBA with the lakers and played his entire career with them that's a 20 year career
When players have one foot over the 3 point line I can tell they’re in a zone because they don’t really care where they are on the court, at that point it’s all about feel. I feel like I should shoot from here even if it’s a long 2 it feels right and I’m gonna hit. The 3 point line basically disappears for them
Craziest thing about this is that he still fell 19 points short of breaking Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point game record and good lord you can take two steps before taking a shot. It's not traveling
A deliberate 2 from near 3pt. range is as much a psychological score as it is points. Everyone knows Kobe knew exactly where he was on the floor at all times. Savage.
Yeah I mean these days nobody shoots that but in 2006 nobody is telling Kobe what a good or bad shot is. If he feels good about it, you have to accept it as a good shot lol
My Dad always annoyingly said "It's a game of streaks". But he's not wrong. While being down 15 in the 1st half isn't ideal, it's also not a big of a lead as it seems. If a team goes on a run they can turn to that into a lead of 2-5 in a couple of minutes
The crazy thing about this performance is that there were hardly any outstanding highlight plays. It was just a master at the top of his craft. In the zone.
Mike, Los Angeles sports fans are notoriously late arriving to games. This stadium probably never gets full until late in the 1st quarter. There's a well known joke about the baseball fans arriving in the 3rd inning, and leaving in the 7th inning.
Wilt Chamberlain played in the NBA from 1959-1973. He was a 7 time scoring champion and 11 time rebounding champion. He still holds the record for most points in a game (100) and most rebounds in a game (55).
Also to consider that when Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points, there wasn't a three-point play. Saying that, at 7 FT 1 in, there really wasn't a need for him to shoot the long ball.
The NBA record for points in a game by one player is 100 by Wilt Chamberlain in the 1960s when there was literally zero competition, and the other team was literally just giving him the ball to make headlines. In the modern NBA, to score 20 is a good game, 30 is fantastic, 40 is extremely good, 50 is a "wow" moment, scoring 60 "OMG", scoring 70 is "You're lying to me"...scoring 81 is KOBE BRYANT, the GOAT. To score 81 in the modern NBA is absolutely unheard of...
There is literally no defense allowed anymore and all the rules favor the offensive player. Offensive players can push off with off hand, travel at will, and carry all day....how is it easier back then when all the rules favored the defense?
A few games before this against the Mavs he had 61 after the 3rd quarter. He didn't play the 4th. Could've had 75 in that one had he played the 4th, but they was already up by over 20 lol
Guys I appreciate you partaking in the whole travel thing but, not everything is a travel I can assure you. Like that one at 13:05 was not a travel haha
wilt chamberlain scored 100 in a game without the 3 point line. he also averaged 22 rebounds per game for his career…. he’s the best stats player in the history of sports
Wilt Chamberlain was one of the best athletes that ever lived, and a complete legend in basketball, he was also a track star in college and after basketball he played volleyball, blokes check him out.
Disagree. He was the only athletic 7 foot person in America at the time. And he was athletic for his size but not athletic. And by today's standards hes unathletic but thats not his fault.
@@spamandjamjamandspam8669 plz stop repeating the dumb 50's myths. They have gone thru the evidence. He ran track and was great at shotput. Everything else is a reporter who just asked chamberlain and took his word for it. He lied about all his numbers .... Cmon dude
In this stretch of games, Kobe had 1 where he had 60 something or 70 something points and sat for the entire 4th quarter because the team was so far ahead. I really think Kobe could have scored 100.
wilt chamberlains 100 pt game has basically reached mythical status especially because there werent any cameras there to record it, so all we can do is imagine what it looked like.
There is however a radio recording of it out there for those sillys who say it never happened.
dude was way too tall
Not to mention the three point shot had not been invented yet
It was basically Wilt doing whatever the hell he wanted against a 6'10 center not named Bill Russell. Against the Knicks too, probly a shit ton of fadeaways, finger rolls, easy layups, maybe a dunk or too if he felt like it, i can imagine a good number of blocks and rebounds, winning the game by 22 in an era where the score shoulda never got up 169-147
@@seand.youtuber5423 Pistol Pete woulda had over 80 if there was a 3pt line
I grew up in Southern California Kobe was my hero. He’s been dead three years now. It took me over two years to be able watch Kobe highlights without crying. Glad you enjoyed!
Kobe scoring 62pts in 3 quarters against the Mavs, while out scoring their whole team, is more impressive to me - definitely check that out 👍
I remember watching this game as a little kid and being in disbelief. Grew up watching Kobe he was just an amazing player and person
same. top 3 moments in my life
As a little kid? Damn I’m old 😢
@@fezzik7619 I think I was 7 when this happened lol. I barely remember watching the game, and all I remember was bits and pieces and the announcers voices. It was crazy
@@paulh.9937 Yikes. I was 29 or 30. 😑
@@fezzik7619 😂 my condolences. Must've been a hella of a game to watch tho
I miss Kobe.😢
That was one of sports most magical seasons for a player. Every night the Lakers played, ESPN would have a segment where they'd film players from other teams watching Kobe's latest exploits whilst they were either waiting for their game to tip off, or in some cases they were at halftime of their own game. Just like fans everywhere, the other star players around the league were also in awe of what Kobe was doing. He had a streak of 4 straight 50 point games (2 were over 60) in the midst of 9 straight games over 40 points. 2 weeks before the 81 point game, Kobe had 63 points in 3 quarters against Dallas and did not even play in the 4th qtr. Many people were upset because he was in such a zone that they thought he could get 100. He outscored the entire Dallas team through 3 quarters 63-60. And that same Dallas team ended up with 60 wins and the 4th best record in the league, so they were a good team and the Lakers were a very bad team filled with a roster of players, half of who were not even in the NBA 2 seasons later. 3 people in the Lakers starting lineup could not start for any other team in the NBA, so Kobe was carrying a teams of scrubs on his back. Kwame, Brown, Smush Parker, Luke Walton were the very definition of bench players, yet were on the floor starting next to Kobe, yet somehow Kobe dragged them into the playoffs and they almost upset the best team in the league that year, the Phoenix Suns, in a 7 game 1st round series.
What an honor it’s been to be able to watch Kobe play for 20 years in a Lakers uniform. I grew up with him as a kid from LA, and was devastated following his tragic passing.
Same for myself. Been a Laker fan since I was a kid. Lived through the Pat Riley days till Kobe retired. Still a fan, just not a fan of Lebron James and it's just not the same without the dream team playing together. These were great days of basketball indeed.
Fucking pilot will never be forgiven. RIP Mamba.
I cannot explain how happy I am to see you guys reacting to Kobe content. All I can say is, we need more! There is a very good video on his footwork which I can link if you'd like!
Now react to Kobe dropping 60pts on his retirement game! PLEASE!!
The crowd was awesome. His speech at the end was cool too!
Shout out from Houston,Tx
Kobe had many games where he scored astronomically and didn’t play at all in the 4th quarter. Gotta check out his 62pts vs Mavs
Kobe the G.O.A.T 🐍🟡🟣♾️🐐
Wilt Chamberlain had 100 pts. There's a huge debate over if he played vs real competition or if he played against farmers - it's basically the Pele scoring record debate.
3:15 Dave has arrived to the conclusion that basic analytics told us not too long ago. What we now know as the smart thing to do is to take one more step back to turn that from 2 to 3 points, but back then, I think it was more about getting the shot you felt most comfortable with. Kobe liked those long mid-range shots but these days, you rarely see those since they’re about the least efficient shots you can take. I can’t remember the last time I saw someone take a long 2 like that where both feet were on the line. As a newer fan of the game who didn’t watch as much basketball in this time, it does honestly drive me insane, until you realize that the game has just changed so much in the last 10-15 years.
It’s not that Kobe or really any player before today’s time was playing the game the wrong way, that’s just how the game was back then. I guarantee if Kobe or any shooter from the past was playing in today’s game, they’d be shooting less long 2s like that and take more 3s.
in certain situations it probably also catches the defense off guard. faking a drive to the rim and stopping right inside the 3pt line for a jumper has the potential to confuse the defense, but it's still a very tough shot for the point value of a layup/dunk
@@_WeDontKnow_ yeah but I would argue that the benefit of confusing the defense in that situation is minimal if it still results in you taking an inefficient shot. A good defense is probably totally fine getting “fooled” if it means you were still prevented from shooting a 3 or getting to the paint.
What analytics don't tell us is that if you master the mid range, and after you make a couple in a game it will open up everything else for you. Take Paul Pierce for instance...mid range master and finished his career 16th all-time scoring. His mid range opened up lanes and the 3 line for him. Pierce also finished 4th all-time 3pt scorer.
@@Alex-kd5xc yea that's a great point. and I also realized just thinking about it, the kinda move I referenced would likely be a step back 3 in today's game anyway lol. yea shot selection is just simply different nowadays
@@ΒΞΔΝ yeah but I think there’s a difference between mastering the mid-range and taking long 2s while standing on the 3 point line. Like Chris Paul (before this season) was absolute killing it from mid range and nobody was going to stop him from doing it because he was so good at it that it was efficient. But he wasn’t taking extra long 2s right inside the 3 point line because there’s really no benefit to doing that. Analytics doesn’t really say “don’t shoot midrange”, it’s more like “shoot GOOD midrange shots IF you’re good at them”. But obviously not everyone is a midrange god like Kobe or Chris Paul so most midrangers aren’t “good” shots for most players so you just stick them in the corner or along the 3 point line instead lol
Chamberlain set the 100 point record 60 years ago in 1962. He was 7’1” and 275 lbs. He was also the most athletic 7’+ player in history. He was a sprinter, he had an unusually high vertical leap and incredible endurance. He often played every minute of every game. There weren’t any other players in his era of his size or athleticism. That same season he AVERAGED 50.4 points per game, a record that hasn’t even been approached. For perspective, Michael Jordan’s highest single season average was around 37 pts.
He could touch the top of the backboard
The pace of play was different. The rate of scoring was around the same if evened out to Jordan's era of pace. There were many more possessions per game in Wilt's peak scoring days, and I'm saying this as a Wilt fan.
He also led the league in assists one year.
All that before the 3-pt shot.
All wilt had to do is basically post up in the paint, get a high pass and just dunk over everyone.
3:14 Yeah, Kobe was the king of the "long 2" He came from the era when guys didn't shoot many 3's, and dudes like Kobe, TMac, Iverson...et al were taking longer 2-point shots simply as an extension of the midrange. This was a few years before the 3-point revolution.
Another great Lakers player holds the NBA's all-time single-game scoring record with 100 points. This he accomplished when he played for the Philadelphia warriors. Great show.
The NBA record is 100 by Wilt Chamberlain!!! He played in the 60s and 70s!!
Kobe entered the NBA around 1997ish, so he was already as famous as he ever would be by 2006. This is simply a legendary scoring game.
He entered the league in 96 with Allen Iverson and ray Allen
Kobe was bigger after the 08 Olympics. Became even more popular worldwide
A great watch is Klay Thompson's 37 pts in one quarter.
Devin Booker just scored 51pts in 3 quarters. Shot 20-25.
Perfect timing on this reaction :)
As an American sports fan, seeing 81 scored by any basketball player this millennium was mind boggling...even for Kobe. Maybe he wasn't the greatest, but he always played as if he was. It was infectious, and looking back, that's why he has a special legacy
He's basically a top 5 player of all time, definitely well ahead of guys like Steph Curry and Lebron James. 11 time first team All-NBA(tied for 2nd only behind Lebron), and 9 time first team All-Defensive(tied for first with Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, and Gary Payton). To put the defensive side in perspective, Lebron has only been first defensive team 5 times, and Steph has never been voted to an All-Defensive team. Kobe's offensive gifts were obvious, but people forget that he is also one of the best all time lock down defenders. Him and Jordan are the best two way players the NBA has ever seen. He's top 5 in my book with Jordan, Bird, Kareem, and Russell.
@@Nelekets Definitely well ahead??? LeBron is 30k 10k 10k with more finals appearances, tougher finals competition, less help, and better PER and advanced stats across the board! Not to mention, Bron is FAR more efficient and should've won DPOTY over Marc Gasol and several more defensive first teams going by win-shares and effectiveness.
Objectively speaking, Kobe is 5 - 10 all-time at best (certainly under LeBron who's #2 at worst). LeBron has more MVPs, better and more streamlined stats in all regards, and a far greater influence on victory. The only things Kobe did better than Bron were perimeter defense and shot-chucking ✌
He is not a top 5 player and neither is Steph 😂 y’all are casuals. Kobe had a 5-24 record against LeBron James, the worst record he has against anyone. Kobe was the main reason the Lakers lost to the Pistons because he was chasing a Finals MVP instead of trying to win
@@Nelekets Bruh you for real think Kobe is better than LeBron. LeBron is better than every category. Kobe has a worse record against LeBron James head to head than any other star
@@Nelekets also LeBron would have a Defensive player of the year but he got robbed by Marc Gasol, if you look at defensive metrics, LeBron should’ve won. He also should’ve been the first unanimous MVP but some dumb writer voted Carmelo Anthony first place for some reason. I’m just saving you a lot of future embarrassment by letting you know LeBron is head and shoulders above Kobe and Curry. Kobe couldn’t make the playoffs by himself while LeBron was taking sorry teams to Finals. Curry also has never carried a team
you saw my IG DM !!! This game was incredible !! Me and my brother were watching with my parents as kids and the lakers were down by over 20 after the first half, and down going into the late 3rd quarter/4th quarter. Dad decided to turn off the TV after the first half so me and my brother went to the other room with a very very small TV at the time and half way through the 3rd we knew something special was happening. We were yelling and our dad turned the game back on and it created one of the best kobe memories we have. I met Kobe at a starbucks in Newport Beach CA in 2016 and got to tell him how many moments in his career are attached to great memories for me with my family.
you guys should also watch Kobe's last game he went crazy in that as well
Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game on March 2, 1962. With his 7'-1" height he dominated the floor and that was before the NBA had the 3-point line.
Please do more Kobe content
to answer Mike's question about average score, most great players (scorers) will score somewhere between 20-30 points a game. 40 is a great game for a great player, 50-60 is an incredible game. we usually see none or very few 60 pt games every season.
highest ever is 100 by Wilt Chamberlain, but it was more the result of his team feeding him the ball to get his score as high as possible. Kobe scored his 81 to get his team the win here. Kobe's is more impressive in my eyes
Lol, Kobe's 81 was the same thing. They saw how hot Kobe was getting and just started feeding him the ball every time. He had shot 50 times and shot like 15+ FT that game. Kobe was literally dropping 40 and 50 left and right as the run up to this game.
@@A-A-RonDavis2470 it wasn't the same thing lol Wilt's game was a blowout and teammates were prioritizing getting the ball to Wilt over good shot attempts. most of Kobe's 81 points were to take away a deficit and bring the game back
Yes but there was no 3 point line back in the day so Wilt scored 100 purely off 2 pointers, even if his team fed him that's still unbelievably impressive. Kobe wasn't exactly getting the team involved either, the second highest scorer on the team that night had 13 points on 16 attempts. 😂
@@dontreadmyprofilepicture8817 the whole 2 pointer thing makes it arguably less impressive to me lol. shots under 10 feet are much easier to hit than 3 pointers. especially in the context of hogging the ball and racking up as many points as possible. high % shots is the best way to do that
19 more points doesn't compare to Kobe actually doing it for a win instead of to hit some number for no reason. just my view on it though.
@@_WeDontKnow_ Not in an era where 3’s are chucked up for the hell of it most games, this isn’t the 90’s where 3’s were calculative risks and nobody took them, it’s 2006, everyone and their mom had the 3 ball integrated into their game. Scoring in a crowded paint being double and triple teamed is not more effortless than Kobe taking shots he takes everyday he wakes up.
Kobe was already a legend long before that 81 pts.
On top of that Kobe had a knee injury; he said he had to find a grey space where he didn’t think about the pain, or feel it.
Dave: "There's no boobs. If there was boobs I would have paused it on them." Hahaha, that is so funny and probably very true.
This comment section and the amount of people disrespecting the legends that paved the way in the 60's
😡😡
I was at this game
-bron
Kobe was the smoothest player ever. RIP Mamba.
Dave is right about Chamberlain, he was putting up that 100 in the 1960's against guys that worked as mailmen and accountants during the week when he stood 7'1 with skill. That's a record that hasn't and will not drop in the NBA
yeah thats an absolutely nonsense record. Kobe would've scored 180 back then
Apparently, Wilt’s teammates would pass the ball to get Wilt to 100, even if they had wide open shots.
@@waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaluigi By the same logic, if Wilt had access to modern training and equipment he'd score 200 in today's era.
@@dontreadmyprofilepicture8817 it has VERY little to do with training and equipment. The sport is evolving with humans
@@waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaluigi Hardly, players back then were playing with Canvans sneakers, nutrition has changed, training regimes weren't as advanced or strict, medical recommendations for healthier play simply didn't exist, hell it was only 10 years ago that the achilles tear was considered an injury you couldn't come back from, we simply have more knowledge than we did and that's a fact.
Basketball points to soccer goals translation: 1 goal lead in soccer is about a 10 point lead in the NBA (for the first 3 Quarters specifically), 2 goal lead is like a 20 point lead and so on. Just to help give you perspective.
Wilt is in everyone's top 10 but still very underrated. People take his game down several points because he was a big skilled black guy in an Era where there weren't many not realizing how hard it is to actually be that goog and agile at his height. By that assumption Yao would have been averaging 70 a game. It's actually harder to be good at his height compared to a smaller player but almost impossible to better and faster, stronger and more agile. Wilt was actually one of the biggest freaks of nature the world has ever seen, ever, not to mention talented. He not only holds records in the NBA but in other sports as well from his collage days. In my book to lower him anything under one of the top 2 in the sport just because he was taller then most is a crime.
He’s definitely not a top 5 he’s a career loser compared to the other greats in the top 5 he has the stats to put him in top 3 but his career is lower top 10
@@JohnWick-qr4yc I could kind of see your point. I still back mines more but valid points.
Wilt would have definitely been a good if not great player in todays NBA. You dont average 50 per in a season and not be talented in any era of NBA basketball. His record is what it is, and it'll never be broken. Kobe's 81 gets the higher degree of difficulty in my opinion.
He was definitely unconscious in this game however he has underperformed more often than any other great player in the NBA finals. He played in seven NBA finals series, four with team MVP Shaq in his prime and Kobe all new shot over 43% and one of those series, not very efficient at all despite having a dominant teammate that the other team had to worry about.
found your guys channel yesterday and been binge watching all day. kobe was the best would love if you guys reacted to his all time highlights. cheers
Kobe said that was the only game his grandmother was able to attend. He said it also happened to have been on his (late) grandfather's birthday.
I wish I saw this live
If someone would tell me my favorite player would be dead at 41 I would be in disbelief. I am still saddened by his untimely passing. I'm tearing watching this video. RIH LEGEND 🙏😇💛
Kobe reactions>>>>
Been waiting for this!!! Pls keep reacting to Kobe!
Kobe fan here, thank you all for reacting to this vid. Kobe was 28 when this game happen I believe. Stallar game to see unfolded live back in 2006.
The reason the cheers for Kobe's baskets at the beginning weren't so enthusiastic is yes, they were losing, but also because the fans were used to Kobe hitting shots like that every game lol
Someday say Chamberlain????? That’s that University of Kansas product, legend. High jump record holder, long jump record holder, Arnold Schwarzenegger even did Conan the Barbarian with him and Andre the Giant…
It’s time to do a video on the legend that is Wilt Chamberlain. 7’2” beast.
Wilt played in the 60s. People try to downplay his dominance because he did paly in the era when white guys made up most teams, but he was a 7 footer with an amazing wing pan and vertical, he could play in previous eras. He did go up against other black players also. But that 100 pt record will most likely never fall, it is extremely hard nowadays just to get 40 and 50, it's becoming rare almost, you need to be efficient.
Kobe was 27 during this season and had already won 3 straight championships with the Lakers and Shaq in 2000, 2001, and 2002. This was his 10th season in the league (the halfway point of his career) as he entered the league in 1996-97 as an 18-year-old. Sidenote: this particular Lakers team did not have a great supporting cast so Kobe often had to just take over games to give them a chance to win, as evidenced by the huge comeback that needed Kobe's 81 points. So at this point he's a well-season veteran and face of the game, already on his way to becoming an all-time great. He was a star in the league well before this 81-point game, but this is definitely one of the many games in his career on his shortlist of untouchable games that puts his name in the God tier of basketball history.
Crazy how he has the killer face the entire time
lol. I'm a Raptors fan. I remember this game and was screaming. Jalen Rose(member of the Raptors during this game) said later that he asked the coach(Sam Mitchell who fucking sucks as a coach) why they weren't sending double teams at Kobe. Sam Mitchell just decided that single coverage was fine, and gave up the most points to a single player since Wilt.
I remember this game from when I was in High school lol. Rip to the Legend Kobe Bryant.
I was at that game I was 6th grade at the time and it was for my dad bday my mom surprised him with the tickets for his bday miss kobe
As a Raptors fan this kills me a little each time I see it but its Kobe killing it so you can't even be mad.
Rip
One of the caveats to Wilt's 100 point game is that there was no offensive basket interference rule when he pulled off the feat. Meaning that as a seven footer, Wilt was able to essentially guide his teammates' shots in from right above the rim which would be illegal in the modern NBA. It would be ruled no basket and a turnover.
When considering the circumstances Kobe scored these 81 points, it makes it just as impressive, if not more. A) He was a guard and had to score in a large variety of ways B) The Lakers needed all of the points to win the game, it wasn't some meaningless 30 point blowout and C) This era of the 90's-00's had some of the lowest point averages, lowest game pace, and more emphasis on defense than any other era in NBA history. The 81 points could easily be inflated to around 90 in the 80's or today's NBA.
In this 2006 season, Kobe averaged 43 points per game in January, which was the highest monthly average since Wilt averaged 45 ppg in 1963. He scored 40 points in an unheard of 27 games this year, and topped 50 points 6 times. Yet the Lakers were still a mediocre team this year which probably explains why the Staples Center was so quiet at the beginning of this game. Kobe was such a transcendent talent, though, that he basically singlehandedly made the Lakers relevant through his sheer greatness, and even almost won them a playoff series against a much higher seeded Phoenix Suns team.
It's funny Dave mentioned taking a player out as he is setting records, because it happens decently often in the NBA to prevent injury. Kobe once had a game where he outscored the Dallas Mavericks 62-61 BY HIMSELF through 3 quarters and sat the rest of the game because it was a blowout.
As a Lakers fan, I love and miss Kobe a lot so it always makes me happy when I get to see anyone witnessing his greatness. He wasn't without his flaws, but Kobe is undoubtedly one of the most inspiring people to walk the face of the earth. To many people, when they think of sports, Kobe is probably the one athlete that epitomizes hard work, sacrifice, and where you can get with sheer force of will. It would be interesting if you guys could find a compilation video of Kobe Bryant stories because there was no limit to this man's legend and the amount of amazing stories people had about him. The sheer amount of people he touched with his determination and charisma is simply mind boggling. Anyway, thanks for providing the great reaction content, it's always a pleasure and I enjoy your guys' insights very much.
There are dozens of players who could have had extremely high scoring games. When players have hot shooting nights, that team is usually dominating the other team, so they get taken out early in the 4th quarter, sometimes sitting out the entire quarter. Thats what made this night so unusual, those points were needed as they were getting blown out. It's considered just bad sportsmanship if you're blowing out the other team, but the stars stay in.
Also, risky as well, why play against frustrated and beaten opponents who are likely to commit hard fouls and running the risk of potential injuries, just ask D Rose. He was on pace for a HOF career, then suffered a career altering injury which kept him out many years. The worst part, he was playing in garbage time at the end of a game where the Bulls were dominant with about 1 minute of the game left.
Kobe dropping 40+ pts for 9 straight games during around this time span. Was so fucking nuts to see him decide "Alright game's over now"
I am a laker fan and I remember Jordan being asked after how he would have guarded him, he said “I would have fouled out” lol
The funny thing about Dave saying what about the players that were having the game of their life and got taken out is yesterday that happened. Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns had 51 points through 3 quarters and only missed 5 shots. He had already scored 70 points in a game before, so it would have been fun to see if he could beat his record. However, the Suns were up by so much that he sat the rest of the game
Kobes last game is the best ever imo
The NBA record for most points scored by a player in a single game is 100....Held by Wilt Chamberlain when he played for the Philadelphia Warriors (now the Golden State Warriors) in 1962 and that record still stands to this day
kobe was 41 years old when he died on january 26, 2020, and he retired in 2016, he was drafted by the charlotte hornets in 1996, but didn't get to play for them because he was traded to the los angeles lakers, he was 18 years old when he started his first season in the NBA with the lakers and played his entire career with them that's a 20 year career
Wilt Chamberlain got his 100 pt game in the 1950s. He played for Philadelphia then. Later he played for the Lakers.
When players have one foot over the 3 point line I can tell they’re in a zone because they don’t really care where they are on the court, at that point it’s all about feel. I feel like I should shoot from here even if it’s a long 2 it feels right and I’m gonna hit. The 3 point line basically disappears for them
Craziest thing about this is that he still fell 19 points short of breaking Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point game record and good lord you can take two steps before taking a shot. It's not traveling
Yall gotta react to Kobe’s final game.. 60pts
That was an emotional final game to watch for me. Didn't want to see him retire.☹️
A deliberate 2 from near 3pt. range is as much a psychological score as it is points. Everyone knows Kobe knew exactly where he was on the floor at all times. Savage.
Yeah I mean these days nobody shoots that but in 2006 nobody is telling Kobe what a good or bad shot is. If he feels good about it, you have to accept it as a good shot lol
My Dad always annoyingly said "It's a game of streaks". But he's not wrong. While being down 15 in the 1st half isn't ideal, it's also not a big of a lead as it seems. If a team goes on a run they can turn to that into a lead of 2-5 in a couple of minutes
Watching this game highlights again I could just imagine how much he would have had if he started scoring more in the first half. Could of had 100
The crazy thing about this performance is that there were hardly any outstanding highlight plays. It was just a master at the top of his craft. In the zone.
Wilt scored 100 on scrubs so Kobes 81 is definitely more impressive
Mike, Los Angeles sports fans are notoriously late arriving to games. This stadium probably never gets full until late in the 1st quarter. There's a well known joke about the baseball fans arriving in the 3rd inning, and leaving in the 7th inning.
The 🐐 2.0 🤘🤘
Wilt Chamberlain played in the NBA from 1959-1973. He was a 7 time scoring champion and 11 time rebounding champion. He still holds the record for most points in a game (100) and most rebounds in a game (55).
I watched this live, looked the like the Raptors were going to Cruise to victory when it was halftime.
Great Kobe Bryant montage on UA-cam called Legacy
Rip Kobe
Chamberlain played in the 1960s and 1970s. You should react to the strength and athleticism of Wilt Chamberlain.
Also to consider that when Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points, there wasn't a three-point play. Saying that, at 7 FT 1 in, there really wasn't a need for him to shoot the long ball.
Jalen Rose was on the other team, and he has a great video telling the story of that game.
Was a hell of a basketball player, I think he’s right behind Michael Jordan for best player ever.
Bro in cap actually described Wilt's 100 game exactly
Kobe was drafted out of high school-at 18.
The NBA record for points in a game by one player is 100 by Wilt Chamberlain in the 1960s when there was literally zero competition, and the other team was literally just giving him the ball to make headlines. In the modern NBA, to score 20 is a good game, 30 is fantastic, 40 is extremely good, 50 is a "wow" moment, scoring 60 "OMG", scoring 70 is "You're lying to me"...scoring 81 is KOBE BRYANT, the GOAT. To score 81 in the modern NBA is absolutely unheard of...
The other team was deliberately slowing down the game(no24sec.) ack then.
There is literally no defense allowed anymore and all the rules favor the offensive player. Offensive players can push off with off hand, travel at will, and carry all day....how is it easier back then when all the rules favored the defense?
You guys can change the playback speed on the bottom right if you want to slow the video down lol
Wilt played from 1958-1973
A few games before this against the Mavs he had 61 after the 3rd quarter. He didn't play the 4th. Could've had 75 in that one had he played the 4th, but they was already up by over 20 lol
Guys I appreciate you partaking in the whole travel thing but, not everything is a travel I can assure you. Like that one at 13:05 was not a travel haha
wilt chamberlain scored 100 in a game without the 3 point line. he also averaged 22 rebounds per game for his career…. he’s the best stats player in the history of sports
Wilt Chamberlain was one of the best athletes that ever lived, and a complete legend in basketball, he was also a track star in college and after basketball he played volleyball, blokes check him out.
Disagree. He was the only athletic 7 foot person in America at the time. And he was athletic for his size but not athletic. And by today's standards hes unathletic but thats not his fault.
@@chroniccomplainer3792 TRACK STAR
@@spamandjamjamandspam8669 plz stop repeating the dumb 50's myths. They have gone thru the evidence. He ran track and was great at shotput. Everything else is a reporter who just asked chamberlain and took his word for it. He lied about all his numbers .... Cmon dude
This game had my house upside down!!!
Y'all should check out the video Making The Case: Wilt Chamberlain. And all the other Making The Case videos by Clayton Crowley.
Dave, you can go back and forward frame by frame with . and , There’s a lot of nifty keyboard shortcuts on UA-cam.
Wilt chamberlain I think was the greatest athlete to ever walk this earth, and he was 7 feet 2 inches tall
As Celtics fan I hated Kobe whenever we played the Lakers especially in the finals ! But he was an incredible player & a beast on defense .
Wilt Chamberlain is 60’s and 70’s
My 🐐
Wilt Chamberlain was the 60s and early 70s
I'll never forget telling my friend at school the next day Kobe scored 81 points and he refused to believe me. I'll never forget
In this stretch of games, Kobe had 1 where he had 60 something or 70 something points and sat for the entire 4th quarter because the team was so far ahead. I really think Kobe could have scored 100.
There is no video of Wilt's 100 point game. No record of it. It is a fake, never happened. Kobe 81 is the official game.