The late great Kobe Bryant’s detractors point to him being a selfish player, but Los Angeles Lakers legend Byron Scott believes that’s an unfair label. When Jay Wagers, co-host of Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast, brought up Bryant famously scoring 62 points in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks, Scott stated that the guard not going back in that game showed he was never selfish.
“What that shows me is all these people that were Kobe haters [saying], ‘Oh, he’s selfish,’ he wanted to win,” Scott said. “That game was over. Now, if he was selfish, he would have went back in. If he was selfish, he would have went back in and got 85, 90.
“But the game was won, and that’s what he was all about, winning,” Scott continued. “And he would do whatever it took to win. He got 63, they got 61. I already did my job. They up by double digits now. Why go back in? It was about winning.”
Bryant had outscored the Mavericks through three quarters by himself (62-61) on Dec. 20, 2005, at what was then called Staples Center. The Lakers were up 95-61 entering the fourth quarter, and while he could have easily carried on, he let the youngsters take the stage.
Wagers revealed that Lamar Odom and Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw both told Bryant to get back in the game. He refused and boldly stated he would get there again sometime later. So did he? Well, of course he did.
Just over a month later, on Jan. 22, 2006, Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in a 122-104 win at Staples Center. That remains the second-most points scored by a player in a single NBA game after Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point explosion back in 1962.
While Bryant’s performance against the Raptors was special, you can certainly make the case that the one against the Mavericks was better. It’s not just that he scored 62 in three quarters, but it’s also who he did it against.
The Raptors were one of the worst teams in the NBA in 2005-06, finishing with a 27-55 record. They were particularly bad defensively, with their defensive rating of 111.2 ranking 29th in the NBA.
The Mavericks, on the other hand, had an impressive 60-22 record in 2005-06 and made it all the way to the NBA Finals. For Bryant to outscore that team through three quarters is remarkable. You can check out the highlights below.
Bryant would end this season with averages of 35.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game. He won his first scoring title as a result, and that scoring average remains the ninth-highest in NBA history.
Scoring was undoubtedly Bryant’s greatest strength, and while there were times he was accused of not passing the ball, Scott is part of the group that doesn’t believe he was selfish. Former NBA star Gary Payton is another who has dismissed the narrative, and he sang his praises as a competitor.
