Kobe Bryant: A Look Back at His NBA Finals Career

Kobe Bryant was one of the most decorated players in NBA history and his career will always be remembered. Let’s take a look back at some of his most memorable moments from his NBA Finals appearances.

Kobe Bryant’s NBA Finals Career

Kobe Bryant is one of the most decorated players in NBA history He has won five NBA championships two NBA Finals MVPs, and an NBA Most Valuable Player Award He is also a four-time All-Star and a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

Bryant’s first NBA Finals appearance came in 2000, when he was just 21 years old. The Los Angeles Lakers lost that series to the Indiana Pacers in six games. Kobe averaged 15.6 points per game in that series.

Bryant and the Lakers would get their revenge against the Pacers just two years later. In the 2002 NBA Finals Bryant averaged 24.6 points per game as the Lakers won the series in six games. Kobe was named the Finals MVP for his performance.

Bryant would win two more championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010. In 2009, he averaged 32.4 points per game as the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in five games. The following year, Bryant averaged 28.6 points per game as the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in seven games.

Kobe’s final NBA Finals appearance came in 2012 against the Celtics. The Lakers lost that series in seven games, with Kobe averaging 22.3 Points per game

Since retiring from basketball, Kobe has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and had his jersey numbers (8 and 24) retired by the Lakers.

Kobe’s Early NBA Finals Years

Kobe Bryant’s first trip to the NBA Finals came in 2000, when he was just 21 years old. Kobe was the Lakers’ leading scorer in the Finals that year, averaging 19.4 points per game The Lakers would go on to lose to the Allen Iverson led Philadelphia 76ers in six games.

Kobe would get his first taste of victory in the NBA Finals in 2001, when the Lakers defeated the Iverson-led Sixers in five games. Kobe averaged 15.6 points per game in that series.

Kobe would help lead the Lakers to back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003, as they defeated the New Jersey Nets and San Antonio Spurs, respectively. In both of those series, Kobe averaged over 20 points per game.

After losing to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals Kobe and the Lakers would Bounce Back and win championships in 2009 and 2010, defeating the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics respectively. In both of those series, Kobe was named Finals MVP

Kobe’s last trip to the NBA Finals came in 2010, when he and the Lakers were defeated by the Celtics in seven games.

Kobe’s First NBA Finals Appearance

Kobe Bryant first made NBA Finals history in 2000, when he and the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Indiana Pacers At just 21 years old, Kobe became the youngest player ever to start in an NBA Finals game. He would go on to play in a total of seven Finals series, winning five championships with the Lakers.

In his first Finals appearance, Kobe averaged 15.6 points per game and shot a solid 47 percent from the field. He was a key contributor as the Lakers went on to win the series in six games.

Kobe’s most memorable performance in an NBA Finals came in 2009, when he led the Lakers to a Game 7 victory over the Orlando Magic Kobe had a triple-double in that game, finishing with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. He was named the Finals MVP for his efforts.

While Kobe’s individual stats were often impressive in the Finals, it was his competitiveness and drive to win that really set him apart. Kobe didn’t shy away from big moments, and he always seemed to rise to the occasion when it mattered most. He will go down as one of the greatest players in NBA Finals history.

Kobe’s Second NBA Finals Appearance

Kobe Bryant’s second NBA Finals appearance came in 2001, when his Lakers took on the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers were a formidable opponent, led by Allen Iverson who was in the midst of one of the best individual seasons in NBA history However, the Lakers were too much for them, winning the series in five games. Kobe averaged 22 points per game in the Finals, including a 28-point performance in Game 3. The Lakers would go on to win three more championships with Kobe during his career.

Kobe’s Third NBA Finals Appearance

Kobe Bryant made his third NBA Finals appearance in 2010, when the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Boston Celtics In what would be his last Finals appearance, Kobe averaged 28.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game The Lakers would go on to lose the series in seven games.

Kobe’s Fourth NBA Finals Appearance

Kobe Bryant made his fourth NBA Finals appearance in 2010, when the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Boston Celtics The series was a rematch of the 2008 Finals, which the Lakers had won in six games.

Kobe had a strong series, averaging 28.6 points per game. He scored 30 or more points in three of the seven games, including a Game 7 performance of 23 points. He also had some big defensive moments, including a key block of Celtics’ guard Ray Allen in Game 7.

Ultimately, the Lakers lost the series in seven games. It was a disappointing end to what had been a promising season for the team. Nevertheless, Kobe’s career in the NBA Finals was one to be respected. He cemented his place among the greatest players of all time with his performances on basketball’s biggest stage.

Kobe’s Fifth NBA Finals Appearance

This will be Kobe Bryant’s fifth NBA Finals appearance, tying Jerry West for the most by a Laker.

Kobe has played in 21 NBA Finals games starting all of them. He’s averaged 28.6 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game in the Finals.

Bryant’s teams have won three championships (2000, 2001, 2002), and he was named Finals MVP each time. In 2009 and 2010, the Lakers lost to the Celtics and Kobe averaged 28.6 points again but his shooting numbers dipped to .404 from the field and .294 from three-point range

Kobe’s Sixth NBA Finals Appearance

In 2010, Kobe Bryant made his sixth appearance in the NBA Finals This was a record for the most appearances by a player in his first 13 seasons. He had already won three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and was looking to add a fourth. The Lakers were up against the Boston Celtics who were also looking to win their fourth championship.

Kobe Bryant was playing some of the best basketball of his career. He averaged 28.6 points per game in the regular season and he was even better in the playoffs. He averaged 32.4 points per game in the playoffs, and he was named the MVP of the Finals.

The Lakers and Celtics went back and forth in a tightly contested series, but ultimately it was the Lakers who came out on top. Kobe Bryant scored 23 points in Game 7, and he was named the Finals MVP for the second time in his career.

Kobe’s Final NBA Finals Appearance

Kobe Bryant’s final NBA Finals appearance was in 2010, when he and the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Boston Celtics In what would be his last game in an NBA Finals series, Kobe had a chance to win his sixth title with the Lakers. Unfortunately, Kobe and the Lakers would fall short, losing to the Celtics in seven games.

Looking back at Kobe’s NBA Finals career, it is clear that he was one of the most dominant players of his generation. In his 20 NBA seasons Kobe appeared in 18 Finals series, winning five championships. He also won two Finals MVPs, in 2009 and 2010. Kobe’s individual performances in the NBA Finals are some of the best in history. In 2001, he averaged 28.6 points per game against the Philadelphia 76ers, leading the Lakers to a 4-1 series victory. And in 2002, he averaged 26.8 points per game against the New Jersey Nets again leading the Lakers to a 4-0 series victory.

Kobe will go down as one of the greatest players in NBA history and his contributons to the sport will be remembered for years to come.

Kobe’s Legacy

Kobe’s legacy is more than just his five NBA titles It’s about his approach to the game, his unquenchable competitive spirit, and his determination to be the best.

Bryant was notorious for his work ethic, spending hours in the gym perfecting his craft. He was a master of the mid-range jump shot and could score from anywhere on the court.

Bryant was also a gifted passer, and many of his assists came on highlight-reel plays. He was a tenacious defender, often matching up against the opposing team’s best player.

In addition to his individual accomplishments, Bryant was a key member of some of the most successful teams in NBA history He won three titles with Shaquille O’Neal as his running mate, and two more with Pau Gasol as his frontcourt partner.

Bryant’s career came to an abrupt end in 2016 when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon. He attempted a comeback the following season, but was limited to just six games before suffering a season-ending Knee Injury

Bryant retired from the NBA in 2017 after 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers He finished his career as one of the greatest players in NBA history and will always be remembered as one of the game’s all-time greats.