Ten years ago today, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Raptors.
It’s an amazing accomplishment, the most points a player has ever scored in a game besides Wilt Chamberlain’s 100.
Kobe, of course, isn’t satisfied.
Kobe, via Arash Markazi of ESPN:
I should have had 90 points or more. I missed two free throws after making 62 straight. I had some open looks. I had some really open looks that I missed. I could have had more. There’s a lot of easy opportunities I missed. I think 100 is possible. I absolutely do. If I hadn’t sat out those six minutes in the first half, maybe I would have had it.
That’s part of a fantastic oral history of the game. I suggest reading the entire piece.
Kobe might have missed some shots he’d typically make. He shot 28-for-46.
But watch this and tell me he wouldn’t have typically missed some of those makes. You can’t play woulda/coulda/shoulda on only the misses.
You have to love Kobe’s confidence, though.
