Kobe Bryant 2002-03 • 52 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists vs. Houston Rockets 

his prime was 2001-2013. Look at his numbers, he never fell off til the achilles injury in 2013.

He deserved MVP that season.

Kobe deserves 3 MVP trophies 2002/2003 2005/2006 2007/2008 (he actually got it that season)

dis.Kobe lebron comparison is.so insulting to me as.ah basketball fan cuz no way in hell lebron could ever be close to prince airness he's just not capable not in his DNA lets be real like y'all forgot

Ashame how unappreciated kobe Is...when he's gone people realize what the took for granted

Cuttino kept Kobe in check! He held him below 60 points.

I've seen all the great one play in this game, and Kobe Bryant is the best one ive seen play.

Man Kobe in 02-03 was his best season I think he was just amazing MVP I actually think they made the playoffs but fell short to the spurs but fact remain the league robbed him for the MVP that and quite frankly it disgusted me ugh

"Cutino Mobley says he has changed his philosophy on guarding" He need to change it back lol

dis.Kobe lebron comparison is.so insulting to me as.ah basketball fan cuz no way in hell lebron could ever be close to prince airness he's just not capable not in his DNA lets be real like y'all forgot

I love how you added in Catino Mobley explaining his philosophy on guarding Kobe and how it has changed over time… Only for Kobe to go out and score 52 that night anyway lol

The Bean was hurt this game too. At 5:34 they show him grab his knee, he was grimacing the rest of the game. True baller

Jim Huber: Kobe, what did you learn about yourself after the streak [of 9 straight 40 point games]? Kobe: That I could lead. 2002-03 was the year Kobe began to emerge as the Face of The Lakers.

This was Kobe's best year. I always search 2003 Kobe when I want to see him at his best. If Shaq was in shape this team would have 4 peated. RIP

This talk about Kobe prime seasons and years. Everybody is sleeping on the 2012-13 season.

"shaq make kobe doe" That is blasphemous kobe is the goat

R. I. P. Craig Sager

Super Saiyan Kobe shits on anybody who's ever played basketball in the NBA, no comparison whatsoever

probably the most feared player in the game today STILL. once he gets it going there's no stopping him

@vfgjhj 2002-2003 season. GP - 82 GS - 82 PPG - 30.0 RPG - 6.9 APG - 5.9 SPG - 2.2 BPG - .8 MPG - 41.5 FG% - .451 3P% - .383 FT% - .843 I'll agree that Kobe was in his prime in '06 but statistically Kobe's best season was 02-03. It was the first time he averaged 30 PPG, his career high averages for RPG & SPG was during that season, and it 5.9 APG was his career high until he eclipsed it 2 seasons later. Kobe scored more and shot better from the free throw line in 06, that's about it.

Kobe was the first to dunk on Yao and Dwight Howard in the NBA haha

This was a time when the likes of Lebron, Durant, Melo, Wade etc probably all had posters of Kobe hung in their rooms. And yet 9 years later he is still playing at their elite level, insane.

GOAT with no Doubt

That first fadeaway is an insanely tough shot, but Kobe makes it look so simple.

How can you not compare dis guy with Michael Jordan,, he is jus as good

All yall arguing wen he was in his prime was wen he won the two rings wit pau. And to.be HONEST kobe been inn his prime since the third ring wit shaq FYM!!!!!..UNSTOPPABLE

@xxcrzygrlx Yup, 30.0ppg, 6.9rpg, 5.9apg & 2.2spg but they gave it to Duncan and he was cheated out MVP in 06 (35ppg, 5apg, 5rpg & 1.5spg).

Kobe is legend

One of the most impressive things about Kobe in 02-03, is that he played in all 82 games with a bum knee for the whole year. That interview at the end where he talks about sucking up the pain and playing in the Utah game the next night, was what made me appreciate him even more.

Kobe was injured half of the yaer

52/106 points in a double OT game. They held the Rockets under 100 points through two overtimes too. how do you score 52 in such a defensive battle? great game from kobe

2003 was one of his best seasons.

Still the best player in the game, how does he make all those clutch shots?

the only player better than kobe is jordan.no one else is even close

Ya Mobley he dropped 52 man

The scary thing about him during that year was, he was 24 and not even in his prime yet.

At 310 Kobe like hands down man down

he should've been MVP that year

GOAT Game.

Retro 3's.

I remembered this game, I watched it live too. That back when the rockets were still playing at compaq center

Kobe doesn't need load management. He finished the entire 82 that 2002-2003 season. What a warrior.

@ 01:31 has any body noticed the guy clapping with the folded paper's he's always there even today I have been seing him since 2000 good fan

Actually kobe in his prime was from 2005-2011

@manhbx96 that move he did at 4:46....only cat in the league who can do this....this is "major" game

I never knew the Rockets once wore black

'03 was definately the start of kobe's prime

now is when those 54 minutes played take its toll

basketball God...

And Glen Rice was with the Rockets...

@bjdamob Yup .469 fg%, .380 3pt% & .830 ft%

Every Player to Finish Top 5 in MVP Voting 15 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6) 14 - LeBron James (4) 11 - Kobe Bryant (1), Bill Russell (5) 10 - Wilt Chamberlain (4), Michael Jordan (5)

@demurer 2003 is an underrated season for Kobe. He was absolutely amazing sure, one of his best seasons!!

For those who keep saying this is prime Kobe you are wrong...Prime Kobe is 2007-2011...this is young, wild, and reckless(all in a good way) Kobe

@demurer I feel like '05-'06 was his best year.

who was MVP this season?

#KB24EVER

I'd agree with the exception of the 04-05 campaign...He just really wasn't the same that year...He came back stronger in the 06 season. Then again Kobe's "worst"season would be the BEST season for 95% of NBA players. LOL! No doubt he has been an extremely special player to watch...The NBA will suck when he retires.

U know what impress ME the most Abt Kobe .. Its that even after his dunk over Ming he was still focus with all the intensity in his eyes. U recognise a winner and a champion with his behaviour on the court. Lebron wmight never get that in his career and thats the major reasons he will certainly not win as titles as kobe. Kobe top 5 or top10 in nba history for spme people and media but to me THE BEST EVER

If only the lakers could have given or find kobe a way to get him a better teammates around him back in the days after shaq left i think he wouldn't suffered a long drought championship on his career though.Thats why im so fcking mad and pissed when people say lebron was able to go championship games year by year.No disrespect to lebron,but cmon guys if kobe has the same roster player as what lebron have through his timeline specially if he is in EAST TEAM??Damn kobe would have been to championship game throughout his career man like foreal 💯 Damn i miss you kobe 💔 i wish i could have seen you play in actual game,but i just can't afford and i know its impossible since i live from a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY..

Kob used to fuck Yao up Every chance he got.....think he wanted to be like Mike never dunked on no 7’5 guy

he baptized them both...lol

Mobley… Of course you forgot your assignment

Kobe was lighter in here. If Kobe8 played now, he would still get more rings as #24

Anybody else see that kobe was rockin the Jordan 3's throughout the whole game? And who says it's not about the shoes!

@oneman91 good comment, i bet that they wouldnt win shit without kobe though

i like the NBC's NBA theme song, the TNT song sucks... NBA BACK TO NBC PLZ

i think he's talking about all around statistically

Look at Kobe's shot, he strokes it JUST like MJ.

These are those west coast game where we only had box score or they came on super late

Kobe’s book brought me here

Aye to that mate

In 2002-03 the black Mamba had 40 or more points in nine straight games, and Shaq''the diesel''had missed the first 12 games in the regular season from the off-season toe surgery the Lakers we're eliminated from the playoffs by eventual NBA champs San Antonio Spurs in the conference semifinals

Athletically, Yes this was his prime but mentally he is still in his prime. The most driven, focused athlete to be the best in the last 30 years. Yes, including Michael, because at that time there was no one like mike. Kobe accepted the challenge and now he will have his own video game in 2k21

Lol, of course that play at 8:40 was an assist, Kobe covered up that beautiful no-look pass with a clever disguise-fumble...

@vfgjhj He shot better from the 3pt line as well, his career high average is during that season.

kobe was at his best in 06 imo....but thats just me; thats the year he scored 81 as well

Although now that I give it another look, it does look like he pushes the ball Fishers way.

@demurer Apparently you didn't see him play in 06' then.

@mrfantastic5555 most def...its a shame he had no real help at this time

Awesome Kobe giving the Maddogg love!!

Yeah kobe was definitely in his prime in '03 and he had mikes on his feet

glen rice was chubby at the end of his career watch 7:39 on

if you look carefully, you'll see lebron was taking notes.

@demurer kobe was at his personal best in 06. unstoppable.

@Kenny1984 yea I had a feeling about that thanks though

lmao! @ 5:38 was that horry?

Me 2!

4.30 lol

This Kobe > Current Lebron

what happened in 04-05? they were terrible that year.