Kobe Bryant's Top 10 Scoring Games and the Sneakers he Wore

On January 22, 2026 the basketball world and the sneaker world will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the greatest single scoring performance in NBA history, which has the benefit of video as evidence it actually happened*: the late Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors. It’s a moment that’s been etched in time and seared in the memories of those who were around to see it either on television or live at Staples Center that night.

Nike will re-release the Protro variation of the Nike Kobe 1 he wore on that day. It will be interesting to see what the public’s reaction to the release will be as Nike seems to have finally caught up to the public’s demands for Kobes, with only player exclusives or limited releases selling out immediately. Older fans will no doubt remember the first time the 81-point pair got a Protro release in 2019 because the public was so disinterested that they became a staple of Nike outlets that year.

The Black Mamba’s scoring exploits are legendary so let’s take a look back at his greatest performances and the sneakers he was wearing at the time. Not surprisingly, most of Kobe’s best scoring games came after he and Shaquille O’Neal were no longer teammates, which also coincided with his split with adidas and subsequent signing with Nike.

*Before you fire up your phones to accuse me of being Tyler Herro, Wilt Chamberlain is the record holder for most points in an NBA game with 100 points. Despite there being no video because games were not always televised back then, there is audio of the game, reporters at the scene, and the famous photo of Wilt holding the 100 point sign.

10. 2006-2008: 53 Points (Three Times)

Against: Houston Rockets (2006, 2007), Memphis Grizzlies (2008)

Shoes: Nike Zoom Kobe 1 (2006), Nike Zoom Kobe 2 (2007), Nike Zoom Kobe 3 (2008)

Slotting in at the number 10 spot are a trio of games where Kobe scored 53 points but only came away with the victory once, a double overtime thriller against Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets. With every game taking place at Staples Center, Kobe wore some variation of his signature shoe at the time featuring a predominantly white upper with hits of purple and gold. Interestingly, only the Nike Zoom Kobe 2 that Bryant wore was actually available at retail, although it did not come with the KB24 that represented his personal website at the time.

9. March 28, 2003: 55 Points

Against: Washington Wizards

Shoes: Air Jordan 8 Lakers PE

People most likely remember this game as the last time Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan faced off against each other in the NBA, and for an iconic photo of Kobe playfully messing with MJ after he got caught with a charging call. Oh, and Kobe was wearing a Lakers-colored player exclusive of the Air Jordan 8 as part of his historic sneaker free agency season. Everybody remembers that. What has been lost to time is Kobe actually going on a scoring tear that game to the tune of 55 points (42 in the first half) and a dominant Lakers win. If you don’t think Kobe had that kind of performance in mind as a parting gift to MJ then you haven’t been paying attention all these years.

8. January 14, 2002: 56 Points

Against: Memphis Grizzlies

Shoes: adidas THE KOBE TWO

Known today as the adidas Crazy 2.0, Kobe Bryant’s least favorite signature shoe was on full display during a 2002 game against the Memphis Grizzlies on a day when Shaquille O’Neal was unavailable due to a suspension for almost decapitating Brad Miller with a missed punch. Facing off a young Pau Gasol and frequent defender Shane Battier (he’s part of the two 53-point games against the Rockets at #10), Bryant would go on an amazing scoring run, amassing 56 points in just three quarters. Had the outcome been a little more in doubt - the Lakers were up nearly 40 points by the end of the third - we might have seen 81 a little bit earlier.

7. December 29, 2006: 58 Points

Against: Charlotte Bobcats

Shoes: Nike Zoom Kobe 1

It took three overtimes and 45 shot attempts (the third most in his career), but Kobe got to 58 points in a thriller against the Charlotte Bobcats. Yes, it was actually a thriller against the lowly Bobcats. The Lakers were not a very good team during this time period. On his feet for this historic performance is another Kobe 1 PE with a black upper and purple swoosh that did not get a retail release. This was truly the era of player exclusives staying that way and no one being upset about it because the internet was still in its infancy.

6. March 22, 2007: 60 Points

Against: Memphis Grizzlies

Shoes: Nike Zoom Kobe 2 Carpe Diem

Within a span of seven days in March 2007, Kobe Bryant would go on an epic scoring run, going for at least 50 points for four consecutive games. Game 1 is a little higher on this list, but Game 3 was a masterclass in its own right: a 60-piece against the Grizzlies. Unlike the other Nikes and Jordans we’ve listed so far, the Carpe Diem Kobe 2s that he wore on this night actually got a retail release. Unfortunately, with no work of a Protro in sight, fans who want a pair are going to have to pay a premium for a pair that might crumble at first considering it’s nearly 20 years old.

5. April 13, 2016: 60 Points

Against: Utah Jazz

Shoes: Nike Kobe 11 Elite Low Fade To Black

On the same night that Kobe Bryant played his final game in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors were on the verge of history as they were a win away from breaking the Chicago Bulls legendary 72-10 record in the regular season. All you needed to know was that on that day, Nike declared April 13 as Mamba Day and ESPN showed Kobe’s farewell and relegated the Warriors to regular updates on the screen should they break the record. It was like the sports world had stopped to witness what was an epic amount of shooting from Kobe (50 field goal attempts) that totally looked within the flow of the game as he scored 60 and led the Lakers to the win. He could not have picked a better-named shoe than the Nike Kobe 11 Elite that was part of his farewell Fade To Black Pack.

4. February 2, 2009: 61 Points

Against: New York Knicks

Shoes: Nike Zoom Kobe 4 Del Sol

Because Kobe Bryant played in the Western Conference, he only ever got a chance to play under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden 16 times over his 20-year NBA career. We can chalk that up to the New York Knicks never being good enough to meet the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals, so Kobe had to maximize his opportunities every time he got to play in the Mecca of Basketball. His best performance came in February of 2009, just a few months before he would finally win his fourth NBA Championship and his first without Shaquille O’Neal. Wearing the Del Sol colorway of the Nike Kobe 4, Bryant would put on a show that included several obscenely difficult shots that looked like he was just doing it for fun. Mission accomplished as Spike Lee and MSG faithful were torn between cheering Kobe on or being dismayed that the Knicks were so bad (they finished with the second-worst record in the East that season).

3. December 20, 2005: 62 Points

Against: Dallas Mavericks

Shoes: Nike Zoom Huarache 2K5

While there’s no denying 81 points was Kobe’s greatest scoring night, his 62 points against the Dallas Mavericks in three quarters might be a close second because of how easy he made it look. Whether that was a blazing hot hand or Dallas not being in the mood to play defense, Kobe unleashed the full repertoire on that night in his Nike Zoom Huarache 2K5s. With the Lakers up 92-61 with four seconds to go in the third quarter and Kobe with the ball in hand and 59 points on his ledger, there’s an alternate universe where he doesn’t bother with a shot because the game was all but decided. Instead, Kobe takes and makes a three, swishes it effortlessly, and ends up outsourcing the Mavs after three quarters. That’s a funnier story.

2. March 16, 2007: 65 Points

Against: Portland Trail Blazers

Shoes: Nike Zoom Kobe 2

The first of the four-game streak of scoring at least 50 points started on this night when Kobe had to make countless tough shots to keep the Lakers competitive against a tough Portland Trail Blazers squad that had a young Zach Randolph and a pair of rookies who would become All-Stars in Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. Rocking the retail version of the Nike Zoom Kobe 2, Bryant had to extract every ounce of energy to pull out that victory, including a pair of threes to keep the score tied and force overtime.

1. January 22, 2006: 81 Points

Against: Toronto Raptors

Shoes: Nike Zoom Kobe 1

A little over a month after his historic performance against Dallas, Kobe Bryant made history against the Toronto Raptors, scoring the second-most points in NBA history. Not a bad way to introduce the world to your new signature shoe line, I guess. After debuting the Nike Zoom Kobe 1 on Christmas Day 2005, Bryant would alternate between the Kobe 1 and the Huarache 2K5 for a few weeks before finally settling in with his signature shoe. Not that it would matter to anyone but sneakerheads, but it’s a good thing Kobe achieved the feat in a sneaker that we now look back on fondly with his name on it. To commemorate the anniversary of this achievement, Nike is re-releasing the Nike Kobe 1 he wore during the game. The pair is getting the Protro treatment, meaning it has been enhanced with performance upgrades.

Juan Martinez

From video game journalism to veteran of the sneaker blog era to podcasting about well, everything, Juan is smiling through it all and can't believe this is his life. After recently getting into Formula 1, he now has hot takes about who the greatest driver of all time is. Email: juan@soleretriever.com