On Jan. 22, 2006, Kobe embedded himself in NBA history. In a home game against the Toronto Raptors, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Raptors 122-104.

Beating a team by 18 points is an accomplishment by itself, but it was what happened in the game that was so special. Kobe Bryant dropped 81 points. The second most of all time, only behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 point game. The superstar, Kobe, managed to drop 81 points in the shot clock era. Kobe went 28 for 46 shooting, which is a 60% field goal percentage. He also shot 7 for 13 from 3 which is a 54% shooting average.

Since then, the closest to that 81 point game is Devin Booker’s 70 point game.

Kobe’s record will stand in the 2nd place spot for a while because there just aren’t any other scorers like Kobe right now.

Notable Mentions
In 2007, Kobe had a 4 game span where he scored 50 or more points.
In the first game, he scored 65 against the Trail Blazers.
In the second game, he scored 50 against the Timberwolves.
He scored 60 points on the Grizzlies in the third game, and finally in the fourth, he scored 50 points against the Hornets.
He ended the streak with a 43 point game.

This alone easily solidified Kobe as one of the greatest scorers of all time, and he will definitely go down in history, but where is this legend now?

Kobe currently resides in Orange County with his wife and three daughters. He is currently coaching his daughters basketball team. Kobe is now just a regular dad trying to enjoy life with his family after his very successful basketball career.

Sources:

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/hero-ball-kobe-bryants-legendary-50-point-game-streak-in-perspective/

https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200601220LAL.html

https://247sports.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/Bolt/kobe-bryant-coaching-daughter-basketball-team-triangle-offense-111978146/