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Kobe Bryant’s Best Games Against The Philadelphia 76ers

By George Kondoleon

Dec 1, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) waves goodbye to fans at Wells Fargo Center after a game against the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers won 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) waves goodbye to fans at Wells Fargo Center after a game against the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers won 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Philadelphia 76ers are just one of the many teams who have paid tribute to Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who will play his final game tonight.

Kobe Bryant and the Philadelphia 76ers have had a weird relationship to say the least. The Philadelphia native used his hometown team passing him up for Allen Iverson in the 1996 NBA Draft as fuel throughout his illustrious Hall of Fame career. Bryant even handed the Philadelphia 76ers a Finals loss when him and Iverson faced off in 2001.

Kobe Bryant has had some high scoring outputs, and many of them against the Sixers. Kobe Bryant has left a bad taste in many die-hard Philly fans for his dominant performances against the team. Kobe’s best games against the Philadelphia 76ers came both in that 2001 Finals and throughout regular season meet-ups throughout his 19-year career.

December 20th, 2002: 44 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds

Kobe Bryant was able to outscore the reigning MVP Allen Iverson 44 to 32. Bryant’s offensive dominance was shown when he was able to not only drop almost half of the Lakers’ points, but racked up double digits assists in the meantime. Bryant went 16-35 from the field and shot 2-5 from behind the 3-point line. The Philadelphia 76ers were able to hold off Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, however, winning 107-104.

January 6th, 2006: 48 points, 2 assists, 10 rebounds

Kobe Bryant’s highest scoring output against Philadelphia came in 2006 in a blowout victory for the Lakers where Allen Iverson scored 31 points. Kobe was absolutely on fire from the field, shooting 19 of 29 (65.5%) from the field and hitting all 7 of his 3-point shots. Kobe Bryant put on a show against the Sixers, recording one of the best outside shooting performances between the two teams.

December 31st, 2006: 35 points, 6 assists, 8 rebounds

New Year’s Eve was a good one for Kobe Bryant against the Philadelphia 76ers. Bryant almost racked up a triple double against his hometown team, leading his team to 104-94 victory. Kobe Bryant shot 68.2% from the field as he hit 3 of 6 3-pointers. The Philadelphia 76ers scoring was led by Kyle Korver, who scored 29 points off the bench.

2001 NBA Finals, Game 2: 31 points, 6 assists, 8 rebounds

Kobe Bryant was able to tie the series after the Philadelphia 76ers shocked the world with a Game 1 victory. Although struggling in the series opener, Game 2 was Kobe Bryant’s way of shutting down his hometown team, complimenting the Lakers scoring along with O’Neal’s historic 28 points, 20 rebound performance. Kobe Bryant had some key late-game assists to close out the Sixers. The greatness of trash talking occurred between the legends of Iverson and Bryant at the end of the game.

2001 NBA Finals, Game 3: 32 points, 2 assists, 6 rebounds

Kobe Bryant was treated with boos from the Philadelphia fans following his  “I don’t care” answer to a question about returning to his hometown for Game 3, following his Game 2 win. Kobe quieted those boos with a dominant performance in what was his first real showing of taking the game over late without Shaq.

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    • Shaq fouled out with 2 minutes left in the game, with the Lakers clinging to a 2-point lead. Kobe was able to lead the offense while Shaq struggled with foul trouble throughout the game, even hitting a key mid-range shot late in the game to make a two possession game. The Lakers held off Iverson’s 35 points and 12 rebounds to win a pivotal Game 3 in Philadelphia.

    Kobe Bryant had some great performances against the Philadelphia 76ers, and these are just a few examples of the greatness he has shown in his long career.

    It’s no secret that the tension between Philadelphia and Bryant was always there throughout the pinnacle of his career, but fans have awed at the way Kobe Bryant was able to take over games with one-of-a-kind talent. Kobe Bryant will hit the floor one last time tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies, but Philadelphia 76ers will be remembering the heartbreak he caused this city with his amazing talents.

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    Farewell, Kobe Bryant. Philadelphia will continue to have a weird place in your heart, as you will to them.