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LOS ANGELES, CA. JAN. 04, 2015. Lakers’ #24 Kobe Bryant all smiles after an assist from teammate Carlos Boozer in a game vs the Pacers’ in the 1st half of the game at Staple Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 04, 2015. LA Lakers play the Indiana Pacers in a regular NBA season game. (Photo by Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA. JAN. 04, 2015. Lakers’ #24 Kobe Bryant all smiles after an assist from teammate Carlos Boozer in a game vs the Pacers’ in the 1st half of the game at Staple Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 04, 2015. LA Lakers play the Indiana Pacers in a regular NBA season game. (Photo by Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant and greatness go hand in hand. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes ever thanks to his on-court accomplishments and the impact he had on the overall game.
While there might be players who have won more than Kobe, his influence is unmatched. Bryant had a strict work ethic, which kept him focused at all times. However, he knew how to celebrate a memorable performance.
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Bryant once ordered a special Martini drink that contained a whopping 81 olives. The reason being? He dropped a phenomenal 81 points on the Toronto Raptors.
After the game, former Raptors star, Jalen Rose noticed Kobe having his 81 olive Martini after dismantling the Raptors on live TV.
“I saw Kobe after he dropped 81 at a restaurant, and he ordered a martini with 81 olives … Rest in peace, legend." @JalenRose reacts to Jamal Murray seeing Donovan Mitchell after he scored 57 against the Nuggets. pic.twitter.com/pF7JhFSgHl
— ESPN (@espn) August 18, 2020
During the half time of the matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics in 2020, Rose revealed, “I saw Kobe after he dropped 81 at a restaurant, and he ordered a martini with 81 olives. Rest in peace, legend.”
Kobe Bryant destroys the Raptors almost single handedly
Kobe Bryant and his time in the NBA will forever be remembered. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest guards ever, and his basketball ability made him a faithful player for the Los Angeles Lakers.
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LOS ANGELES, CA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 – Lakers guard Kobe Bryant listens as the National Anthem is sung by Jeffey Osborne at the season opener against the Rockets at Staples Center. (Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
In a match against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, Bryant dropped a masterclass. The Lakers took on the Raptors on the 22nd of January, 2006.
Kobe led his team to a phenomenal 122-104 comeback, scoring 81 points himself. Moreover, he shot 28-of-46, that includes 7-of-13 from 3-point range, and 18-of-20 from the foul line. Talk about greatness!
Interestingly enough, Bryant was equally stunned by the performance, just like the rest of us. He said, “Not even in my dreams. That was something that just happened. It’s tough to explain. It’s just one of those things.”
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Apart from being one of his best performances in the NBA, the game against the Raptors holds a special significance for Bryant. Bryant’s grandmother watched him play live, and this remains the only live game she had seen. Safe to say, she chose the right one!
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Ajinkya Aswale