The NBA has always been a league defined by its players. Think about it, when we talk soccer, Messi and Ronaldo come to mind. In American football, it’s Tom Brady. And in basketball? Michael Jordan set the standard. But what about today’s legends? LeBron James and Kobe Bryant carried that legacy forward, rewriting history with each game. And trust me, you do not want to face these guys on the court. Game plan? Crushed. Tactics? Exposed. Hidden surprises? They’ve seen it all. Just listen to the coach who’s tried and faced the consequences of facing the two.
The year was 2009. The Los Angeles Lakers clinched the championship, led by none other than Kobe Bryant. Their opponents? The Orlando Magic, with head coach Stan Van Gundy watching his team crumble. Neither strategy nor game plan could halt Kobe’s relentless will to win and unparalleled skill set. Van Gundy saw firsthand what happens when Kobe is in the zone.
And before facing the Lakers, Orlando had already battled another powerhouse: LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron was the focal point of the Cavaliers’ offense, putting up incredible performances even in defeat. Even though he lost that series, he left Van Gundy admitting, on record, that no game plan could contain him. Now, years later, Van Gundy is looking back, breaking down what made these two legends truly great.
May 4, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) disputes a foul call to referee Rodney Mott (71) during the second quarter in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
On a recent episode of the Hold My Banner podcast, Stan Van Gundy opened up about the impossible task of game-planning against legends like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. “Spending hours and hours to come up with game plans and you are so confident…then you run into those guys and they just shatter everything,” Van Gundy admitted. He added, “You play against LeBron, you play against Kobe and it’s hard to even think you are smart anymore.” And honestly? Who wouldn’t feel that way if every strategy they designed got obliterated on the court?
Van Gundy didn’t hold back: “After a while, you’re just like, ‘Oh my god, I’m an idiot. I can’t figure out anything.” That’s the kind of dominance only true legends bring to the game. And for coaches like Van Gundy, sometimes the only option is to sit back and witness greatness unfold. Because when players like Kobe and LeBron take over, there’s really nothing you can do except get mesmerized by the show.
Van Gundy’s Magic often relied on a drop coverage scheme to protect the rim, but against LeBron, this left Cleveland’s shooters open. Similarly, when trying to double Kobe, the Lakers capitalized by spacing the floor and creating easy looks for Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher. Ocho was a handful!
Now allow me to take you down memory lane and give you a glimpse of Kobe Bryant’s beast mode on the court.
Kobe Bryant at his absolute best: “He had 55 in the second half!”
If there’s one game that defines Kobe Bryant’s greatness, it’s his legendary 81-point explosion against the Toronto Raptors. Seriously, this wasn’t just another high-scoring night, it was one of the craziest performances in NBA history. Think about it: 81 points in a single game. That’s second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point record. And unlike Wilt’s game (which had no footage), we got to witness Kobe’s masterpiece in real-time. He drained shots from every spot on the floor, slicing through defenders effortlessly.
His final stat line? Brace for the impact!
28-of-46 from the field
7-of-13 from three
20-of-26 from the free-throw line
And here’s the wildest part, he dropped 55 in the second half alone. That’s more than most players score in an entire game! Lakers owner Jerry Buss summed it up best: “Everybody remembers every 50-point game they ever saw. He had 55 in the second half.”
Kobe took over that night, erased an 18-point deficit, and carried the Lakers to a 122-104 win. It was Mamba mentality in its purest form. And that’s why even after his death, we as fans aspire to learn from the legend.
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