2000 NBA Finals Game 4: An Injured 21-Year-Old Kobe Bryant Took Over And Won The Game In Overtime
Kobe Bryant takes over in overtime of Game 4 of the 2000 NBA Finals to beat the Indiana Pacers
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The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the greatest franchises in NBA history. Their 17 NBA titles are tied with their rivals, the Boston Celtics, for the most championships won by a franchise in NBA history.
The 1980s became the Lakers' best decade, as they won five titles, with eight trips to the Finals. The Lakers were led by stars Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. They also had a handful of other solid players on the team, like James Worthy and Byron Scott.
After Kareem and Magic retired, the Lakers fell toward the bottom of the league during most of the 1990s. This would change in the 1996-97 season when the Lakers traded for Shaquille O'Neal and by drafting Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers wouldn't see success with their new star duo at first, as Shaq was finding his game in LA, and a young Kobe was trying to find his way in the NBA. In their first three playoff years, the Lakers would be swept out of the playoffs two times.
There was an uncertainty growing in LA, as Lakers fans and ownership wanted to see results after giving Shaquille O'Neal a seven-year, $120 Million contract. Things would change in 2000 for the Lakers.
The Lakers would finish with a 67-15 record, with Shaq winning his first and only MVP award. In the playoffs, the Lakers went through a tough opening-round series against the Sacramento Kings before easily knocking off the Phoenix Suns in the second round.
The Lakers would be pushed to the limit by the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals, as the Blazers would take the series to a Game 7. In the deciding game, the Lakers would rally back from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to win the game and the series.
The Lakers were back in the Finals, and they'd face off against the Reggie Miller-led Indiana Pacers. Nobody gave the Pacers a chance in the series until a Kobe Bryant injury at the start of Game 2 happened.
Kobe sprained his ankle early on in the first quarter, and he'd not only miss the rest of Game 2 but all of Game 3. The Lakers won Game 1 and Game 2, despite losing Kobe. Game 3 was won by the Pacers, as they took full advantage of Shaq being the lone star on the team.
With the Lakers series lead at 2-1 and two more games in Indiana, Kobe knew he needed to get back out on the court. Kobe returned, even if he wasn't fully 100%. This proved to be crucial, especially when Shaq fouled out with 2:33 remaining in overtime.
Kobe Takes Over In Overtime To Secure The Lakers Victory
After Shaq fouled out, which was on a rebound attempt where he went over Pacers' center, Rik Smits' back, Lakers fans were biting their nails. Shaq had been the most dominant player all season long, and the Pacers appeared to have had all the momentum.
There was one person in the entire building that was not nervous for the Lakers, and that was their young star, Kobe Bryant. Kobe lived for these moments when he could prove that he could lead a team with Shaq out.
Of course, later on in his career, Kobe would prove this by winning two straight titles in 2009 and 2010. But back in 2000, Kobe was still an up-and-coming star that many looked at as being Shaq's sidekick.
Kobe would quickly prove this narrative false by putting on an incredible performance in overtime. The Black Mamba would hit two huge jump shots to keep the Lakers in the game.
Then, with 5.9 seconds remaining in the game, after the Lakers couldn't get the ball into Kobe's hands, Brian Shaw took a running jumper. Shaw would miss his shot, but who was there for the putback? Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers led 120-117 with 5.9 seconds remaining, and they'd hold on for a big 120-118 Game 4 victory. Kobe scored 8 points in the overtime, shooting 4-5 from the field, and his clutch putback sealed the Lakers' victory.
For the game, Kobe scored 28, which was the most he scored in the 2000 NBA Finals. The Lakers would go on to win the series in six games, starting what would become a three-peat.
After this game, Kobe's confidence soared to even higher limits. From this point on, there would be no stopping The Black Mamba, as he'd go down as one of the greatest players the NBA has ever seen.
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