Kobe Bryant won many accolades throughout the course of his illustrious career that helped cement his basketball legacy. He secured five NBA Championships, two Finals MVP awards, the 2008 MVP trophy, and 18 All-Star appearances, to name a few. However, perhaps one of the most defining ‘Mamba’ moments in Kobe’s career came when he scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in January of 2006. The second-highest individual score in NBA history(after Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 points) really announced the advent of the Kobe Bryant era in Los Angeles, after the departure of Shaquille O’Neal in 2004. $60,000,000-worth NBA veteran Kenyon Martin recently revealed his experience watching Kobe’s 81-point game live, one day before playing the Raptors himself.
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Kenyon Martin was with the Denver Nuggets in 2006. The Carmelo Anthony-led side was set to play the Raptors on the 23rd of January, 2006, just a day before Kobe dropped 81 points on Jalen Rose and co. Martin recently recalled watching the contest to assess Toronto’s game in preparation for their next matchup. However, it would turn out to be quite the experience for the then Nuggets star.
Kenyon Martin recalls his live reactions to the Kobe Bryant 81-point game
The Lakers defeated the Raptors 122-104 on January 22, 2006. Kobe Bryant led the scoring charts with 81 points, 2 assists and 6 rebounds, shooting 28-for-46 from the floor and 7-for-13 from deep. The Raptors defenders, especially Jalen Rose, would have a field day trying to contain the onslaught of the Mamba.
During his recent appearance on Podcast P with Paul George, Kenyon Martin revealed his reactions at the time while watching the game live. Martin told the podcast crew, “I watched the Kobe thing, like we were playing Toronto the next game…I’m doing my homework, I’m watching the game. You know I’m watching, he got it going, I’m like he gonna have 50 tonight. He got it going, I’m like easy 60. And I’m like ain’t no way, this motherf**ker might have 70 man!”
“He got to like 74-75, I’m like, ‘Stop it, man.’ No way,” he added, while the entire crew laughed at Martin recounting his astonishment with the whole thing. The 45-year-old then proceeded to call out Toronto’s weak defense against the Lakers.
The Denver Nuggets would win the next game against the Toronto Raptors 107-101, with Carmelo Anthony dropping 37 points, shooting 13-of-16 from the field. The Nuggets entered the contest with a record of 24-19. Melo was just in his third year in the league and was yet to bag his first All-Star selection. Martin scored 25 points in the game.
Martin on the daunting task of guarding Kobe
Even though Kenyon Martin called out Toronto’s defense against Kobe, he never downplayed the daunting task of guarding the great Kobe Bryant. In fact, he always maintained that the Mamba took no sh*t from anybody and was relentless in every single contest in the NBA.
The 2004 All-Star added that that’s why nobody dared to talk smack against Kobe, pretty much like they avoided trash-talking Michael Jordan. The Lakers legend had an array of weapons in his arsenal to choose from while playing on the offensive end of the floor. His limitless scoring potential coupled with his shifty moves and impregnable mindset, made it almost impossible for defenders to guard Kobe.
