That Time When Kobe Bryant Scored 81 Points in a Game

After two quarters of the January 22, 2006 Lakers game against the Raptors, the 18,997 fans in the stands of the Staples Center were getting ready for another Laker loss when suddenly they became witnesses of a piece of history: Kobe Bryant scored 81 points, 55 points in the second half to total 81 points, the second-best scoring show of all times and the best in 44 years.

It was the re-run of the 2006 Lakers game airing on television and also when Kobe himself tweeted throughout the whole broadcast with a hashtag #countonkobe.

The broadcast aired with the following tweets on twitter as the Lakers 2006 game aired on television:

@NBA TV- Time to go, folks. Tune into @NBATV now and follow @kobebryant; he's watching his 81-point game for the first time. #COUNTONKOBE.

NBA partner TNT also encouraged viewers to tune in to both the replay and Kobe’s unique Twitter take.

@kobebryant- “I can't believe I've never watched this game till now”

@kobebryant- “Down 14, I'm heating up...at this point I wouldn't pass a kidney stone #countonkobe”

@kobebryant-  “After the 3rd quarter, @RealLamarOdom tells me "you can't get 60", then half way through he said "you can't get 70" #countonkobe”

@greaterthan-“ .@KobeBryant how lucky do u feel that @Scalabrine wasn't on the Raptors to D u up in this game? #WhiteMamba @nikebasketball #CountOnKobe”

@kobebryant- “.@DrinkGT @Scalabrine @nikebasketball the white mamba wasn't in the building but the red mamba was...Matt Bonner.”

@SHAQ-   “Watchin Kobe's historical 81 pt game. Question Kobe did u wake up and say I'm a hit 80 today,  jalens guarding me. #answermyquestionkobe”

@kobebryant- “.@SHAQ yep...lol”

This broadcast was one of the best events for NBA fans across the nations as history was made in that match. What’s more entertaining than having to watch the game with the champ and hear what he has to stay about that historic game? This was only possible thanks to social media and the internet.