The Lakers’ forward Kobe Bryant has scored 50 or more points in four straight games, second in the NBA only to Wilt Chamberlain’s seven. He also now is tied with Michael Jordan for second with four behind Chamberlain’s 32 in most 60-point games.
"He’s doing something I’ve never seen," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said in an e-mail Saturday. "This has been historic." He should know because he coached Jordan and played against Chamberlain. Bryant is not going to win the MVP award, which likely will go to Dirk Nowitzki or Steve Nash. But his scoring brilliance again seems to answer the question of who’s the best player in the league and it also provides more evidence in the similarity of Bryant and Jordan in their talent and approach to the game.
In any ease, Bryant is the player now firmly holding that mythical torch of greatness, sporting celebrity and creativity that Jordan once took from Julius "Dr. J" Erring. "Kobe has the verdant green light to hoist it up until he cools down," Jackson said. "Wonders never cease in this game." Certainly, Bryant has been wonderful in the four games, averaging 56.3 points with two games of at least 60. Moreover, he hardly has been selfish or working outside the offense because most of his field goals have come on long jumpers, including 17 of 33 on three-pointers. Bryant is shooting 54 percent.
"It’s phenomenal. It’s incredible," Jackson told Los Angeles reporters. "He’s shooting [outside] more than Michael was. Michael was probably doing more post-up, more penetration, more at-the-basket kind of stuff. But Kobe’s doing a whole range of things. I think his shooting has just been remarkable, the way he is raising up over people and knocking the ball down."
It’s still a long way off, but because he started in the NBA when he was 18, Bryant, 28, can pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time scorer if he can stay healthy and average 25 points until he is 38. "The best part of it all is that we’re winning," Bryant said. "The second is that this generation of players who might not have ever heard of the Elgin [Baylors] or Wilts [and their] greatness will now take notice so the legacy of their brilliance will live on.
"As far as myself, I can’t explain it. All is in slow motion all the time. I don’t know why or how, but it’s trippy." That’s probably what Chamberlain said during his record run.
What shouldn’t Kobe Bryant do to be the league’s ail-time scorer from now on（）
A. No injury
B. Keeps average 25 points until he is 38
C. Started in the NBA when he was 18
D. Gets more scores than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar