The youngest NBA player to reach 20000 points?

During his historic 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant achieved many outstanding accomplishments along the way. Not only did each game provide Bryant with an opportunity to explode, it further cemented his legendary status as one of the greatest scorers in NBA history.

The middle of 2000 was an unfortunate part of Bryant’s career with the Lakers, starting with Shaquille O’Neal but not yet partnering with Pau Gasol on his way to his second championship. It was during this time that Bryant had to always carry the full load alone, facing double-teams in almost every game.

>> Best betting sites (2024)

Many teams would go back and forth on their game plans for Bryant and the Lakers, debating between letting Bryant try to win alone or letting the ball take it from him and letting his teammates play.

However, certain games each season turn into demonstrations of Hall of Fame scoring, including the Dec. 23, 2007 matchup with the New York Knicks.

Wherever the Lakers go, they’re met with huge crowds of fans. Many of them wanted to see Kobe perform unforgettable. Madison Square Garden was hugely popular on this day in 2007.

Bryant always emphasized that famous arenas are his favorite places to play, and celebrities like Spike Lee were there. He would end up playing one of the best performances of his career there, once dropping 61 points to wow the crowd.

The Lakers got off to a hot start against the Knicks, leading 55-37 at halftime. However, a turnover in the second half set the stage for Bryant to go down in history again.

A 3-pointer early in the third quarter officially cemented Bryant as the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points. He beat former record holder Wilt Chamberlain by 12 days, achieving the feat at 29 years and 122 days.

At the time, Bryant cemented himself as the third player in NBA history to reach the milestone before turning 30, joining Chamberlain and Michael Jordan.