Tag: onthisday

On this date: Wilt Chamberlain reaches 30,000 career points

On Feb. 16, 1972, former Laker Wilt Chamberlain became the first NBA player to reach 30,000 career points.

About a year ago, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading career scorer in a contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The fact James is a Laker and Abdul-Jabbar played most of his career with the Lakers reinforces the franchise’s image as the gold standard of basketball.

Abdul-Jabbar became the league’s all-time leading career scorer in 1984 when he surpassed Wilt Chamberlain, who himself played five seasons with the Purple and Gold.

After frustrating playoff losses in his first three years with the franchise, Chamberlain enjoyed a phenomenal 1971-72 campaign, during which L.A. won 33 games in a row and won its first world championship since arriving in Southern California.

That season was also notable for Chamberlain becoming the first NBA player to reach the 30,000-point mark. He did so in a game versus the Phoenix Suns, which the Lakers unfortunately lost by one point.

By this point of his career, Chamberlain wasn’t scoring much anymore. The man who once averaged 50.4 points a game for an entire season and scored 100 points in a single game was down to 14.8 points a game in the 1971-72 season. Some of it was due to head coach Bill Sharman, who asked him to sacrifice scoring to focus on defense, rebounding and firing outlet passes to ignite L.A.’s running game.

But Chamberlain still won the NBA Finals MVP that spring. He had 24 points and 29 rebounds in Game 5 of the championship series to help finish the New York Knicks.

On this date: Lakers beat Celtics in 2008 Christmas Day matchup

Relive the exciting Christmas Day game between the Lakers and Celtics in 2008 that was a prelude to what would transpire 18 months later.

On Christmas Day, the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Boston Celtics, and it is sure to be an intense and possibly dramatic game between the two old rivals.

While this game has been highly anticipated, there was another yuletide battle between the two squads that was even more highly anticipated. It took place in 2008, as they seemed to be on a collision course to meet for higher stakes.

Just six months earlier, the newly empowered Lakers met the Celtics in the NBA Finals, only to lose in six games. Los Angeles was intimidated and manhandled in several categories. The capper was a 131-92 clobbering administered by the Celtics in Game 6.

The Lakers were eager to get back at the men in green, and they did just that on Christmas Day 2008.

They went on a slight second-quarter surge to go up 51-45 at halftime, but the fourth quarter was hotly contested. Hall of Fame big man Pau Gasol scored nine points in the final three minutes, and a steal led to a breakaway jam by Trevor Ariza with just over a minute left. That put the seal on a 92-83 L.A. victory that ended Boston’s 19-game winning streak.

The late great Kobe Bryant led the way with 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

The Lakers went on to finish with a 65-17 record and win the NBA title in 2009, although they did it against the Orlando Magic. That meant they had some unfinished business, and they finally completed it the following season by overcoming a 13-point deficit in Game 7 of the finals to finally defeat Boston for the world championship.

On this date: Kobe Bryant hits iconic game-winner over Dwyane Wade

On Dec. 4, 2009, Kobe Bryant hit one of his most memorable game-winning shots in the face of Heat legend Dwyane Wade.

Just over a decade ago, Kobe Bryant finally won an NBA championship without Shaquille O’Neal. But he wasn’t done. He headed into the 2009-10 season looking for his fifth ring, as well as one earned by beating the Boston Celtics, the hated rivals who had dispatched L.A. in the 2008 NBA Finals.

The Lakers started the new campaign in red-hot fashion, but there were some younger stars coming for Bryant’s place as the best player in the world. One of them was Dwyane Wade, whose game and mentality were very much like Bryant’s.

The Lakers hosted Wade’s Miami Heat on Dec. 4, and in the closing seconds, they trailed 106-102 and looked done. A 3-pointer by Derek Fisher allowed the Lakers to pull to within one, 106-105. Wade then made just one of two free throws off an intentional foul with 3.2 ticks remaining.

Bryant took the ensuing inbounds pass, and while drifting to his left, he banked in a 3-pointer for the win over Wade as time expired.

Bryant finished with 33 points, while Wade was held to 7-of-21 shooting. The win improved L.A.’s record to 15-3, and it was a reminder to men such as Wade, LeBron James and Kevin Durant that the Black Mamba wasn’t ready to relinquish his throne atop the NBA yet.

On this date: LeBron James’ NBA regular-season debut

On Oct. 29, 2003, LeBron James played his first NBA regular season game and made it clear he was worthy of the hype surrounding him.

On Sunday night, the Los Angeles Lakers played the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento at Golden 1 Center. It just happened to come on the 20th anniversary of LeBron James’ NBA regular-season debut, which also took place in Sacramento at the now-defunct Arco Arena.

On Oct. 29, 2003, James took the court for the first time as a rookie, and it was quite possibly the most anticipated debut in league history.

He had been impressive at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in his native Akron, Ohio, and many believed he could be a transcendent player as he jumped straight into the NBA. But there were a few who wondered if he was truly worthy of the hype, or if he would be merely another prep-to-pro prospect who would fizzle out at the next level.

James scored 25 points on 12-of-20 shooting and had nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in the game. Although his Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Kings, 106-92, he had sent a clear message to the sports world.

It was just a taste of what was to come for the next 20-plus years.

On this date: Kobe Bryant’s ‘amnesty game’ versus the Mavericks

After a big game against the Mavericks in 2013, Kobe Bryant shot back at Mavs owner Mark Cuban for making a provocative comment about him.

In 2013, the Los Angeles Lakers were struggling despite the presence of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. Right after the All-Star break, there was a lot of doubt they would make the playoffs.

Bryant said they would indeed make the playoffs, and on Feb. 24 versus Dirk Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks, he made a statement.

Prior to the contest, Mavs owner Mark Cuban said the Lakers should consider releasing Bryant from their roster, using the NBA’s amnesty provision, and the five-time champ was irked.

He went out and scored 38 points on 13-of-21 shooting, to go along with 12 rebounds and seven assists, while leading L.A. to a 103-99 win.

Afterward, he posted this tweet that took a shot at Cuban’s comment.

Behind Bryant’s leadership, the Lakers sneaked into the playoffs that April. But it came at a huge price. He tore his Achilles toward the end of the regular season, and he was never the same player again.

But that season was yet another example of his iron-clad will and unwillingness to ever accept losing.

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On this date: Kobe and Shaq meet in 2008 regular-season showdown

In February 2008, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal faced off in a much-hyped regular season game that lived up to its billing.

After teaming to win three straight NBA championships, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal became rivals after the latter was traded to the Miami Heat in the summer of 2004.

Their regular-season matchups were hyped in a big way, and O’Neal’s Heat won most of those games.

In February 2008, a then-mediocre Lakers team forever changed its fortunes by trading for Pau Gasol and becoming instant title contenders. The Phoenix Suns, who had knocked the Lakers out of the previous two postseasons, responded by dealing Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to Miami for O’Neal.

It set up a major showdown on Feb. 20, which just happened to be O’Neal’s debut with the Suns.

By now, he was 35 and a much-diminished version of his old self, but he was still a force in the middle.

In a fantastic, hard-fought and high-scoring battle, the Lakers came out on top, 130-124, further proving they had returned to the top of the Western Conference.

Bryant had 41 points and Gasol put up 29 points, while O’Neal contributed 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots.

Los Angeles was now a certified juggernaut, and it went all the way to the NBA Finals, where it lost to the Boston Celtics, only to capture the next two world championships, including one over that same Celtics squad.

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On this date: Kobe Bryant scores 81 points versus the Raptors

In 2006, Kobe Bryant had the NBA’s second-highest scoring performance ever with 81 points while leaving fans with indelible memories.

The Jan. 22, 2006 game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors was supposed to be just another routine, nondescript midseason contest that wouldn’t attract much, if any, attention nationwide.

The Lakers were 21-19 coming into the game, and Kobe Bryant was forced to do just about all the heavy lifting for a very anemic team just to give it a shot at returning to the playoffs.

As the game started, L.A. looked flat against a bad Raptors team that was 14-26. It fell behind, 36-29, after one quarter and 63-49 at halftime. Although Bryant had 26 points at that point, there was no excitement inside of Staples Center.

But with the Lakers needing a big spark, he started to get hot in the third quarter. He hit jumper after jumper, and suddenly he had tallied 27 in the period on 11-of-15 shooting as the Lakers pulled within four points.

Now everyone was taking notice. They realized Bryant was in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime performance. He passed 60 points and then 70 points as he established the Lakers franchise record for the highest-scoring game by any player.

His 81 points ensured a 122-104 win while leaving fans with vivid memories that would never fade. It was also the first step toward Bryant rehabilitating his tattered public image, and a step toward eventually getting the Lakers back into championship contention within a couple of years.

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A look at the five most memorable Lakers Christmas Day games

The Lakers have often been on center stage on Christmas Day, as the NBA has turned the holiday into its flagship showcase.

The Los Angeles Lakers playing on Christmas Day is as much a yuletide tradition as opening presents, spending time with loved ones or volunteering at a soup kitchen for the homeless.

The NBA long ago turned Christmas Day into a showcase, much as Thanksgiving Day has become a huge holiday for the NFL.

Dec. 25 has seen its share of memorable contests involving the Purple and Gold, and some have involved some of the team’s biggest rivals, not to mention some of its most hyped regular season games of all time.

Take a look into the past at these five highly memorable Christmas Day Lakers games.

On this date: Magic Johnson hits buzzer-beater to defeat Celtics

Early in the 1987-88 season, Magic Johnson delivered a dagger through the hearts of the Celtics – just as he did in the 1987 NBA Finals.

In Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a large second-half deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics, thanks to Magic Johnson’s famous “junior skyhook” with two seconds left.

On Dec. 11, 1987, the two teams met for the first time in the 1987-88 season, and history repeated itself.

Los Angeles fell behind by double-digits again in the third quarter. Although it chipped away at the deficit, the team appeared likely to come up short.

But Michael Cooper hit a big 3-pointer, just as he did in Game 4 of the championship series the previous June, and with three seconds left, the Lakers had the ball down by one point.

Johnson was forced to take an off-balance bank shot while drifting to his left, but it went in cleanly to give them a 115-114 win. Once again, they had broken the hearts of Celtics fans in Boston.

The Lakers had been in a slump leading up to that contest, but it propelled them to a 15-game winning streak, and they ultimately went on to capture their second straight NBA championship.

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On this date: Young Kobe scores total of 81 points in back-to-back games

In early December 2000, Kobe Bryant started to prove he was the best overall player in basketball with a monster weekend.

When the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA championship in 2000, Kobe Bryant was an up-and-coming star who had played excellent ball on both ends of the floor.

But he wanted to be more than that. He wanted to be the best in the game.

Early the next season, after putting in hard work during the summer, Bryant started to prove there was nobody, or at least no non-big man, who was better than him.

After struggling to be consistently efficient in November, he started December with a bang. He scored what was at the time a career-high 43 points on 16-of-31 shooting, plus six assists, in a big win over Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs.

As if to prove it was no fluke, two nights later, he had a similar explosion against Dirk Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks.

He put up 38 points on 15-of-28 shooting, which included two clutch baskets in the final 80 seconds, while also dishing another six assists as the Lakers held off Dallas, 99-97.

It wouldn’t be long before people around the NBA started calling Bryant the game’s best all-around player, a title he held on to for at least another decade.

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