Kobe Bryant’s 10 most memorable performances against the Rockets

Tuesday is the one-year anniversary of the passing of Kobe Bryant, an NBA legend. Bryant died on January 26, 2020 in a tragic helicopter crash, as did his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others.

Bryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three other daughters. He was 41 years old at the time of his January 2020 death.

During his legendary 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant was a five-time NBA champion; an 18-time All-Star; a two-time Olympic gold medalist; and an MVP, among numerous accolades.

Naturally, that legendary career meant he had his share of elite performances against every NBA franchise — and that’s certainly the case for playoff rivals in the Western Conference, like the Houston Rockets.

Bryant appeared in 61 regular-season games against the Rockets from 1996 through 2016, with the Lakers going 35-26 (.574) in those contests. The future Hall of Fame guard averaged 26.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.5 steals, and he was also a valuable defender.

But Bryant and the Lakers really did their damage against the Rockets in the playoffs. During his career, the Lakers were a perfect 3-0 in playoff series versus Houston — including a 3-1 win in the 1999 first round, a 4-1 win in the 2004 first round, and a 4-3 triumph in the 2009 second round. In those three postseason series, Bryant averaged 24.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.

Combining the playoffs and regular season, Bryant scored 40+ points nine times against the Rockets, including three games of 50+ points.

Bryant’s first game versus the Rockets came at Houston’s former arena, The Summit, on Nov. 12, 1996. Then only 18 years old and fresh out of high school, Bryant scored two points in just five minutes.

Bryant’s last game against Houston came on April 10, 2016 at Toyota Center, and it was his third-to-last game in the NBA. He scored 35 points in just 27 minutes, but the Rockets got a bit of revenge with a 130-110 win. James Harden led the way for Houston with 40 points and 13 assists.

Naturally, though, his most memorable games against the Rockets came in between his debut and that farewell game. Here’s a look back at what stood out the most over Bryant’s 20 seasons against Houston.

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Kobe Bryant had a dominant run against the Houston Rockets

Dec. 21, 2000

In one of the most efficient games of Bryant's career, Shandon Anderson had no answers to limit his scoring prowess. Bryant had 45 points on 20-of-26 shooting (76.9%), leading the defending NBA champion Lakers to a 99-94 win (box score) at Compaq Center in Houston. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZDtGFYDghs

May 6, 2009

Bryant dropped 40 on Shane Battier and the Rockets in Game 2 of their second-round series in the 2009 playoffs, leading the Lakers to a 111-98 victory (box score) at Staples Center to even the series. Los Angeles went on to eliminate the Rockets, winning the series by a 4-3 margin. That Game 2 win proved to be crucial, since Houston was the only team to push the Lakers to an elimination game that season. Led by Bryant, Los Angeles went on to win both the 2009 and 2010 NBA titles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi1MQ3SsWwY

Dec. 15, 2006

In the highest-scoring game of his career versus Houston, Bryant had 53 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists against Shane Battier and the Rockets on Dec. 15, 2006. It took the Lakers two overtimes to defeat the Rockets, 112-101 (box score), which forced Bryant to play for more than 54 minutes that night. Yet, as was often the case, Kobe found a way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofQENClhKeg

Feb. 18, 2003

Bryant scored 52 versus Cuttino Mobley and the Rockets in this double-ovetime thriller from Los Angeles, which the Lakers won, 106-99 (box score). Kobe shot 50% from the field and also had 8 rebounds and 7 assists, but this game is most remembered for his dunk over 7-foot-5 center Yao Ming — then in his rookie season in Houston. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5InwkFD5Mc

May 9, 1999

In Game 1 of the 1999 playoffs, Bryant went to the line with 5.0 seconds left and the Rockets holding a one-point lead. He made both free throws, giving the Lakers a 101-100 victory (box score) in a first-round series ultimately won by Los Angeles, 3-1. It turned out to be the last career playoff series for Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley, who are each now Hall of Famers alongside Bryant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MYewafg3U

April 28, 2004

Bryant had a game-high 31 points (57.1% FG) and 10 assists in this 97-78 victory (box score) by the Lakers in Game 5, which clinched the first-round series for Phil Jackson's team The highest totals in points and assists by all other players in the game were 18 and 5, respectively. The 2004 Lakers ultimately won the Western Conference and advanced to the NBA Finals for the fourth time in five seasons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBMcVYp_Bxk

Oct. 30, 2007

In the opening game of the 2007-08 regular season, Bryant led the Lakers with 45 points and 8 assists as he attacked the paint relentlessly — leading to an astounding 27 free-throw attempts. Houston won the game at Staples Center, 95-93 (box score), but Bryant appeared fully committed to Los Angeles on the court despite reportedly issuing an offseason trade request. The Lakers eventually won the Western Conference that season and returned to the NBA Finals for the first time in four years. (They also made the Finals in 2009 and 2010, which ultimately became the final two of Bryant's five career titles.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN_eY0qflUs

March 30, 2007

Bryant tied his career-high versus the Rockets with 53 points in 48 minutes, but the Rockets won the game in overtime, 107-104 (box score). In an instant classic, the Rockets were led by 39 points and 11 rebounds from Yao Ming and 30 points and 10 assists by Tracy McGrady. All three of that game's top scorers are now in the Basketball Hall of Fame. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ay_sUM5nR0

Nov. 4, 2009

On the second night of a road back-to-back, Bryant led the defending NBA champion Lakers to a 103-102 overtime win (box score) in Houston. Kobe had 41 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals that night, and his perimeter defense helped prevent former teammate Trevor Ariza from getting off a potential game-winning shot in the closing seconds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qewX7Phk7tc

April 10, 2016

Bryant's final game against the Rockets — and the third-to-last of his NBA career — felt like a symbolic passing of the torch. Bryant played very well with 35 points in 27 minutes, but James Harden had 40 points and 10 assists as the Rockets cruised to a 130-110 home victory (box score). Once the game went final, the Toyota Center crowd gave Bryant an extended standing ovation. Harden and Bryant embraced as the veteran appeared to offer kind words to his long-time admirer. After all, Harden was growing up in the Los Angeles area when Bryant was leading the Lakers to many of those championships in the early 2000s. Bryant always seemed to admire Harden's game and personality, as well. At one point, Kobe suggested that if he could start an NBA franchise with any one player, it would be "The Beard." Bryant also endorsed Harden's MVP candidacy in 2018, when he won the award for the first time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA090iu7Fas Bryant finished as the NBA's top scorer in the 2000s decade, while Harden eventually claimed that honor for the 2010s. When Bryant tragically died in that early 2020 helicopter crash, Harden paid his respects by traveling to Los Angeles for the memorial service — even though his Rockets had a game in Houston that same night. Harden made it back just minutes before tipoff and led his team to an emotional win, which was perhaps a fitting tribute to the legend that he and so many others idolized. [lawrence-related id=25557,25621]