Incredible

Vanessa Bryant revisits Kobe’s most legendary moment, 81 points that still don’t feel real

Kobe's historic performance took place 20 years ago

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UPDATED JANUARY 23, 2026 5:53 PM ESTJAN 23, 2026, 5:53 PM EST

Vanessa Bryant is celebrating one of the landmarks of Kobe Bryant's incredible basketball career. In a series of stories shared on her Instagram, Vanessa marked the 20th anniversary of the game when Kobe scored 81 points while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Vanessa shared stories of Kobe's historic performance

Vanessa shared four Instagram reels and images on her stories, showing Kobe's impressive achievement, making him the second-highest scoring player ever in a single game. He follows Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 100 points in a game in 1962.

Kobe was playing for the Lakers on January 22nd, 2006, in a match against the Toronto Raptors. Making his scoring all the more impressive was the fact that Kobe was on the court for only 42 minutes.

According to interviews recorded at the time, Kobe himself was impressed by his performance, revealing that he'd never scored as many times in a game, not even when he was a kid.

"I feel pretty good," he said in a post-game interview. "It hasn't really sunk in yet. We had four days off coming up here. I'd have been sick as a dog if we lost this game. I just wanted to step up and inspire us to play a great game, and it turned into something really special."

Kobe's scoreline follows basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain

"You're sitting and watching, and it's like a miracle unfolding in front of your eyes, and you can't accept it," said Jerry Buss, the team's owner at the time.

Vanessa Bryant consistently celebrates her husband's achievements

Kobe is the second player to score the most on a single game — Kobe is the second player to score the most on a basketball game

Vanessa Bryant is her late husband's biggest advocate. Over the years, she's celebrated his most notable achievements, ensuring that his legacy is kept alive through his children and his impact in sports and the world as a whole.

The couple had four daughters throughout their marriage. Vanessa quotes her kids as the main reason why she's managed to overcome the tragedy of losing Kobe and their eldest, Gigi, back in 2020 when the two were involved in a plane crash.

"My girls help me smile through the pain. They give me strength," said Vanessa in a 2021 interview with PEOPLE. "Helping my girls navigate through this heartache is important to me. Making sure that they know that they are loved, supported and important is what motivates me."