Kobe Bryant’s dunk on Omeka Okafor in Game 5 of the Conference Quarter-Finals was the tipping point of the entire series. Much as been said, written and viewed regarding Bryant’s right-handed finish down the lane. Bryant had been called for a foul on former teammate Trevor Ariza the series before that, and was given the continuation call. Bryant, angered by the ref’s discretion, retaliated with a play that would have lasting effects until the Lakers eliminated the Hornets on Thursday night.
It was the kind of dunk that serves many purposes. It wasn’t about sending a message to the Hornets. It was meant to send a message to the Lakers. It was as if his frustrations for losing games 1 and 4 were all rolled up into that one play. That was Bryant’s motivational speech to his teammates.
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No doubt Bryant’s dunk will be clustered with his already lengthy highlight reel of dunks and finishes. Bryant himself commented after the game that he doesn’t have a whole lot of those left in him, so they are definitely something to be savored and enjoyed.
I’m not here to over-analyze the play. So for pure enjoyment’s sake, let’s take a look at Bryant’s top 5 statement dunks. These are the dunks in traffic. One on one. Mano a mano. No fastbreaks. Like the bomb he dropped on Okefor, these are the dunks that we enjoy like it happened yesterday.
We’ll start with Okefor’s Thursday night funeral. Statement: Enough fooling around. It’s time to win this series.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrOnoLGRm0g
Next: Kobe vs. The Fans
I’ve lived in Utah. Sadly enough, I’ve been to more Laker games at Energy Solutions Arena than Staples Center. Utah fans are some of the most underrated hecklers in the league, and they love when the Lakers come to town. This dunk wasn’t just on Kyle Korver. It was on the entire Salt Lake valley. Statement: The more you heckle, the more I try.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khfSqT9cvVo
Two reasons this and-one foul on Nash is near and dear to my heart. First, I live in Phoenix and Suns fans hate to be reminded of this dunk. Secondly, I still play hoops in the mornings in my Zoom Kobe I Black Outs. Statement: Hanging on the rim is the same as leaving my hand up after the shot.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWO0skH8qbo
Next: Both #1 Draft Picks
This. Is. Filthy. Statement: Welcome to the NBA.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORe0_CS-s1A
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How do you say “poster” in Chinese? Statement: I don’t care who you are.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNemKXW6YcM