The Toronto Raptors always seem to bring out the best in scored a career-high 81 points (second in NBA history only to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 points game) in a January 22nd contest between the two teams during the 2007 season. During that historic scoring barrage, Bryant was an ridiculous 28-46 from the field, 7-13 from three point range, and 18-20 from the free throw line.

Mere days before his Achilles injury in 2013, Bryant shined at the expense of the Raptors yet again, nailing a trio of impossible threes in the final two minutes and eventually leading the Lakers to an overtime victory. This performance came during the thick of an impressive streak of game-winning plays near the end of the 2012-13 season.

Although even his feats of only two years prior seem like distant memories after two major injuries and a slew of missed time, Bryant’s legacy and flair for the dramatic will endure long after his aging body. While the current Lakers season is guaranteed to be a disappointing one, Kobe’s incomparable longevity as an NBA superstar remains as impressive as ever. As he approaches the end of two-decade run among the NBA’s finest, moments like these should continued to be savored by basketball fans everywhere.