I’m going out on a limb to suggest that Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance on Sunday night will mark a turning point in the NBA.
It was one thing when he scored 62 earlier this season, even though it was done in only three quarters. Sixty-two is unusual, but not unheard of.
Eighty-one, though–that’s otherworldly.
If there’s one thing NBA players have plenty of, it’s ego. Wouldn’t you think Allen Iverson or Shaquille O’Neal or Jason Kidd or Dwyane Wade or Tracy McGrady or Carmelo Anthony or any number of other top scorers are going to want in on that kind of recognition for an accomplishment?
And the NBA brass will see that interest in the league perks up once people realize that a player could drop 50, or 60, or 80 or even 100 points on any given night. Then you’ll see more emphasis on and encouragement of scoring in both promotional activity and in rules changes.
Over the next five years or so we’ll see 40 points-per-game scorers, and 50 will not be out of the question. Nor will the idea of someone breaking Wilt’s 100.
My prediction: Bryant will lead that charge to offensive heights in the next two years, and LeBron James for the next three years after that.
