Raptors wouldn’t allow film from Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game in tribute video
The Kobe Bryant farewell tour continued in Toronto Monday night, but the Raptors refused to acknowledge one of the five-time champion’s most historic feats.
If you remember, it was against Toronto in 2006 that Kobe dropped a career-high 81 points, which is the second most ever for a player in a single game behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100. While the Raptors were happy to honor Bryant with a tribute video before Monday’s game, highlights from Kobe’s 81-point performance were apparently off limits.
Can't make this up. I'm actually told that the Raptors higher ups ruled against showing Kobe's 81 point game in tribute video.
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) December 8, 2015
That might seem petty, but it’s not all that surprising. While Kobe’s 81-point night was incredible, it was equally embarrassing for the team that allowed it to happen. The Raptors chose not to remind their home fans of how Bryant owned them that night.
Kobe has said he doesn’t even want stuff like this to keep happening, so he probably didn’t care that the highlights were omitted. Some of his fans care so much that he doesn’t have to.