Kobe Bryant vs Gilbert Arenas: Mamba Posts TD While Mongoose Hits 8 Threes | Full Highlights

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Kobe Bryant, Gilbert Arenas
Super-Duel Full Highlights
LA Lakers vs Washington Wizards
February 28, 2004
MCI Center

KB - 25 pts, 14r, 10a, 2s / 8-16 fg, 2-4 3pt, 7-8 ft
GA - 35 pts, 9r, 4a, 1s, 1b / 12-23 fg, *8-11 3pt, 3-5 ft
*career high

The Lakers and Wizards met on November 26th in Los Angeles. Gilbert did not play in that game, making this late-February matchup the first time Kobe and Arenas met since the reigning Most Improved Player agreed to a 6-year deal with Washington in July of 2003.

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Gilbert Arenas’ debut campaign in the nation’s capital was filled with ups and downs. As the team’s newly signed floor general and leading shot-getter, the 21 year-old was in a position he hadn’t previously seen at the professional level. Through 13 games, he was averaging 21p, 6a and 5r on 41-32-76 (%) in nearly 38 mpg. After straining his lower abdomen towards the end of November, Gil was forced to miss a month’s worth of action. On January 9th in Orlando, just his 6th game back, he re-aggravated the strain resulting in another 3-4 weeks on the injured list (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chic... ). He returned at the beginning of February, but struggled to find an offensive rhythm. Entering February 28th’s matchup against the Lakers, Gilbert’s numbers were at 17.6p, 5r and 5a on 38-34-72. Albeit the below-mediocre field goal percentage, Agent 0’s confidence didn’t waver. LA’s annual visit to Washington proved to be a turning point, it was the first of a 22 game stretch that saw him average 23.8p, 5.5a, 4.3r and 2.1s on 41-42-79 in 41 mpg.

Kobe Bryant’s 2003-04 season was also filled with ups and downs. Following the brilliance of his 2002-03 campaign, he’d regressed into a psychologically distressed and physically ailing version of himself. He was still Kobe Bryant, capable of doing Kobe Bryant things on the hardwood, but the opportunities were scarce and consistency lacked. Although the arrivals of Karl Malone and Gary Payton made the Lakers championship favorites again, Kobe’s role offensively had been significantly lessened as a result, leading to a decrease in production.

Playing in all 47 games heading into 2002-03’s All-Star Weekend, Kobe’s numbers stood at 28.6p, 7r and 7a on 45-37-83, logging 22.8 fga in nearly 42 mpg. Suiting up for just 36 games through 2004’s mid-February ASW in Los Angeles, Bryant was at 21.5p, 4.7r and 4.3a on 42-36-85, attempting only 16.3 shots while playing 36.4 mpg. D.C. was the Lakers’ 6th contest amidst their first 7 post All-Star, a span that saw Kobe average 32.7p, 8r and 8a on 55-39-86 en route to 6 team wins. He scored 35+ points in 4 of them and added his only triple double of the season in this Wizards matchup.

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