Kobe Bryant: Ranking 6 Most Memorable All-Star Game Moments for Black Mamba

Few players have ever been as electrifying during All-Star weekend as Kobe Bryant.

With four All-Star MVP trophies to his name, it is clear that Bryant embraces the competition and continually rises to the occasion.

He initially made his mark on the weekend with the Slam Dunk contest, but has remained a legend in the weekend's final contest.

This year will be Bryant's 14th year as an All-Star, a mark which few have topped and speaks to his consistent popularity over the years.

We don't know yet what Kobe will do this year at All-Star weekend, but if history teaches us anything, it's that Kobe loves this stage and will do all he can to dominate once again.

Here are the six best moments of Kobe's All-Star career.

6. Viva Las Vegas

For the first time, the NBA hosted its All-Star game in the City of Sin and the stars didn’t disappoint.

Leading the West was Kobe Bryant, who went toe-to-toe with LeBron James as the two exchanged baskets throughout the game.

LeBron was huge in the game, dropping 29 points as he looked to defend his All-Star MVP title.

However, Bryant had the last word, as he went for 31 points, six assists and five rebounds as the West took home the win and Bryant received his second All-Star MVP trophy.

5. Kobe’s All-Star Debut vs. MJ

Kobe might have been the youngest All-Star of all time, but he wasn’t going to play like it.

Despite coming off the bench for the Lakers that season, he was voted as a starter by the fans and didn’t disappoint.

In the game, he led all the West All-Stars with 18 points. Of course there was another shooting guard by the name of Michael Jordan who refused to be outshined by Mr. Bryant.

Jordan finished the game with 23 points and the game’s MVP award.

Even though Jordan still was king, it was clear that Kobe Bryant was the real deal and wouldn’t be kept down for long.

4. Coming Home

In a strange mix of emotions, Kobe Bryant came back to Philadelphia, the city he grew up in, to play in the 2002 All-Star Game.

However, he wasn’t welcomed by the Philadelphia faithful as the Lakers had just knocked the 76ers out of the Finals the previous season.

Despite boos the entire game, Kobe in typical Kobe-style, ignored the haters and lit up the gym dropping 31 points, five assists and five rebounds.

With this dominating performance, Bryant brought home his first All-Star MVP trophy.

3. Reunited and It Feels so Good

Few All-Star games had as much excitement surrounding it as the 2009 All-Star Game in Phoenix.

After five years, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal were going to be back on the court together for the first time.

Up to this point, there was still speculation of there being bad blood between the two players. However, once the weekend started, it was evident that both men were going to put aside their differences.

In what is certainly one of the more classic moments in the history of All-Star weekend, Kobe and Shaq teamed up to beat the East. Kobe had 27 points, Shaq finished with 17 and they both ended up sharing the All-Star MVP trophy.

Some complained that it was a forced ending by Stern, but watching Kobe and Shaq up there on the podium was still a nice way to reconcile two of the game's greatest players.

2. The Slam Dunk Contest

The All-Star Game is a great way to bring attention to the game’s greatest players.

When Kobe Bryant entered the Slam Dunk contest as a rookie, he had one of the biggest moments of the entire weekend with his between-the-legs slam.

While players have put on greater exhibitions in this competition, Bryant was still able to add to the hype and general consensus that he was a special player from the start.

A seldom-remembered fact is that he also participated in the Rookie Challenge game and dropped 31 points. Not too shabby.

1. Not so Fast, Young Man

Coming off back-to-back championships, there was little left that Mr. Bryant hadn’t proved.

However, with constant talk that he had begun his inevitable decline as a player, Kobe decided to use the All-Star Game as a platform to show off his talents in an all too familiar fashion.

Fans from all around the world watched as a 32-year-old Kobe Bean Bryant went for a monstrous 37 points.

What might be considered his most impressive All-Star performance to date, Bryant dazzled the crowd with monster dunks and classic moments like his one on one fast break with LeBron James that ended in a Kobe slam.

Bryant showed once again why he is considered one of the all-time greats as he took home his record-breaking fourth All-Star MVP trophy.