One of the toughest tasks in the NBA is slowing down or stopping a player who has already found his rhythm. Anybody who follows the league knows that rhythm is everything to a player, and it typically dictates how he performs in a game or a stretch of contests. And once a player gets in that zone, it’s not easy to get him out of it.
This was the challenge that Kobe Bryant faced on March 28, 2016, when the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Utah Jazz. Although he was already 37 and playing in his 20th season, the competitive fire that burned within him was still as strong as ever.
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On a recent episode of his podcast, then-Lakers head coach Byron Scott recalled how unheralded wingman Rodney Hood got it going, scoring 30 points in the first half to power the Jazz to a massive 64-37 halftime lead.
As he entered the locker room, fuming at his team’s dismal showing on the defensive end, B-Scott looked for somebody to take charge on defense. And as he looked at his players’ hesitant faces, he noticed that only one volunteered to take on the challenge: Kobe.
Kobe wanted all the smoke
For all intents and purposes, Kobe’s final NBA season was a dud, far from the high bar he set for himself over the course of his storied career. After suffering a torn Achilles tendon in 2013, he was never truly able to regain his deadly form and averaged only 17.6 points and shot 35.8 percent from the field in his 20th season.
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However, despite his physical limitations, the Black Mamba’s intestinal fortitude never wavered. He continued to play with the same ferocity and determination that made him one of the greatest players of all time. And in his final season, he wasn’t going to let a relatively unknown player make history at his expense.
“I went in and I was like, ‘Are y’all kidding me telling me I got to send somebody to double team that guy? Is that what y’all telling me?'” Byron shared. “And Kobe said, ‘Coach, coach, don’t worry. I got him in the second half.'”
“You know what he ended up with? 30. He ended up with 30 points. He had 30 at halftime, and Kobe at 37 years old said, ‘Coach, you know what? I got him.’ He did not score another point,” Scott revealed.
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After going 11-for-13 in the first half, including a scorching 8-for-9 from beyond the arc, Hood did not register a single stat in the eight minutes and 19 seconds that he played in the second half. Not one attempt, rebound, assist, steal or block. It was a complete shutdown by Kobe, who showed once again why he was one of the most lethal defenders in the league.
Lack of accountability in today’s game
Reflecting on Kobe’s performance prompted Byron Scott to voice his frustration with the modern NBA’s general lack of accountability. He highlighted a recent example from last week, when the Washington Wizards let Miami Heat All-Star Bam Adebayo score 83 points — the second-highest single-game total in NBA history.
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“So again, when the Washington Wizards went in at halftime and Bam had 43 — who the hell going to guard him? And whoever that best defensive player is should have been like, ‘Look man, I got him,'” Byron bellowed. “Then the coach comes in and has to be like, ‘Do I got to send help? Do I got to double team? Do we got to make that type of adjustment?'”
Kobe exhibited skills far advanced from anyone else on the court; however, he was old-school at heart and believed in playing rugged defense. His mentality was always about taking on the game’s biggest challenges and living up to the expectations placed upon him.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.