Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar each provide their take on Kobe’s 81.
The conclusion of each:
Oscar — I know, you’ve heard a lot of this from us old-school players. And you’ll continue to hear it. I, for one, care too much about the game to settle for the highlight reel that N.B.A. basketball has become today. I believe Kobe does as well.
Kareem — Kobe’s 81-point game should without a doubt stand alongside Wilt’s 100 as one of the greatest individual feats in league history, and who’s to say he won’t one day break Wilt’s 44-year old record? The world will be watching and waiting.