While there has been back-and-forth about Bam Adebayo outdoing Kobe Bryant’s 2006 record of 81 points, a lot of the backlash or criticism has been coming in from Kobe fans, who seem to feel wronged by Bam’s achievement.

Some even went so far as to say that he would be turning in his grave after looking at the state of play that contributed to Adebayo breaking Bryant’s record. But the irony is that the Black Mamba’s opinion differed significantly.

In his final sit-down interview, Kobe Bryant expressed his bewilderment over the gatekeeping of records, saying, "I don't understand why. I don't know if people want to have this kind of contentious thing where you don't want records to be broken or people there to surpass you. You should be happy for the person that comes after you to be able to surpass things that you've done. It's kind of juvenile to think or to behave any other way."

But if one were to look at Kobe Bryant’s interactions with the press closely, his take on the subject wouldn’t be ironic, as the late great expressed his awareness about the possibility of someone outdoing him.

What Kobe Bryant Said About His 81-Point Record Being Broken

As far back as 2016, Bryant has publicly acknowledged the likelihood of his record being surpassed. Furthermore, he has also hinted at what it would take to do it.

During the anniversary of his 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors, Kobe Bryant was asked by a journalist whether he believed that someone could match or outdo his record.

Bryant addressed the question head-on, saying, “I think so. It's just a matter of… You have to believe that it's possible. You've got to be in tip-top shape to be able to do it, too. It takes a lot of energy to be able to carry that energy for the duration of the game.”

This instance is one of the most noteworthy moments of a basketball great’s acknowledgment of how records are a part of the game’s progression.

Did Kobe Bryant’s take come as a surprise to you? Let us know!

Read more at Air Jordan Chronicles!

Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Arvind Rao