On This Day (April 13)
Notable events from NBA history that occurred on April 13.
Kobe’s Curtain Call
On this day in 2016, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant scored 60 points in a 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz, the final game of his illustrious NBA career. Bryant became the oldest player in NBA history to record a 60-point game, a distinction he still holds (age in years-days):
37-234 — Kobe Bryant (April 13, 2016)
32-295 — Stephen Curry (Jan. 3, 2021)
32-226 — Damian Lillard (Feb. 26, 2023)
It was by far the most points scored by a player in the final regular season game of their NBA career:
60 — Kobe Bryant (April 13, 2016)
36 — Alec Peters (April 10, 2018)
35 — Eddie House (April 13, 2011)
Bryant shot 22-50 from the field — including 6-21 from 3-point range — and made 10 of his 12 free throws. No other player since the ABA-NBA merger has attempted 50 or more field goals in a game.
It was the sixth and final 60-point game of Bryant’s career, the second-most such games in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain (32). It was Bryant’s 25th career 50-point game, making him the third player in NBA history to reach that mark, joining Chamberlain (118) and Michael Jordan (31).
