Kobe Bryant is considered clutch for the various late-game shots that the
Los Angeles Lakers star has buried throughout his 18-plus seasons in the NBA.
But the 36-year-old has been ice cold in that category lately. In fact, when the game has been on the line, he has been off the mark more than at any other point during his NBA career, a mark he reached Friday night in his team's 109-106 loss to the
Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center.
As ESPN Stats & Info
noted on its Twitter account, after missing a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer against the Grizzlies, Bryant has now missed 13 potential game-tying or go-ahead shots in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime.
His last such make came on March 6, 2012, when he sank a 19-foot fadeaway at the buzzer to send the game into overtime on the road against the
Detroit Pistons. The
Lakers lost that game 88-85.
Before Friday's loss to Memphis, Bryant's streak of 12 missed potential game-tying or go-ahead shots in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime was tied for his longest such streak. He also missed 12 such shots in a row between Nov. 2, 2005, and Dec. 29, 2006.
Basketball Reference's website says it only has play-by-play data available beginning with the 2000-01 season, but from that point until now, Bryant has shot 26.3 percent (25 of 95) on potential game-tying or go-ahead shots in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime.
