NBA showcases Kobe Bryant’s highlights from 2005-06 season

For once, Lakers fans did not arrive to Staples Center or turn on the television expecting the purple & gold to showcase a championship caliber team.

Instead, everyone wondered what Kobe Bryant would do next.

As the video above shows, the Lakers’ 2005-06 season featured Bryant averaging a league-leading and career-high 35.4 points. Against the Toronto Raptors, Bryant posted a career-high 81 points in what became the second highest scoring output behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game. He scored 62 points through three quarters against Dallas. Bryant dropped a franchise record by scoring at least 50 points in six games, including four in a row. He also set a franchise record by scoring at least 40 points in 27 games.

Add it all up, and Bryant passed Bob McAdoo for the seventh greatest scoring season of all-time with 2,832 points. And Bryant did so with various game winners, posterizing former Suns guard and current teammate Steve Nash and converting on the impossible shots that only he can make.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com