By now, the word of Kobe Bryant's 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors has spread around the sports world like an Arizona wildfire in June.
The three-time NBA champion decided to teach Basketball 101 to a struggling Raptors team that is currently on pace for its fourth losing season in five years.
Professor Bryant shot 28-for-46 from the field and dropped 18-of-20 from the free-throw line in the Lakers' 122-104 win over Toronto.
And, oh by the way, he was generous enough to dish out a stellar two assists.
Bryant's performance was one of the greatest of all-time, but a one-man show will not carry the Lakers past the first round of the playoffs --provided they make it that far.
The two most recent NBA champions, the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons, have proven that a well-rounded team is vital in modern basketball.
Lamar Odom and Smush Parker stand patiently in Bryant's shadow when they should be basking in his glow.
Bryant's idea of getting his teammates involved is benching himself in the fourth quarter with the game safely in tow.
Instead, he should be out there assisting the other four players on the court. Come playoff time, he is going to need them.
Reach the reporter at steven.bohner@asu.edu.
