Is Kobe running out of challenges?

On Monday, Kobe Bryant passed Shaquille O’Neil on the NBA’s all-time leading scorers list. Bryant, now with 28,601 points is 5th all-time with just Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul Jabar ahead of him. We saw this day coming years ago. The main story is the personal achievement but the underlying story is the way it happened.

The Los Angeles Lakers entered Wells Fargo Arena, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in search of a win against a hot Sixers team. It was unclear which way the game was going to go, but we knew for sure Bryant would pass Shaq on the all-time scoring list on this night. Outside of Staples Center, would there have been a better place? Kobe returned home and had the opportunity to write history in the place that hasn’t accepted him in years.

Bryant started the game off hot, racking up 24 first half points, passing Shaq with a long jump shot mid second quarter. Fast forward to the end of the game, Bryant finished the game with 28 points. Before I go any further, it is important to note that 76ers stepped their defense up in the second half and made it hard for Bryant to even get the ball, never mind score. With that said, we cannot dismiss the fact Bryant went 8-14 in the first half and after he passed Shaq, he did not score again in the half, even with five minutes remaining in the half. In a close game, Bryant attempted just two shots in the third quarter. He then finished the game going 1-10 in the fourth as his team squandered a lead and ultimately ended up losing.

We hear all the time that Kobe is the most competitive and driven player in the NBA. He showed that in the first half. Why? Because he was chasing Shaq. He had a distinct goal in mind for that game. Once he achieved that goal, he was not the same player.

Recently on Max and Marcellus, Kobe Bryant mentioned that he scored 18 first quarter points on the Charlotte Bobcats because when the two teams squared off last season, Gerald Henderson was talking a lot of trash and playing Bryant very physical. Kobe simply said he did not forget that game and had something to prove this time around.

We know Bryant wants more championships but on a night to night basis does the level of his play revolve around the personal challenge he has given himself for that night? Did Kobe care more about passing Shaq on Monday than he did about beating Philly? Does the idea of regular season games bore Kobe at this point in his career?

I think these are all relevant questions and something to think about.