Kobe Bryant on his Game 4 buzzer-beater vs. the Suns in the '06 playoff opener: "It was the most fun shot I've ever hit"

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Kobe Bryant on his Game 4 buzzer-beater vs. the Suns in the '06 playoff opener: "It was the most fun shot I've ever hit" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Over more than two decades in purple and gold, the late Kobe Bryant made countless game-winners, but the one he hit in Game 4 of the 2006 NBA playoff opening round was the most fun.
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After sinking the Phoenix Suns, Kobe said it wasn't just the shot he loved but what came after — how he and his teammates celebrated the moment as a unit.
The buildup to something iconic
That postseason, the Los Angeles Lakers were clear underdogs. They had finished the regular campaign with a 45-37 record, earning the seventh seed.
Waiting in the first round were the Suns, boasting the league's fourth-best record, MVP Steve Nash, and their electrifying "Seven Seconds or Less" offense — one of the most exciting in the league.
On paper, it was a mismatch — made worse by Phil Jackson's roster, which, although scrappy, was raw and largely inexperienced in the playoffs. Still, "Mamba" had carried them to an early 2–1 lead.
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Then came Game 4, its final moments unfolding like a Hollywood thriller.
With 0.7 seconds left in regulation, "Bean" hit a tough runner to force overtime. Down by three with 15.7 seconds remaining, the NBA superstar got another chance to shine after the Lakers had run an inbound play to isolate him.
At the key, tightly guarded, Kobe controlled the ball, spun, drove hard, and finished a tough layup for two.
Moments later, after Suns' Nash scrambled in a broken play and lost the jump ball, the underdogs had a chance to pull off another upset. Naturally, it was "Black Mamba" time again.
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A clutch team victory
6'8" Luke Walton outjumped 6'3" Nash to tip the ball away. The rock moved toward the scorer's table, where Bryant grabbed it and seized the moment.
The iconic 6'6" swingman took a few dribbles, rose at the elbow, and hit the shot as the buzzer sounded — 99–98. Game over. Pandemonium erupted at Staples Center.
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"Bean" had made other buzzer-beaters against more legendary opponents and in higher-stakes moments. But this one felt different — a pure joy.
"It was the most fun shot I've ever hit, just because it's us, enjoying this as a unit," the Philadelphia native later said, per the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
That comment wasn't what you'd expect from one of the most relentless alphas in sports history, but it made sense on closer look.
After all, this was one of the few games that year where Kobe's teammates earned the win — and the celebration — just as much as he did.
The undisputed leader was relatively quiet scoring-wise, likely due to foul trouble. Instead, Bryant focused on facilitating, finishing with eight assists and 24 efficient points on 14 shots. Meanwhile, fellow Lakers like Walton and Lamar Odom, who posted a game-high 25 points, stepped up, especially in key moments.
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After showing their clutch gene as a unit, the "Purple and Gold" took a 3-1 series lead — one they would eventually squander.
Despite that choke job, the final moments of Game 4 revealed something interesting — a rarely seen side of the "Black Mamba."
At times, "Vino" wasn't just an exceptional, egocentric competitor; he also thrived on winning together and valued his teammates' companionship.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.