Kobe Leaps Shaq on All-time Scoring-list

For eight seasons, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal served as one of the best tandems the NBA has ever seen, winning three consecutive rings while with the Lakers from 1996 until 2004 when Shaq was eventually dealt from Los Angeles to the Miami Heat in a blockbuster trade following a fallout between the two stars. Since then, Bryant has become the key cog of the Lakers and has led the team to three Finals appearances and two championships including back-to-back titles in 2009-2010. And though his team has taken a bit of a step back since their successful run in 2010 after being swept in the Western Conference Semifinals last season by the eventual NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks, which then led to the retirement of head coach Phil Jackson, Kobe has still shined at the age of 33 and has continued to prove why he's one of the best to ever step foot on the hardwood and that his uncanny will to win remains just as vivid now as it's ever been.

Earlier tonight, Kobe passed his teammate of eight seasons for sole possession of the no. 5 spot on the NBA's all-time scoring-list by dropping 28-points in a losing effort to the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite losing the game by a final score of 95-90 on the road where the Lakers have struggled so far this season, dropping 9 of their first 12 games away from Staples Center in L.A., it was fitting that Bryant moved up the latter of the NBA's all-time scoring-list in his hometown of Philadelphia against a 76ers franchise that his father Joe "Jellybean" Bryant once upon a time played for in the 70's. In the midst of the boo's that showered down on Kobe by the Philly faithful following his feat, the several thousand or so Laker fans in attendance gave Bryant a standing ovation while hugging longtime teammate Derek Fisher after hitting a long-range jump-shot which helped him eclipse O'Neal's mark of 28,596 career points.

Following his accomplishment and passing of O'Neal, Shaq sent Kobe a message in which he congratulated him on becoming the NBA's fifth all-time leading scorer as well the greatest Laker ever. Shaq also gave thanks to Kobe for the eight seasons they shared as teammates, calling them "the best eight years of my life," contrary to what many believed was a rocky relationship. Even in the latter part of his career now in his 30's, Kobe who has a 48-point game under his belt this season, currently leads the league in scoring with an average of 29.4 PPG and trails only Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in career points. While being asked what his thoughts were on joining the elite company of some of the game's all-time greats, Kobe said it was an understatement to call it a huge honor. But it was the comments he made later that really let us know what he had on his mind: "I'm not asking for much, man. Just give me a sixth ring, damn it."