Locker Room Secrets Behind Kobe Bryant’s 81-Point Game Resurface After Ex-Laker Makes Bold Confession

January 22, 2006. Ring a bell? That’s the very night when Kobe Bryant completely stunned the world with a mind-blowing performance against Toronto. The late Lakers legend dropped a staggering 81 points, a mark only trailing Wilt Chamberlain’s famous 100-point game in NBA history. Nineteen years later, Kobe’s former teammate and two-time NBA champ Sasha Vujacic just revealed a wild secret about that unforgettable night. According to Sasha, Kobe could’ve scored even more than 81 points if a certain thing hadn’t happened during the final minutes. Curious what went down? Stick around.

When Wilt Chamberlain dropped 100 points against the New York Knicks, the NBA world figured it’d never witness anything like it again. Since that epic night, only six players have crossed the 70-point margin, making David Robinson’s 71-point game feel untouchable for years. Then came January 22, 2006, when Kobe Bryant absolutely torched the Toronto Raptors in an unforgettable single-game performance for the ages. The Lakers rallied for a 122-104 comeback win at home, while Kobe poured in 81 points on 28-of-46 shooting from the field. He also nailed 7-of-13 shots from beyond the arc and went an impressive 18-of-20 at the free-throw line that evening.

Even Bryant was in disbelief after the game. Kobe later admitted, “Not even in my dreams” could he imagine a night like that. Now, nearly two decades later, former teammate Sasha Vujacic has revealed a secret about that night that’ll blow your mind. On a recent episode of Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast, Sasha opened up about witnessing Kobe Bryant make history firsthand. When asked about that unforgettable night, Sasha didn’t hold back.

His very first words instantly raised some serious eyebrows. “Well, I always told him it’s supposed to be 84,” Sasha admitted. Wait – 84? Yep, you heard that right. That epic total we all remember could’ve easily climbed a little higher that evening. Explaining further, Sasha said, “Because if you run it back and you guys can probably find the clip I pass him the ball from the left wing to the right wing to make that three-point shot, and he missed it at the end. So 84 would have been much better.”

If Kobe Bryant had nailed that eighth three-pointer, he would’ve still held second place. But with a slightly more jaw-dropping 84 points. But wait, there’s more. Later in the podcast, Sasha dropped another juicy story that adds one more twist to this night.

Kobe Bryant’s 84 was made that night, but with an unexpected twist

If you needed one guy to fight for you on the court, Kobe Bryant’s name would always top that list. Broken finger? No problem. Twisted ankle? He’d still casually drop 30 or 40 points like it was just another regular Tuesday night. But on January 22, 2006, things hit differently. That night, Kobe didn’t just make history; he literally saved the Lakers. With the team on the brink of defeat, Bryant dragged them back. And delivered one of the NBA’s most iconic comebacks ever.

But there’s a little twist to the story, one Sasha later revealed on a podcast. He recalled, “Somebody made a joke, PJ made a joke in the locker room because I had three points. I made one three-point shot because I got, I think, one shot. Yeah, but somebody I don’t know, it was like ‘Oh, you guys combined for 84 points.’ I don’t know if it was me or somebody else, but I remember that was a joke in the locker room. ‘Oh, you guys combined for 84 points.’”

Moments like these prove why we can’t see Kobe Bryant just as another basketball player. He was a legend built on pure sweat, grit, and a stubborn heart. That unforgettable night wasn’t only about numbers flashing on a scoreboard. It was about heart, hustle, and classic locker room comedy, too. So, even years later, stories like Sasha’s keep the Mamba spirit alive. And also in such ways only former teammates could pull off so casually.