NY sports history: Jan. 31, 2006

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006

Bryant averages 43.4 points in January

Kobe Bryant scored 40 points as the Lakers downed the Knicks, 130-97, at Madison Square Garden. The significance is that Bryant averaged 43.4 points in 13 games in January 2006, and became just the second player in NBA history to average 40 or more points in a month at least twice (Wilt Chamberlain is the other). Bryant, who averaged 40.6 points in February 2003, was the NBA's leading scorer for the 2005-06 season at 35.4 ppg. He led the league in scoring the next season (31.6), as well. Bryant, in his 15th NBA season, has 26,972 career points. Chamberlain, who averaged 50.4 during the 1961-62 season, had 31,419 points in his 14-year career.