5 Worst Losses of Kobe Bryant's Career

3) 36 - Dallas Mavericks 122-86 Los Angeles Lakers [Game 4, Conf. Semifinals - May 8, 2011]

Los Angeles Lakers v Dallas Mavericks - Game Three

The next two are going to sting and they are probably two of the top five losses Bryant might look back and remember as the most disappointing. It's one thing to lose in the Playoffs as the two-time reigning Champions, it's another thing to get swept.The Lakers had won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010 and in true Phil Jackson style were aiming a third straight but it just wasn't meant to be.

The mental and physical toll of trying to make their fourth straight Finals got the better of the Lakers. It was tough but they got past Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets in the first round of the 2011 Playoffs but in the second round (the Conference Semifinals) they just embarrassed themselves.

In four games against the eventual champions - the Mavericks - the Lakers lost by an average margin of 14 points. In Game 4, they kept it close till the first quarter but lost the plot in the second, where they were outscored by 20 (36-16).

Bryant was the LA's best player with 17 points on 7-of-18 shooting (0-of-5 on 3's) in 37 minutes but this effort was no match for Jason Terry. The Jet came off the bench and erupted for a game-high 32 points on a super-efficient 11-of-14 shooting (9-of-10 on 3's). The Mavericks as a whole shot 60.3% from the field and 62.5% from beyond the arc (Lakers - 37.8%, 20.8%).