(Kobe) Bryant, 34, became the youngest player in league history to score 30,000 points — doing it in the second quarter after he and Howard argued during the first quarter about Bryant not rotating to help Howard on defense.

In a subsequent timeout, Bryant reached out a conciliatory hand toward Howard — and also delivered a 17-point first half that included a pretty shot from the lane to eclipse 30,000. The only players to have scored more than Bryant are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.

NBA commissioner David Stern, attending the game, said about Bryant: “He is up there on the pedestal with Michael Jordan.”

via Kevin Ding of The Orange County Register