Jan. 22, 2006, should have been one of the best nights of Mike James’ basketball life. Against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Duquesne product led the Toronto Raptors with 26 points — on 10-of-15 shooting — 10 assists and two steals.

But that game 15 years ago is remembered for a far more significant performance: Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant scored 81 points, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history. Bryant scored 55 points in the second half to rally L.A. from a 14-point halftime deficit to a 14-point victory, 122-104.

The frustration remains evident in James’ voice. He calls it “one of the worst games I have ever played in my career.”

His ire is twofold. First, he regrets not getting a chance to guard Bryant.

That might sound brash coming from an undrafted player from a lightly regarded Duquesne program. Former teammate Jalen Rose said that was typical of James’ attitude.

“I enjoyed playing with Mike. Fearless, tough,” said Rose, now an NBA analyst for ESPN, in a statement to the Tribune-Review. “Always played with a chip on his shoulder. You couldn’t tell him he wasn’t better than Kobe. That’s what I love about him.”

Said James: “If I could do that game over, I would have seen his energy level and tried to match that. If nothing else, I would have used all five of my fouls, and four of them he would have felt.

“I believe in my heart, if I would have guarded Kobe, even if they would have won the game, he wouldn’t have scored a number of points that everyone talks about.”

Secondly, James was disappointed in his team’s response.

As Bryant piled up points in the second half, James said he could sense his teammates and even his coaches were becoming “fans” of what was happening. James said he was the only one in the arena — by then echoing with chants of, “Kobe! Kobe!” — who was not enjoying himself.

“It was the Staples Center vs. me,” he said.

James and Bryant faced each other numerous times during their overlapping careers. While Bryant had the 81-point game against James and the Raptors, James can say he beat Bryant for an NBA title. He was a key member of the Detroit Pistons team that defeated L.A. for the 2004 NBA championship.

And though they didn’t have a relationship off the court, James, as was the case with millions, was rocked by news of Bryant’s death almost a year ago.

One of the storylines that emerged from the tragedy was Bryant’s relationship with his daughters, one of whom died with him in the helicopter crash Jan. 26, 2020, near Los Angeles. James has five daughters, ranging from a college junior to a 10-year-old, and Bryant’s death reinforced lessons he had imparted to his girls.

“I am grateful to be a teacher in their life,” James said. “I prepare my children for death, period. Just because it’s a celebrity, no matter who it is, someone’s life just got turned upside down.

“It’s the life that we prepare for next that’s the life forever. And when they understand that, they understand their life has purpose and meaning.”

Keeping up with his daughters occupies James these days. The family lives in the Houston area, where James and his wife are pursuing business interests. In his spare time, he is an 8-handicap golfer.

And every Jan. 22 — like it or not — James relives Bryant’s 81-point game with the rest of the basketball world. It is a bitter memory, but he tries to look at it philosophically.

“There’s always someone who does something special,” he said, “but then there’s always that opponent who has to deal with whatever it was.”

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