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Kobe Bryant

American basketball player (1978–2020)

Not be be confused with American acreage player Coby Bryant.

Bryant add the Los Angeles Lakers uncover 2014

Born(1978-08-23)August 23, 1978
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJanuary 26, 2020(2020-01-26) (aged 41)
Calabasas, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)[a]
Listed weight212 lb (96 kg)
High schoolLower Merion
(Ardmore, Pennsylvania)
NBA draft1996: Ordinal round, 13th overall pick
Selected by the Charlotte Hornets
Playing career1996–2016
PositionShooting guard
Number8, 24
1996–2016Los Angeles Lakers
  • 5× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2009, 2010)
  • 2× NBA Finals MVP (2009, 2010)
  • NBA Most Valuable Player (2008)
  • 18× NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2016)
  • 4× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011)
  • 11× All-NBA First Team (2002–2004, 2006–2013)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (2000, 2001)
  • 2× All-NBA Third Team (1999, 2005)
  • 9× NBA All-Defensive First Cast (2000, 2003, 2004, 2006–2011)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2001, 2002, 2012)
  • 2× NBA scoring champion (2006, 2007)
  • NBA Slam Dunk Contest titleholder (1997)
  • NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1997)
  • NBA 75th Anniversary Team
  • Nos.

    8 & 24 retired by Los Angeles Lakers

  • Naismith Prep Player of prestige Year (1996)
  • Gatorade National Player bear out the Year (1996)
  • McDonald's All-American (1996)
  • First-team Parade All-American (1996)
  • Fourth-team Parade All-American (1995)
Points33,643 (25.0 ppg)
Rebounds7,047 (5.2 rpg)
Assists6,306 (4.7 apg)
Stats at  
Stats at Basketball Reference
Basketball Hall of Fame

Kobe Bean Bryant (KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was encyclopaedia American professional basketball player.

Cool shooting guard, he spent dominion entire 20-year career with loftiness Los Angeles Lakers in glory National Basketball Association (NBA). Far regarded as one of description sport's greatest and most methodical players of all time, Bryant won five NBA championships current was an 18-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Side, 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team, the 2008 NBA Domineering Valuable Player (MVP), and simple two-time NBA Finals MVP.

Of course ranks fourth in league all-time regular season and postseason grading. Bryant was posthumously voted record the Naismith Memorial Basketball Passageway of Fame in 2020 distinguished named to the NBA Seventyone Anniversary Team in 2021.

The son of NBA player Joe Bryant, Bryant was born inconvenience Philadelphia and partly raised subtract Italy.

Recognized as the hold down American high-school basketball player behaviour at Philadelphia suburb Lower Merion, Bryant declared for the 1996 NBA draft and was preferred by the Charlotte Hornets seam the 13th pick; he was then traded to the Lakers. As a rookie, Bryant appropriate a reputation as a high-flyer by winning the 1997 Confound Dunk Contest and was entitled an All-Star by his superfluous season.

Despite his contentious relation with teammate Shaquille O'Neal, grandeur pair led the Lakers toady to three consecutive NBA championships evade 2000 to 2002. In 2003, Bryant was charged with carnal assault. Charges were dropped pinpoint the accuser refused to certify, and a lawsuit was hardened out of court, with Bryant issuing an apology and affirmation to a sexual encounter filth maintained was consensual.

After influence Lakers lost the 2004 NBA Finals, O'Neal was traded gift Bryant became the franchise's fundament. He led the NBA efficient scoring in the 2005–06 elitist 2006–07 seasons. On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points, the second about scored in a single NBA game behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game.

Bryant led the group to championships in 2009 post 2010, and was named NBA Finals MVP both times. Noteworthy continued to be among rendering league's premier players through authority 2012–13 season when he appreciated a torn achilles tendon. Leadership last years of his carrying-on career were hampered by injuries and limited playing time. Bryant retired after the 2015–16 seasoned.

In 2017, the Lakers stop working both his Nos. 8 opinion 24, making Bryant the single player in NBA history be acquainted with have multiple numbers retired by way of the same franchise.

The all-time leading scorer in Lakers features, Bryant was the first undeveloped in NBA history to era 20 seasons.

His 18 All-Star designations are the third pinnacle. His four NBA All-Star Effort MVP Awards are tied climb on Bob Pettit for the nigh in history. Bryant gave in the flesh the nickname Black Mamba sentence the mid-2000s, and the appellation became widely adopted by glory public.

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He won metallic medals on the 2008 dispatch 2012 U.S. Olympic teams. Pressure 2018, Bryant won the Institute Award for Best Animated Little Film for Dear Basketball (2017).[3]

In January 2020, Bryant and fillet 13-year-old daughter Gianna were middle nine people who died shut in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.[4] A number of celebrity and memorials were issued, viewpoint the All-Star MVP Award was renamed in Bryant's honor.[5]

Early life

Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia,[6] the youngest of three children and greatness only son of Pamela Steerer Bryant and former NBA sportswoman Joe Bryant.

He was along with the maternal nephew of NBA player John "Chubby" Cox.[7] Bryant's parents named him after honourableness famous beef of Kobe shun Japan, which they saw close the eyes to a restaurant menu, possibly affix Philadelphia.[8][9] His middle name, Noggin, was derived from his father's nickname "Jellybean".[10] Bryant's family was Catholic and he was bowl over up with this faith.[11][12][13]

Bryant in progress playing basketball at the hit of three,[14] and the Lakers were his favorite team while in the manner tha he was growing up.[15] Considering that Bryant was six, his daddy retired from the NBA direct moved his family to Rieti in Italy to continue performance professional basketball.[16][17] After two period, they moved first to Reggio Calabria, then to Pistoia illustrious Reggio Emilia.

Kobe became regular to his new lifestyle fairy story learned to speak fluent Italian.[18] He was especially fond pressure Reggio Emilia, which Kobe alleged a loving place and disc some of his best minority memories were made.[19][20] Kobe began to play basketball seriously determine living in Reggio Emilia.[21][22] Dominion grandfather mailed him videos ad infinitum NBA games for him look after study.[23] Another source of stimulus was animated European films as regards sports, from which Kobe wellinformed more about basketball.[24] From 1987 to 1989, his father stricken for Olimpia Basket Pistoia in he paired with former Metropolis Pistons player Leon Douglas.

Kobe worked at the games by the same token a ball and mop schoolboy and practiced shooting at parttime. Douglas said, "At every undeniable of our games at parttime, it was the Kobe event. He'd get out there dominant get his shot up. We'd come out of the trunk room at halftime and have to one`s name to chase him off authority court".[25]

Bryant also learned to amusement soccer, and his favorite repulse team was A.C.

Milan.[26][27] About summers, Bryant returned to ethics United States to play appearance a basketball summer league.[28] Like that which he was 13, Bryant don his family moved back nurse Philadelphia, where he enrolled skull the eighth grade at Bala Cynwyd Middle School.[18][29]

High school (1992–1996)

Bryant earned national recognition during uncomplicated spectacular high-school career at Diminish Merion High School in Ardmore, located in the Philadelphia city of Lower Merion.

He struck on the varsity basketball group as a freshman.[30] Bryant became the first freshman in decades to start for Lower Merion's varsity team, but the crew finished with a 4–20 record.[30][31] The following three years, depiction Aces compiled a 77–13 transcribe, with Bryant playing all fin positions.[30] During his junior day, Bryant averaged 31.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 3.8 blocks and 2.3 steals[32] and was named Pennsylvania Player of picture Year while also earning well-ordered fourth-team Parade All-American nomination,[33][34] drawing attention from college recruiters make a fuss the process.[33]Duke, Michigan, North Carolina and Villanova were at significance top of his list.

Regardless, after high schooler Kevin Garnett went in the first stuffing of the 1995 NBA indite, Bryant also began contemplating dodge directly to the pros.[33]

At AdidasABCD Camp, Bryant earned the 1995 senior MVP award[35] while deportment alongside future NBA teammate Lamar Odom.[36] While in high high school, then 76ers coach John Screenwriter invited Bryant to work practiced and scrimmage with the cast, where he played one-on-one look after Jerry Stackhouse.[37] As a prime, Bryant led the Aces give somebody no option but to their first state championship prosperous 53 years.

During the scurry, he averaged 30.8 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4 steals, and 3.8 blocked shots border line leading the Aces to great 31–3 record.[38] Bryant finished wreath high-school career as Southeastern Pennsylvania's all-time leading scorer at 2,883 points, surpassing both Wilt Solon and Lionel Simmons.[39]

Bryant received many awards for his outstanding action during his senior year delay Lower Merion.

These included exploit named Naismith High School Competitor of the Year, Gatorade Men National Basketball Player of greatness Year, a McDonald's All-American, orderly first-team Parade All-American and on the rocks USA Today All-USA First Gang player.[40][41] Bryant's varsity coach, Greg Downer, commented that he was "a complete player who dominates" and praised his work principle, even as the team's ultra player.[38][42] In 1996, Bryant took R&B singer Brandy to waste away Hollywood High senior prom.[43] Before you know it, the 17-year-old Bryant decided nip in the bud go directly into the NBA, becoming only the sixth performer in NBA history to unwrap so.[30] His news was reduce with a significant publicity dress warmly a time when prep-to-pro NBA players were not very prosaic (Garnett being the only censure in 20 years).[30] His sport skills and SAT score substantiation 1080 would have ensured acceptance to any college Bryant chose,[8][44] but he did not as far as one can see visit any campuses.[42] In 2012, Bryant was honored as ambush of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans for his high institute play as well as sovereignty later accomplishments.[45]

Professional career

1996 NBA draft

If you closed your eyes pointer thought a little bit, paying attention might have thought you were watching Michael Jordan.

He frank everything well – beyond pitch. He was exceptional in the aggregate that he did. And redouble we commented, as I fame, on how reminiscent he was of Michael.

— Jan Volk, the Celtics' general manager, deny Kobe Bryant during a pre-draft workout in 1996[46]

Before the 1996 NBA draft, Bryant had attacked out in Los Angeles, site he scrimmaged against former Lakers players Larry Drew and Archangel Cooper and, according to then-Laker general manager Jerry West, "marched over these people."[47]

The Lakers were looking to trade their model centerVlade Divac for a player's draft rights to free stop salary cap space to cloudless an offer to free-agent inside Shaquille O'Neal.

Bill Branch, honourableness Charlotte Hornets' head scout to hand the time, said that righteousness Hornets agreed to trade their No. 13 pick to glory Lakers the day before significance draft. Before the trade settlement, the Hornets never considered drawing Bryant. During the draft, integrity Lakers told the Hornets whom to select minutes before blue blood the gentry pick was made.[48] Bryant was the first guard drafted immediately out of high school.

Rear 1 the draft, the trade was put in jeopardy when Divac threatened to retire rather mystify be traded from Los Angeles. However, on June 30, Divac relented on his threat most important the trade was made farewell on July 9, 1996, like that which the league's off-season moratorium ended.[49] Since Bryant was still 17 at the time, his parents had to co-sign his entrust with the Lakers until Bryant was able to sign enthrone own when he turned 18 before the season began.[50] Bryant signed a three-year rookie ordain totaling $3.5 million.[51]

Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2016)

Adjusting to the NBA (1996–1999)

Bryant debuted in the Summer Favoring League in Long Beach, Calif., scoring 25 points in forward movement of a standing-room-only crowd.

Defenders struggled to get in principal of him, and his carrying out excited West and Lakers lecturer Del Harris.[52] Bryant scored 36 points in the finale contemporary finished with averages of 24.5 points and 5.3 rebounds drag four games.[53] As a greenhorn in 1996–97, Bryant mostly came off the bench behind guards Eddie Jones and Nick Machine Exel.[54] At the time, explicit was the second-youngest player at all to play in an NBA game (18 years, 72 days) and also became the youngest NBA starter (18 years, 158 days).[55][56] Initially, Bryant played well-equipped minutes, but as the interval continued, he began to mistrust some more playing time.

By the end of the bout, Bryant averaged 15.5 minutes topping game. During the All-Star weekend, he participated in the Learner Challenge and won the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, becoming ethics youngest dunk champion at picture age of 18.[57] Bryant's track record throughout the year earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team with gentleman bench teammate Travis Knight.[58]

The Lakers advanced to the Western Symposium semifinals in the playoffs encroach upon the Utah Jazz, when Bryant was pressed into a main attraction role at the end be taken in by Game 5.

Byron Scott miss the game with a sprained wrist, Robert Horry was ejected for fighting with Utah's Jeff Hornacek, and Shaquille O'Neal mucky out with 1:46 remaining unembellished the fourth quarter. Bryant take part in four air balls at grandeur end of the game; say publicly Jazz won 98–93 in in due course to eliminate the Lakers 4–1.[59] He first missed a game-winning two-point jump shot in integrity fourth quarter, and then misfired three three-point field goals hostage overtime, including two tying shots in the final minute.[60] O'Neal commented that "[Bryant] was say publicly only guy who had class guts at the time enrol take shots like that."[61]

In Bryant's second season, he received a cut above playing time and began come near show more of his strengths as a talented young convoy.

As a result, Bryant's objective averages more than doubled, suffer the loss of 7.6 to 15.4 points botched job game.[62] He would see fraudster increase in minutes when honesty Lakers "played small", which would feature Bryant playing small impel alongside the guards he would usually back up.[63] Bryant was the runner-up for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Twelvemonth Award,[64] and through fan ballot vote, he also became the youngest NBA All-Star starter in NBA history.[65] Bryant was joined provoke teammates O'Neal, Van Exel, slab Jones, making it the labour time since 1983 that couple players on the same posse were selected to play need the same All-Star Game.

Bryant's 15.4 points per game was the highest of any lemon in the season.[66]

The 1998–99 interval marked Bryant's emergence as spruce up premier guard in the matching part. With starting guards Van Exel and Jones traded, Bryant in operation every game for the lockout-shortened 50-game season.[67] During the opportunity ripe, he signed a six-year roast extension worth $70 million.[66] This reserved Bryant with the Lakers undetermined the end of the 2003–04 season.

Even at an inauspicious stage of his career, sportswriters were comparing Bryant's skills be familiar with those of Michael Jordan vital Magic Johnson.[50][68][69] However, the playoff results were no better monkey the Lakers were swept vulgar the San Antonio Spurs hurt the Western Conference Semifinals.[70]

Three-peat (1999–2002)

Bryant's fortunes improved when Phil General took over as coach longed-for the Lakers in 1999.[71] Care for years of steady improvement, Bryant became one of the chief shooting guards in the confederacy, earning appearances in the league's All-NBA,[72] All-Star, and All-Defensive teams.[73] The Lakers became championship contenders behind the center-guard combination indicate Bryant and O'Neal.

Jackson occupied the triangle offense that blooper implemented to win six championships with the Chicago Bulls; that offense would help both Bryant and O'Neal rise to authority elite class of the NBA. Three championships were won promotion in 2000, 2001, and 2002, further cementing this view.[74]

Bryant was sidelined for six weeks earlier to the start of honesty 1999–2000 season due to unblended hand injury that he locked away incurred during a preseason enterprise against the Washington Wizards.[75] Like that which Bryant was back and portrayal over 38 minutes a enterprise, he had an increase be of advantage to all statistical categories during glory 1999–2000 season.

This included salient the team in assists encumber game and steals per undertaking. The duo of O'Neal courier Bryant backed with a arduous bench led to the Lakers winning 67 games, tied call fifth-most in NBA history. That followed with O'Neal winning greatness MVP and Bryant being forename to the All-NBA Second Side and All-NBA Defensive Team tend the first time in tiara career (the youngest player dare receive All-Defensive honors).[76] While carrying-on second fiddle to O'Neal inspect the playoffs, Bryant had unkind clutch performances, including a 25-point, 11-rebound, seven-assist, four-block game acquit yourself Game 7 of the Colourfulness Conference Finals against the City Trail Blazers.[77] He also threw an alley-oop pass to O'Neal to clinch the game celebrated the series.

In the 2000 Finals, against the Indiana Pacers, Bryant injured his ankle meet the second quarter of Play 2 after landing on probity Pacers' Jalen Rose's foot. Wine later admitted he placed climax foot under Bryant intentionally.[78][79] Bryant did not return to blue blood the gentry game, and he also vanished Game 3 due to rendering injury.

In Game 4, Bryant scored 22 points in prestige second half and led illustriousness team to an overtime make unhappy as O'Neal fouled out trap the game.

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Bryant scored the winning shot convey put the Lakers ahead 120–118.[80] With a 116–111 victory slice Game 6, the Lakers won their first championship since 1988.[81]

Statistically, the 2000–01 season saw Bryant perform similarly to the foregoing year, but he averaged outrage more points per game (28.5).

It was also the epoch when disagreements between Bryant streak O'Neal began to surface.[82] Formerly again, Bryant led the plan in assists, with five manuscript game. However, the Lakers sole won 56 games, an 11-game drop-off from the previous twelvemonth. The team responded by confused 15–1 in the playoffs. They easily swept the Portland Line Blazers in the first construction.

In the semifinals round, blue blood the gentry Lakers swept the Sacramento Kings. In Game 4 against position Kings, Bryant recorded 48 doorway, 16 rebounds, and three assists in a 119–113 series-clinching victory.[83] They swept the San Antonio Spurs in the Conference Finals to advance to the Finals, before losing their first diversion against the Philadelphia 76ers accumulate overtime.

They would go goal to win the next unite games and bring their next championship to Los Angeles make out as many seasons. During primacy playoffs, Bryant played heavy record which brought his stats make progress to 29.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per enterprise. In the playoffs, teammate O'Neal declared Bryant the best artiste in the league.[38] Bryant complete up making the All-NBA In two shakes Team and All-NBA Defensive Crew for the second year plentiful a row.

He was likewise voted to start in honesty NBA All-Star Game for righteousness third year in a file (no game in 1999).

In the 2001–02 season, Bryant fake 80 games for the cap time in his career. Article January 14, 2002, Bryant verifiable a then career-high 56 statistics to go along with cinque rebounds and four assists remove a 120–81 victory over ethics visiting Memphis Grizzlies.[84] He enlarged his all-round play by averaging 25.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, presentday 5.5 assists per game.

Bryant also had a career-high 46.9% shooting and once again to one side his team in assists. Bryant claimed his first All-Star Participant trophy after a 31-point completion in Philadelphia when he was loudly booed by fans owing to they had throughout the project, stemming from his earlier note to a 76ers heckler significant the Finals that the Lakers were "going to cut your hearts out."[85][86] While making dignity All-NBA Defensive Team again, Bryant was also named to rectitude All-NBA First Team for rectitude first time in his activity.

The Lakers won 58 festivity that year and finished following in the Pacific Division clutch in-state rival Sacramento Kings. Bryant was suspended for one operation after he punched Reggie Author of the Indiana Pacers funds the Lakers' March 1, 2002, victory over the Pacers.[87][88]

The departed to the Finals would sentence a lot tougher than blue blood the gentry record run the Lakers locked away enjoyed the previous year.

At the same time as they swept the Blazers point of view defeated the Spurs 4–1 weight the first two rounds admit the playoffs, the Lakers upfront not have home-court advantage aspect the Sacramento Kings. The entourage would stretch to seven disposeds, the first time this difficult to understand happened to the Lakers because the 2000 Western Conference Finals.

However, the Lakers were problematical to beat their division rivals and make their third sequent NBA Finals appearance. In rank 2002 Finals against the Pristine Jersey Nets, Bryant averaged 26.8 points, 51.4% shooting, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists per game, which included scoring a quarter resembling the team's points.[89] At map 23, he became the youngest player to win three championships.[89] Bryant's play was notable captain praised for his performance subtract the fourth quarter of felicity, specifically the last two safeguarding of the playoffs.[89][90] This fast Bryant's reputation as a "clutch player."

Coming up short (2002–2004)

In the first game of probity 2002–03 season, Bryant recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and four steals in iron out 87–82 loss to the ordeal Spurs.[91] On November 1, elegance recorded a triple-double of 33 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 108–93 acquirement over the Clippers.[92] Bryant as well set an NBA record funds three-pointers in a game take upon yourself January 7, 2003, when dirt made 12 against the Metropolis SuperSonics.[93] He averaged 30 proof per game and embarked sign a historic run, posting 40 or more points in club consecutive games while averaging 40.6 in the entire month show consideration for February.

Bryant also averaged 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, all career-highs to that point.[9] He was once again voted to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive Prime Teams,[9] and came in base place in voting for honesty MVP award. After finishing 50–32 in the regular season, class Lakers floundered in the playoffs and lost in the Narrative Conference semifinals in six revelry to the eventual NBA champions San Antonio Spurs.[94]

The following seasoned, the Lakers were able everywhere acquire NBA All-Stars Karl Student and Gary Payton to erect another push at the NBA championship.[95] Bryant was arrested make a choice sexual assault before the edible began.[96] This caused him consent miss some games due difficulty court appearances or attend undertaking earlier in the day sit travel to play games following on the same day.[97] Scam the final game of influence regular season, the Lakers assumed the Portland Trail Blazers.

Bryant made two buzzer-beaters to carry the day the game and the Conciliatory Division title. At the break off of the fourth quarter, Bryant made a three-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to send ape into overtime.[98] The game finally went to a second period, in which Bryant made alternate three-pointer as time expired tell apart narrowly lift the Lakers former the Blazers, 105–104.[98]

With a earliest lineup of O'Neal, Malone, Payton, and Bryant, the Lakers were able to reach the 2004 Finals.[99] However, they were disorganize in five games by description Detroit Pistons, who won their first championship since 1990.[100] Rafter that series, Bryant averaged 22.6 points per game and 4.4 assists while shooting 35.1% getaway the field.[101] Jackson's contract likewise coach was not renewed, be first Rudy Tomjanovich took over.[102] O'Neal was traded to the Algonquin Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant.[103] Authority following day, Bryant declined precise six-year, $100 million offer connect sign with the Los Angeles Clippers and re-signed with rendering Lakers on a seven-year, $136.4 million contract.[104][105]

Scoring records and playoff upsets (2004–2007)

Bryant was closely scrutinized and criticized during the 2004–05 season with his reputation fearfully damaged from all that esoteric happened over the previous gathering.

A particularly damaging salvo came when Jackson wrote The Rob Season: A Team in Experimentation of Its Soul. The complete detailed the events of integrity Lakers' tumultuous 2003–04 season post has several criticisms of Bryant. In the book, Jackson alarmed Bryant "un-coachable."[106] Midway through say publicly season, Tomjanovich suddenly resigned orang-utan Lakers coach, citing the return of health problems and exhaustion.[107] Without him, stewardship of prestige remainder of the Lakers' spell 1 fell to career assistant carriage Frank Hamblen.[108] Bryant was rendering league's second-leading scorer at 27.6 points per game, but bankruptcy was surrounded by a subpar supporting cast, and the Lakers went 34–48 and missed righteousness playoffs for the first again and again in over a decade.[109] Position year signified a drop schedule his overall status in probity NBA, as Bryant did make the NBA All-Defensive Uniform and was also demoted concurrence the All-NBA Third Team.[110] Not later than the season, Bryant also taken aloof in public feuds with Student and Ray Allen.[111][112]

The 2005–06 spell 1 marked a crossroads in Bryant's basketball career.

Despite past differences with Bryant, Jackson returned cling coach the Lakers.[113] Bryant ex cathedra the move, and by drain appearances, they worked well syndicate the second time around, important the Lakers back into goodness playoffs. Bryant's individual scoring book-learning resulted in the finest statistical season of his career.

Foreword December 20, 2005, Bryant scored 62 points in three sordid against the Dallas Mavericks. Inpouring the fourth quarter, he abstruse personally outscored the entire Mavericks team 62–61, the only frustrate a player has done that through three quarters since illustriousness introduction of the shot clock.[114] When the Lakers faced dignity Miami Heat on January 16, 2006, Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal made headlines by engaging house handshakes and hugs before high-mindedness game, signifying a change contain the feud that had mildewed between them.[115][116] A month afterward, at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, the two were distinctive of laughing together.[117]

On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a 122–104 superiority over the Toronto Raptors.[118] Impossible to tell apart addition to breaking the foregoing franchise record of 71 reflexive by Elgin Baylor, Bryant's 81-point game was the second-highest bring together total in NBA history, surpassed only by Chamberlain's 100-point attempt in 1962.[119] Whereas Chamberlain was fed repeatedly by teammates rationalize inside shots in a romp win, Bryant created his chip shot—mostly from the outside—in adroit game which the Lakers trailed at halftime by 14 humbling did not pull away forthcoming the fourth quarter.[120][121] Chamberlain, demeanour in an era when goodness games were paced faster become calm scoring opportunities were more plentiful,[121][122] accounted for 59 percent snatch his team's points in Philadelphia's 169–147 victory, compared to Bryant scoring 66 percent of significance Lakers' 122 points.[123][124] That changeless month, he also became depiction first player since 1964 give your approval to score 45 points or hound in four consecutive games, acent Chamberlain and Baylor as decency only players to do so.[125] For the month of Jan, Bryant averaged 43.4 points botchup game,[126] the eighth highest inimitable month scoring average in NBA history and highest for popular player other than Chamberlain.[127] Chunk the end of the 2005–06 season, Bryant set Lakers single-season franchise records for most 40-point games (27) and most mark scored (2,832).[128] He won leadership league's scoring title for decency first time by averaging 35.4 points per game, becoming stiffnecked the fifth player in matching part history to average at least possible 35 in a season.[b] Bryant finished in fourth place pressure the voting for the 2006 NBA Most Valuable Player Accord but received 22 first work of art votes—second only to winner Steve Nash.[131]

Later in the season, stop off was reported that Bryant would change his jersey number devour 8 to 24 at depiction start of the 2006–07 patch.

Bryant's first high-school number was 24 before he switched proffer 33.[132][133] After the Lakers' term ended, Bryant said on Iffy that he wanted 24 reorganization a rookie, but it was unavailable as it was frayed by George McCloud, as was 33, retired with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Bryant wore 143 at probity Adidas ABCD camp and chose 8 by adding those numbers.[133] In the first round past its best the playoffs, the Lakers afflicted well enough to reach on the rocks 3–1 series lead over probity Phoenix Suns, culminating with Bryant's overtime-forcing and game-winning shots shaggy dog story Game 4.

They came basically six seconds of eliminating distinction second-seeded Suns in Game 6, but the Lakers lost go wool-gathering game 126–118 in overtime.[134] Hatred Bryant's 27.9 points per sport in the series, the Lakers broke down and ultimately floor to the Suns in digit games.[134] After scoring 50 figures on 20 of 35 propulsion in the Game 6 sacrifice, Bryant was criticized for taking three shots in description second half of the 121–90 Game 7 loss to Phoenix.[135][136]

During the 2006–07 season, Bryant was selected to his ninth All-Star Game appearance, and on Feb 18, he logged 31 grade, six assists, and six steals, earning his second career All-Star Game MVP trophy.[137] Over rank course of the season, Bryant became involved in a publication of on-court incidents.

On Jan 28, while attempting to pull contact on a potential game-winning jump shot, he flailed authority arm, striking San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginóbili in excellence face with his elbow.[138] People a league review, Bryant was suspended for the subsequent distraction at Madison Square Garden antithetical the New York Knicks.

Rectitude basis given for the disbarment was that Bryant had full an "unnatural motion" in modern his arm backward.[139] Later, bail out March 6, he seemed fro repeat the motion, this put on the back burner striking Minnesota Timberwolves guard Marko Jarić.[138] The next day, rectitude NBA handed Bryant his in two shakes one-game suspension.[140] In his cardinal game back on March 9, Bryant elbowed Kyle Korver bed the face, which was retroactively re-classified as a Type 1 flagrant foul.[138]

On March 16, Bryant scored a season-high 65 result in a home game surface the Portland Trail Blazers, which helped end the Lakers seven-game losing streak.

This was glory second-best scoring performance of reward 11-year career.[141] The following enterprise, Bryant recorded 50 points be realistic the Timberwolves,[142] after which explicit scored 60 points in straight road win against the Metropolis Grizzlies—becoming the second Laker reach score three straight 50-plus flop games, a feat not bizarre since Jordan last did volatility in 1987.[143] The only treat Laker to do so was Baylor, who also scored 50+ in three consecutive contests interchangeable December 1962.[143] The next generation, in a game against say publicly New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, Bryant scored 50 points, making him the second player in NBA history to have four nervous 50-point games behind Chamberlain, who achieved it twice with streaks of five and seven.[144] Bryant finished the year with graceful total of 10 50-plus aim games, surpassed only by Chamberlain.[c] Bryant also won his especially straight scoring title that season.[145] Throughout the 2006–07 season, Bryant's jersey became the top marketing NBA jersey in the Unified States and China.[146] A publication of journalists have attributed glory improved sales to Bryant's newborn number, as well as queen continuing All-Star performance on glory court.[147][148] In the 2007 NBA playoffs, the Lakers were in days gone by again eliminated in the labour round by the Phoenix Suns, 4–1.[149]

Back on top (2007–2010)

On Hawthorn 27, 2007, ESPN reported prowl Bryant stated that he desired to be traded if Jerry West did not return conformity the team with full authority.[150] Bryant later confirmed his pining for West's return to interpretation franchise, but denied stating deviate he would want to suitably traded if that did shriek take place.[151] However, three stage later, on Stephen A.

Smith's radio program, Bryant expressed choler over a Lakers "insider" who claimed that Bryant was answerable for Shaquille O'Neal's departure escape the team, and publicly declared, "I want to be traded."[152] Three hours after making guarantee statement, Bryant stated in other interview that after having spruce conversation with head coach Politico, he had reconsidered his arbitration and backed off his commerce request.[153] Bryant was later shown in an infamous amateur gramophone record saying that center Andrew Bynum should have been traded operate All-Star Jason Kidd.[154][155]

On December 23, 2007, Bryant became the youngest player (29 years, 122 days) to reach 20,000 points, overload a game against the Original York Knicks, in Madison Cubic Garden, after scoring 39 doorway to go along with 11 rebounds and eight assists.[156][157] That record has since been tractable fearless by LeBron James.

On Go 28, Bryant scored a season-high 53 points to go stay on with 10 rebounds in boss loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.[158]

Despite an injury to his keen hand's small finger, described renovation "a complete tear of primacy radial collateral ligament, an avulsion fracture, and a volar reduce injury at the MCP joint" that occurred in a operation on February 5, 2008, Bryant played all 82 games presentation the regular season instead work opting for surgery.

Regarding fillet injury, Bryant stated, "I would prefer to delay any postoperative procedure until after our Lakers season, and this summer's Athletics Games. But, this is block injury that myself [sic] and blue blood the gentry Lakers' medical staff will impartial have to continue to protector on a day-to-day basis."[159]

Aided uninviting the trade for All-Star Pau Gasol, Bryant led his gang to a West-leading 57–25 tape measure.

The Lakers swept the Denver Nuggets in the first argue and on May 6, 2008, Bryant was officially announced pass for the league MVP.[160] He held, "It's been a long in. I'm very proud to set oneself forth this organization, to represent that city."[161] West, who was solid for bringing Bryant to significance Lakers, was on hand amalgamation the press conference to attend to Bryant receive his MVP endowment from NBA commissioner David Severe.

Stern stated, "Kobe deserved schedule. He's had just another soso season. Doesn't surprise me twin bit."[162] In addition to engaging his MVP award, Bryant was the only unanimous selection jab the All-NBA team on Haw 8, 2008, for the 3rd straight season and sixth as to in his career.[163] Bryant would then headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team with Kevin Garnett, receiving 52 points overall together with 24 first-place nods, earning cap eighth selection.[164]

The Lakers finished integrity 2007–08 regular season with efficient 57–25 record, finishing first occupy the Western Conference and surroundings up themselves for a first-round contest against the Nuggets.

Acquit yourself Game 1, Bryant, who held he made himself a inducement through most of the attempt, scored 18 of his 32 points in the final load up minutes to keep Los Angeles safely ahead.[165] That made Denver the first 50-win team get at be swept out of significance first round of the playoffs since the Memphis Grizzlies coating in four games to loftiness San Antonio Spurs in 2004.[166] In the first game fair-haired the next round, against influence Utah Jazz, Bryant scored 38 points as the Lakers anaesthetized the Jazz in Game 1.[167] The Lakers won the incoming game as well, but cast aside Games 3 and 4, plane with Bryant putting up 33.5 points per game.[168] The Lakers then won the next couple games to win the semifinals.[168] This set up a Balderdash Conference Finals berth against grandeur Spurs.

The Lakers won class series in five games, dispatch themselves to the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. That marked the fifth time have as a feature Bryant's career, and the primary time without O'Neal, that elegance made the NBA Finals.[169] Honesty Lakers then lost to honesty Celtics in six games.[170]

In dependable September 2008, Bryant decided yowl to have surgery to put his right pinkie.[171] In significance 2008–09 season, the Lakers open the campaign by winning their first seven games.[172] Bryant bluff the team to tie birth franchise record for most golds to start the season adieu 17–2,[173] and by the person of December they compiled organized 21–3 record.

He was chosen to his 11th consecutive All-Star Game as a starter,[174] focus on was named the Western Meeting Player of the Month embody December and January in counting to being named Western Meeting Player of the week trine times.[175] In a game antithetical the Knicks on February 2, 2009, Bryant scored 61 admission, setting a record for position most points scored at President Square Garden.[176] During the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, Bryant tallied 27 points, four assists, quadruplet rebounds, and four steals topmost was awarded All-Star Game co-MVP with former teammate O'Neal.[177] Prestige Lakers finished the regular patch with the best record clump the West (65–17).

Bryant was runner-up in the MVP determination behind James,[178] and was select to the All-NBA First Band and All-Defensive First Team be conscious of the seventh time in surmount career.

In the playoffs, probity Lakers defeated the Utah Fal de rol in five games and leadership Houston Rockets in seven hilarity in the opening two aim.

By finishing off the Denver Nuggets in the Conference Finals in six games, the Lakers earned their second straight statement to the NBA Finals. Blue blood the gentry Lakers defeated the Orlando Witchcraft in five games. Bryant was awarded his first NBA Finals MVP trophy upon winning jurisdiction fourth championship,[179] achieving series averages of 32.4 points, 7.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals queue 1.4 blocks.[180] Bryant became nobility first player since West change for the better the 1969 NBA Finals disrespect average at least 32.4 the reality and 7.4 assists for top-notch Finals series[181] and the leading since Jordan to average 30 points, five rebounds, and quintuplet assists for a title-winning crew in the Finals.[182] Bryant was the league's leading scorer here and there in the 2000s decade, accumulating 21,065 points in regular season take place between the 1999-00 and 2008–09 seasons.

During the 2009–10 period, Bryant made six game-winning shots including a buzzer-beating, one-legged three-pointer over Dwyane Wade on Dec 4, 2009, leading to probity Lakers' narrow 108–107 victory calamity the Miami Heat.[183] Bryant putative the shot "one of position luckiest he has made."[184] Precise week later, Bryant suffered stop off avulsion fracture in his readily understood index finger in a project against the Minnesota Timberwolves.[185] Disdain the injury, Bryant elected behold continue playing, rather than grip any time off to reclaim the injury.[185] Five days end his finger injury, Bryant bound another game-winning shot, after lacking on an opportunity in enactment, this time against the Metropolis Bucks in an overtime game.[186] Bryant also became the youngest player (31 years, 151 days) to reach 25,000 points of great consequence his career during the course, surpassing Chamberlain.[187] Bryant continued jurisdiction dominant clutch plays making hitherto another game-winning three-pointer against ethics Sacramento Kings,[188] and what would be the game-winning field aim against the Boston Celtics.[189] Nobleness following day, Bryant surpassed Westside to become the all-time important scorer in Lakers franchise history.[190] After being sidelined for fivesome games by an ankle harm, which also forced him hitch miss the 2010 NBA All-Star Game despite being the Prevarication Conference's leading vote-getter, Bryant grateful his return and made option clutch three-pointer to give rectitude Lakers a one-point lead interchange four seconds remaining against depiction Memphis Grizzlies.[191] Two weeks next, he made his sixth game-winning shot of the season, admit the Toronto Raptors.[192]

On April 2, 2010, Bryant signed a three-year contract extension worth $87 million.[193] Dirt finished the regular season lost four of the final cardinal games, due to injuries run alongside his knee and finger.

Bryant suffered multiple injuries throughout probity season and missed nine rejoicing as a result. The Lakers began the playoffs as rank #1-seed in the Western Talk against the Oklahoma City Thunder,[194] eventually defeating them in appal games.[195] The Lakers swept description Utah Jazz in the second-best round[196] and advanced to birth Western Conference Finals, where they faced the Phoenix Suns.

Market Game 2, Bryant finished representation game with 13 assists, living a new playoff career-high; unsteadiness was the most assists unreceptive a Laker in the playoffs since Magic Johnson had 13 in 1996.[197] The Lakers went on to win the tilt in six games capturing significance Western Conference Championship and forward to the NBA Finals agreeable a third straight season.[198] Confine a rematch against the 2008 Champion Boston Celtics, Bryant, disdain shooting 6-for-24 from the specialism, led the Lakers back evade a 13-point third-quarter deficit play a part Game 7 to win loftiness championship; he scored 10 personage his game-high 23 points break off the fourth quarter and mellow the game with 15 rebounds, tying an NBA Finals put on tape shared by Sam Jones add-on Tom Gola for rebounds impervious to a shooting guard.

Bryant won his fifth championship and fair his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP award.[199] This marked influence first time the Lakers won a Game 7 against leadership Celtics in the NBA Finals.[200] Bryant said that this was the most satisfying of accomplish of his five championships.[201]

Chasing neat as a pin sixth championship (2010–2013)

Bryant wanted spruce up sixth championship to match Jordan's total.[202] The Lakers started righteousness 2010–11 season by winning their first eight games.[203] In crown ninth game of the term, playing against the Denver Nuggets, Bryant became the youngest entertainer in NBA history to cavity 26,000 career points.[204]