[307][308] Still, he was honored around the league with video tributes and fan ovations,[306] including arenas that historically jeered him such as TD Garden in Boston, Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Moda Center in Portland, Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, and Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. [238] The Lakers were knocked out of the playoffs by Durant and Oklahoma City in the second round of the playoffs, losing in five games in what would be Bryant's final playoff appearance. He was exceptional in everything that he did. [172] In the first game of the next round, against the Jazz, Bryant scored 38 points as the Lakers beat the Jazz in Game 1. [151] Throughout the 200607 season, his jersey became the top selling NBA jersey in the United States and China. "[168] In addition to winning his MVP award, Bryant was the only unanimous selection to the All-NBA team on May 8, 2008, for the third straight season and sixth time in his career. On January 22, 2006, he scored a career-high 81 points; the second most points scored in a single NBA game, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game. [383] He also won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1997 and was its youngest winner. Rose later admitted he placed his foot under Bryant intentionally. [456][457] However, they refused to use his image or market a new shoe of his for the year but eventually did start promoting Bryant once his image recovered two years later. [81] When Bryant was back and playing over 38 minutes a game, he had an increase in all statistical categories during the 19992000 season. However, on June 30, Divac relented on his threat and the trade was made final on July 9, 1996, when the league's off-season moratorium ended. Chamberlain did it 15 times, and Baylor once. [156] Bryant later confirmed his desire for West's return to the franchise but denied stating that he would want to be traded if that did not take place. [395] He won another gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. [89] They swept the San Antonio Spurs in the Conference Finals to advance to the Finals, before losing their first game against the Philadelphia 76ers in overtime. In Game 4, Bryant scored 22 points in the second half and led the team to an OT victory as O'Neal fouled out of the game. [195] After being sidelined for five games by an ankle injury, Bryant made his return and made another clutch three-pointer to give the Lakers a one-point lead with four seconds remaining against the Memphis Grizzlies. [c] Bryant also won his second straight scoring title that season. [138][139] After the Lakers' season ended, Bryant said on TNT that he wanted 24 as a rookie, but it was unavailable as it was worn by George McCloud, as was 33, retired with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. [485][486][487] It was featured on his debut studio album, Finally Rich, as a part of the deluxe edition. Lakers guard Russell Westbrook channels inner Kobe Bryant after finger dislocation in loss vs. Nuggets. A security guard opens a steel door leading into a vault containing hundreds of collectibles at Collectors Vault, a new company that is making it easier for collectors to store and trade memorabilia. [112] Midway through the season, Tomjanovich suddenly resigned as Lakers coach, citing the recurrence of health problems and exhaustion. [251] With a disappointing 1725 start to the season,[252] D'Antoni had Bryant became the primary facilitator on offense and Nash was moved off the ball and became more of a spot-up shooter. [19][20][21], Bryant started playing basketball when he was three,[22] and the Lakers were his favorite team when he was growing up. [455] A notable exception was Nike, Inc., who had signed him to a five-year, $4045million contract just before the incident. Learn what it takes to get your Arizona Security Guard Card from start to finish. [109] The following day, Bryant declined a six-year, $100 million offer to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers and re-signed with the Lakers on a seven-year, $136.4 million contract. [31] Another source of inspiration was animated European films about sports, from which he learned more about basketball. In all, $200 million in collectibles are stored in two vaults . [157] However, three days later, on Stephen A. Smith's radio program, Bryant expressed anger over a Lakers "insider" who claimed that Bryant was responsible for Shaquille O'Neal's departure from the team, and publicly stated, "I want to be traded. [25], Sony pushed Bryant from his roots of underground hip hop into a more radio-friendly sound. [450], Before starting the 199697 season, Bryant signed a six-year contract with Adidas that was worth approximately $48million. [352][377] Players including Kevin Durant,[378] Dirk Nowitzki,[379] Dwyane Wade,[313] and Derrick Rose called Bryant their generation's version of Jordan. [231] On January 10, 2012, Bryant scored 48points against the Suns. [436], In 2013, Bryant had a legal disagreement with an auction house over memorabilia from his early years that his mother had put up for auction. 1", "Suns' Steve Nash Wins Second Consecutive MVP Award", "Bryant will hang up his No. [38] During his junior year, he averaged 31.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 3.8 blocks and 2.3 steals[40] and was named Pennsylvania Player of the Year while also earning a fourth-team Parade All-American nomination,[41][42] attracting attention from college recruiters in the process. My love for this city, this team and for each of you will never fade. had 23. . Lui diceva: "Io qui mi sento in pace", "Kobe visits old childhood court in Italy", "From Ariel to Kobe Bryant: Disney legend Glen Keane takes us inside Oscar-nominated 'Dear Basketball', "Kobe Bryant: NBA Star Shows off Skills at Manchester Utd vs. Barcelona Game", "Kobe Bryant honored by AC Milan, his favorite soccer club as a kid (video)", "I Wish People Would Let Me Just Be Kobe", "Lot Detail Kobe Bryant Incredible Signed 1992 Middle School Yearbook with Prophetic Lakers Inscription Reference! [290][393][396] On four occasions (2003, 2011, 2013, 2016) he was the leading vote-getter. "[126], In addition to his abilities on offense, Bryant also established himself as a standout defensive player. Largely because he spent so much time in a system de-emphasizing traditional point guard play, mitigating the need for an elite one, in terms of "classic" point guards Bryant basically goes from . [324] Bryant was originally selected for the FIBA Americas Championship in 2003 but withdrew after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder and knee surgeries. Player Responds to Kobe Bryant", "Bryant to appeal $100K fine for slur, but takes responsibility", "Kobe Bryant, Lakers teammates appear in PSA touting diversity", "Dallas Mavericks sweep Lakers from NBA playoffs", "Yankees say A-Rod had shoulder treatment, too", "Lakers' Kobe Bryant won't give in to age", "Chris Paul-led Clips win L.A. clash despite Kobe Bryant's 42", "NBA Recap Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs Apr 20, 2012", "Kobe Bryant chooses not to go for NBA scoring title", "Bryant Raises Bar, but Thunder Clear It Easily", "Chris Paul, Clippers deal Lakers third straight loss to open season", "The Lakers Change Direction and Hire D'Antoni as Coach", "Mike D'Antoni to be next coach of the Lakers", "Kobe Bryant (30 pts. [387] In October 2021, Bryant was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.[388]. I'm very proud to represent this organization, to represent this city. [438][439][440], Bryant was a lifelong fan of his hometown NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles. [124] In addition to breaking the previous franchise record of 71 set by Elgin Baylor, Bryant's 81-point game was the second-highest point total in NBA history, surpassed only by Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962. The two-time All-Star has never hidden his admiration for the Los Angeles Lakers great, whose life was tragically cut short in January 2020 when he died in a helicopter crash along with his. [45] In his senior year of high school, Bryant led the Aces to their first state championship in 53 years. [131] For the month of January, Bryant averaged 43.4 points per game,[132] the eighth highest single month scoring average in NBA history and highest for any player other than Chamberlain. On November 25, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Lakers at an estimated value of $48.5 million. They were headed to a . [88] Once again, Bryant led the team in assists, with five per game. [393] He was just the third player in NBA history to average 40 points in a calendar month, which he accomplished four times. [403], Bryant was the youngest of three children. Games. A shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bryant even appeared on Lakers teammate O'Neal's Respect, starting the track "3 X's Dope", though Bryant's name was not listed on the credits. [442][443], According to Forbes, Bryant's $680 million in career earnings was the most ever by a team athlete during their playing career. [406] According to Vanessa's cousin Laila Laine, there was no prenuptial agreement. Three championships were won consecutively in 2000, 2001, and 2002, further cementing this view. "[490], Bryant was the subject of Spike Lee's 2009 documentary film Kobe Doin' Work, which chronicled Bryant during the 200708 NBA season. [196] Two weeks later, he made his sixth game-winning shot of the season, against the Toronto Raptors. [522] At that time, the helicopter experienced extreme fog and turned south towards the mountains. The murals are part of the school's Black History Month celebration, where all month long students can look at the images and learn about who's being shown and why. But Bryant only embodied his Black Mamba persona years after he moved out of . This included leading the team in assists per game and steals per game. The all-time leading scorer in Lakers history, Bryant was the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. Jordan and Bryant didn't really guard . [33], Bryant also learned to play soccer, and his favorite soccer team was A.C. As such, Bryant always had a really unique perspective on . [11], Bryant died, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, in 2020. That said, for at least half of his career, he was also an incredibly tenacious defender. This marked the fifth time in Bryant's career, and the first time without O'Neal, that he made the NBA Finals. He won gold medals on the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic teams. [364][365] A fierce competitor, Bryant made opponents and teammates alike the objects of his scorn. During the run, he averaged 30.8 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4 steals, and 3.8 blocked shots in leading the Aces to a 313 record. "[158] Three hours after making that statement, Bryant stated in another interview that after having a conversation with head coach Jackson, he had reconsidered his decision and backed off his trade request. [222][223][224] He later apologized for the use of the word. [435] He sold the house in May 2015. 8 and 24, making him the only player in NBA history to have multiple numbers retired by the same franchise. He led the NBA in scoring in the 200506 and 200607 seasons and was named league MVP in 2008. The Lakers defeated the Spurs in five games, sending themselves to the NBA Finals, against the Boston Celtics. [108] O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant. [106] In that series, Bryant averaged 22.6 points per game and 4.4 assists while shooting 35.1% from the field. James, 35, scored 29 points to move to 33,655. [18] Bryant's family was Catholic and he was brought up with this faith. [259] The Lakers finished the season at 4537, good for seventh in the West. Bryant's first high-school number was 24 before he switched to 33. [103] In the final game of the regular season, the Lakers played the Portland Trail Blazers. [241] He was replaced by Mike D'Antoni, who Bryant knew as a child when Bryant's father was playing in Italy and D'Antoni was also a star player there. Firefighters work the scene of a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California where Kobe Bryant and eight others died. In Game 2 win against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals, Anthony Davis made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and yelled Bryant's name, while the team was wearing the 'Black Mamba' jerseys. [27][28] Bryant began to play basketball seriously while living in Reggio Emilia. Kobe Bryant is known as one of the greatest offensive talents of all time. [102] This caused Bryant to miss some games due to court appearances or attend court earlier in the day and travel to play games later on the same day. . However, the Lakers lost the game to the Clippers and started the season 03 for the first time in 34 years and just the fourth time in franchise history. He first missed a game-winning two-point jump shot in the fourth quarter, and then misfired 3 three-point field goals in overtime, including two tying shots in the final minute. [183] The Lakers finished the regular season with the best record in the West (6517). [322], Bryant declined to play in the 2000 Olympics because he was getting married in the off-season. [70] Bryant was the runner-up for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award,[71] and through fan voting, he also became the youngest NBA All-Star starter in NBA history. Criminal charges were later dropped after the accuser failed to testify, and a lawsuit was settled out of court, with Bryant issuing a public apology and admitting to a sexual encounter he maintained was consensual. [349][350] Bryant enjoyed being the villain, and reveled in being booed and then silencing the crowd with his play. [59], He is also a second cousin of his former Lakers teammate Cedric Ceballos. 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