This included leading the team in assists per game and steals per game. [502][504], Bryant established Kobe Inc. to own and grow brands in the sports industry. In 1997, he appeared on an episode of Hang Time, this was followed by a guest appearance on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series All That (1998). The deal involved Bryant being in a promotional film to be aired in over 80 countries in addition to his being used in digital, print and billboard advertising. [194] The following day, he surpassed West to become the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history. [447] In September 2004, the assault case was dropped by prosecutors after the accuser decided not to testify at the trial. Recognized as the top American high-school basketball player while at Philadelphia suburb Lower Merion, Bryant declared for the 1996 NBA draft and was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick; he was then traded to the Lakers. [521] Initial reports indicated that the helicopter crashed in the hills above Calabasas in heavy fog. [548][549], After the Lakers beat the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the 2020 NBA Finals to clinch the franchise's 17th NBA championship, rapper, Lakers fan and Long Beach native Snoop Dogg paid homage to Bryant and the Lakers with a full forearm tattoo. [204] This marked the first time the Lakers won a Game 7 against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. [286] He underwent season-ending surgery for the injury, finishing the season averaging 22.3 points but shooting a career-low 37.3 percent, well below his 45.4 percent career mark to start the season. As a rookie, Bryant earned a reputation as a high-flyer by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, and was named an All-Star by his second season. He's had just another great season. [114] Bryant was the league's second-leading scorer at 27.6 points per game, but he was surrounded by a subpar supporting cast, and the Lakers went 3448 and missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. [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. Bryant shot four air balls at the end of the game; the Jazz won 9893 in overtime to eliminate the Lakers 41. [219][220][221] The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation praised the NBA's decision to fine Bryant, and the Human Rights Campaign said that Bryant's language was a "disgrace" and "distasteful". During the 200910 season, Bryant made six game-winning shots including a buzzer-beating, one-legged 3-pointer against the Miami Heat on December 4, 2009. They easily swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. [120] When the Lakers faced the Miami Heat on January 16, 2006, Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal made headlines by engaging in handshakes and hugs before the game, signifying a change in the feud that had festered between them. He sat out season finale against Sacramento, foregoing the chase for a possible third NBA scoring title, having needed 38 points to surpass Kevin Durant. [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. Free shipping for many products! [182] During the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, Bryant tallied 27 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals and was awarded All-Star Game co-MVP with former teammate O'Neal. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak had spoken to Bryant about his extensive playing time 10 days earlier, but Bryant insisted the minutes needed to continue given the Lakers' playoff push. Kobe Bryant On NBA's Toughest Players To Guard. [207] The Lakers started the 201011 season by winning their first eight games. [329], On June 23, 2008, he was named to the USA Men's Senior National Team for the 2008 Summer Olympics. [171] That made Denver the first 50-win team to be swept out of the first round of the playoffs since the Memphis Grizzlies fell in four games to the San Antonio Spurs in 2004. [395] He won another gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. [333] After winning another gold medal, Bryant decided to retire from the team. [212] In Boston on February 10, Bryant scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half as the Lakers rallied from an early 15-point deficit for a 9286 win over the Celtics. ', "Kobe Bryant's last night in Sacramento hit him right in the heart", "Kobe requests no more gifts, on-court ceremonies during farewell tour", "Sacramento sends Kobe Bryant off with rousing ovation", "In Philadelphia, Kobe Bryant finally gets love from his home town", "Kobe Bryant's final game in Portland marks end of an era for Trail Blazers fans' last true villain", "Utah Jazz: Bryant feels the love from fans in final SLC appearance", "Dwyane Wade: 'I never thought I'd be Top 100 all time', "During strange farewell tour, Kobe Bryant rediscovers greatness for one night in D.C.", "Kobe shrugs off 38-point effort: 'You've seen it for 20 years', "Kobe Bryant is selected as an All-Star for the 18th time", "Defense in record-setting short supply in West's rout of East", "Kobe Bryant, in His Final Lap, Is Happy to Surrender the Midseason Stage", "Kobe finishes his two-decade-long career in a fashionable way as Lakers eliminate Jazz, 10196", "Kobe Bryant's final game: A flurry of jump shots and glory", "Kobe scores 60 points in unbelievable farewell victory", "Magic Johnson has great expectations for Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball", U.S. ends losing streak at World Championship, Vince Carter Added to Olympic Qualifying Team, "Kobe will play for U.S. at worlds, '08 Olympics", "Kobe won't play for Team USA after knee surgery", "US hoops back on top, beats Spain for gold medal", "USA Basketball Wins Gold Over Spain, Rio Next in 2016", "Kobe Bryant and USA Basketball Whatever It Takes", "Los Angeles Lakers: 201314 roster (Subscription Required)", "Kobe, Hill deal with being the next Michael", "Kobe Bryant Is Nearly an Equal of Michael Jordan, Except in Fan Adoration", "Kobe Bryant rises up before falling away", "Kobe Bryant delivers the final miss again", "Lakers' Jeremy Lin on game winners: 'I would love to shoot some', "Jenkins on NBA: Bryant becomes more gunner than top gun", "The truth about Kobe Bryant in crunch time", "Amid the Points and Applause, One Single Shot Ignited Love Story of Kobe, NYC", "All-Time #NBArank: Michael Jordan tops list of best shooting guards", "Kobe Bryant set to play final game in Philadelphia", "Misses add up to big part of Kobe's legacy", "Phil Jackson throws the book at Kobe Bryant", "Kobe Bryant named to NBA's all-defensive first team for ninth time", "An Open Letter to Kobe Bryant About His Defense", "Once And For All: Michael Jordan Was Way Better Than Kobe Bryant", "How Kobe Bryant influenced the next generation of NBA stars", "Examining Kobe Bryant's legendary pain tolerance and road to recovery", "Wolf on the Rock: The Ludicrous, Glorious Doom of Kobe Bryant", "Six Seconds to Perfection: The Best NBA Vines of the Season", "Julius Randle's Development Poses Final Leadership Test for Kobe Bryant", "Long a tough, chilly teammate, Kobe Bryant has mellowed and now is a mentor", "Who Killed Lakers? [496][497] He also appeared on MTV's Ridiculousness in 2019. [272] Despite being sidelined, he was voted by fans to start in his 16th All-Star game. "[68], In Bryant's second season, he received more playing time and began to show more of his abilities as a talented young guard. [116] During the season, Bryant also engaged in public feuds with Malone and Ray Allen. In the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz in five games and the Houston Rockets in seven games in the opening two rounds. "[356] According to Bryant, "I would go 0 for 30 before I would go 0 for 9; 0 for 9 means you beat yourself, you psyched yourself out of the game. [173] The Lakers won the next game as well, but dropped Games 3 and 4, even with Bryant putting up 33.5 points per game. [515][516][517][518] The helicopter was registered to the Fillmore-based Island Express Holding Corp., according to the California Secretary of State business database. Bryant led the team to consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, both times being named NBA Finals MVP. After Kobe's homecoming game in Philly this week, Kobe Bryant was surprised by his former high school point guard, the very funny Evan Monsky, during the post game conference. [357] Bryant rarely drew charges when he played defense, which he believed spared his body and contributed to his longevity. Jan. 24, 2021 4 AM PT. He led the NBA in scoring in the 200506 and 200607 seasons and was named league MVP in 2008. On January 14, 2002, Bryant recorded a then career-high 56 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists in a 12081 win over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies. Kobe Bryant", "Lil Wayne Releases New Song Titled 'Kobe Bryant', "Chief Keef's "Kobe" Saw A 13,000 Percent Increase In Genius Pageviews After Kobe Bryant's Death", "Hip-hop mourns Kobe Bryant an icon in rap lyrics for decades", "Chief Keef Thinks He's 'Kobe' in New Video", Brandy Mourns Death of Kobe Bryant, Her Prom Date, "Kobe Bryant Declined Jesus Shuttlesworth Role Before It Was Given to Ray Allen", "Kobe Bryant Was Building an Entertainment Empire", "Kobe Bryant is denied membership into the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences", "Kobe Bryant's Death Cuts Short a Promising Second Act in Entertainment", "Kobe Bryant Was Planning To Launch An Animation Studio; Sergio Pablos And Bruce Smith Involved", "Jazz's Mitchell taking analysis of Kobe to heart", "Kobe Bryant explains his 'Detail' show on ESPN", "Catch me on a NEW episode of #Ridiculousness tonight at 8/7c on @mtv! [41] Duke, Michigan, North Carolina and Villanova were at the top of his list. Email. A Catholic cantor said she was inspired by Bryant's faith, and the respect that he showed her. [450], Before starting the 199697 season, Bryant signed a six-year contract with Adidas that was worth approximately $48million. 1 On NY Times Bestseller List. On April 12, Bryant suffered a torn Achilles tendon against the Golden State Warriors, ending his season. [485][486][487] It was featured on his debut studio album, Finally Rich, as a part of the deluxe edition. Mr. Harding was employed to Secure World Security Company. Jackson utilized the triangle offense that he implemented to win six championships with the Chicago Bulls; this offense would help both Bryant and O'Neal rise to the elite class of the NBA. The two began dating and became engaged six months later in May 2000,[406] while Laine was still a senior at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California. Statistically, the 200001 season saw Bryant perform similarly to the previous year, but he averaged six more points per game (28.5). They would go on to win the next four games and bring their second championship to Los Angeles in as many seasons. Growing pains and gains: During his rookie season, Bryant at just 18 years and 72 days old became the . Zoo due to heavy air traffic in the area. [412] The birth resulted in a reconciliation between Bryant and his parents. [175] The Lakers then lost to the Boston Celtics in six games.[176]. The pump fakes began in earnest when Kobe Bryant got stuck with the ball against Denver this month. The cause of the crash was hard to investigate, as the helicopter was not equipped with a black box. [95][96] This cemented Bryant's reputation as a "clutch player". It might seem shocking that Kobe Bryant leads all shooting guards for the most rebounds in the regular season by a shooting guard. [547], The 2020 Pro Bowl was also played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on the day of the crash, and before kickoff, NFC players who learned of Bryant's death conducted a prayer led by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, while various on-field and PA tributes were made during the game. [337][338] Bryant has drawn frequent comparisons to Michael Jordan, after whom he modeled his playing style. A few other guards recently played into their late 30s. [67] O'Neal commented that "[Bryant] was the only guy who had the guts at the time to take shots like that. [145] Later, on March 6, he seemed to repeat the motion, this time striking Minnesota Timberwolves guard Marko Jari. [509], The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards went ahead as scheduled at the Staples Center on the day of the crash, but included tributes by multiple artists and groups, including host Alicia Keys opening the show with a tribute speech in which she called Staples Center "the house that Kobe Bryant built" and joining Boyz II Men to sing "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday". He was selected to his 11th consecutive All-Star Game as a starter,[180] and was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for December and January in addition to being named Western Conference Player of the week three times. [325] In the following summer, he had to withdraw from the Olympic team because of his sexual assault case. He grew up with two older sisters, Sharia and Shaya, and had a close relationship with them until his death. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [302], During the 2020 NBA playoffs, the Lakers' players wore 'Black Mamba' jerseys in honor of Bryant. That could be the case for Oregon Ducks guard Chris Duarte, whose draft stock has soared and is now widely projected to be a first-round pick. In the first game of the 200203 season, Bryant recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals in an 8782 loss to the visiting Spurs. In the book, Jackson called Bryant "un-coachable". Bryant also had a career-high 46.9% shooting and once again led his team in assists. [327] However, he was once again sidelined after knee surgery and did not participate in the 2006 FIBA World Championship. He led the Lakers to two more championships in 2009 and 2010, winning the Finals MVP award on both occasions. The basis given for the suspension was that Bryant had performed an "unnatural motion" in swinging his arm backward. [383] He also won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1997 and was its youngest winner. [491], In 2018, Bryant became the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and the first former professional athlete to be nominated and to win an Academy Award in any category for his film Dear Basketball. James also delivered a speech to the crowd before the game, and every player in the Lakers starting lineup was announced with Bryant's name. [205] Bryant said that this was the most satisfying of all of his five championships. (Chicago Tribune)", "Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento Kings Box Score, May 13, 2001", "Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, January 14, 2002", "Lou Williams-led 76ers spoil Kobe Bryant's milestone night", "Love him or not, Kobe Bryant a Philly player", "Bryant's heroics, deference pay off for Lakers", "Los Angeles Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs May 12, 2002 Game Summary", "San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, October 29, 2002", "Los Angeles Lakers at Los Angeles Clippers Box Score, November 1, 2002", "NBA Single Game Leaders and Records for 3-Pt Field Goals", "NBA Playoffs 2003 Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs", "Lakers Sign Free Agents Gary Payton and Karl Malone", "Kobe Bryant Arrested For Alleged Sexual Assault", "Bryant's, Lakers' survival go hand in hand", "Minnesota Timberwolves (1) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (2)", "It's Official: Shaq traded to Heat for three players, draft pick", "Coach and Star Savor Success in Collaboration", "Off the Dribble: Bryant Now Deals with Mediocrity", Kobe 'upset' about Malone's comments to wife, "Basketball: Kobe Bryant Profile and Information", "Eighty-One! The win ended a 10-game losing streak, and the Lakers averted establishing the longest losing streak in franchise history. [284][285] Three times Bryant had exceeded 40 minutes in a game,[286] and the coach blamed himself for overloading him after he started the season in such great shape. He was also the maternal nephew of NBA player John "Chubby" Cox. [24][25] After two years, they moved first to Reggio Calabria, then to Pistoia and Reggio Emilia. [309][310][311][312] Previously, Bryant was respected but not beloved,[313][314] and he was astonished at the cheers he was now receiving. This followed with O'Neal winning the MVP and Bryant being named to the All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team for the first time in his career (the youngest player to receive All-Defensive honors). [11], Bryant died, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, in 2020. [483] Similarly, in 2010, American rapper Sho Baraka released a song called "Kobe Bryant On'em", which was featured on his album Lions and Liars. [539][540][541], Bryant also appeared at the start of the In Memoriam segment of the 92nd Academy Awards following his Oscar in 2018 for Dear Basketball, and Spike Lee wore a suit in tribute to him at the ceremony. [390] He was the first player in NBA history to have at least 30,000 career points and 6,000 career assists,[373] and was one of only four players with 25,000 points, 6,000 rebounds, and 6,000 assists. On March 28, Bryant scored a season-high 53 points to go with 10 rebounds in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. In the 200102 season, Bryant played 80 games for the first time in his career. After finishing 5032 in the regular season, the Lakers floundered in the playoffs and lost in the Western Conference semi-finals in six games to the eventual NBA champions San Antonio Spurs. 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