The all-time leading scorer in Lakers history, Bryant was the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. [76], Bryant's fortunes would improve when Phil Jackson took over as coach of the Lakers in 1999. The cause of the crash was hard to investigate, as the helicopter was not equipped with a black box. At 9:40a.m., the helicopter climbed rapidly from 1,200 to 2,000 feet (370 to 610m), flying at 161 knots (298km/h; 185mph). [133] By the end of the 200506 season, Bryant set Lakers single-season franchise records for most 40-point games (27) and most points scored (2,832). Kobe Bryant Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Los Angeles Lakers Forward-Guard Kobe Bryant. Designed by Bryant himself, the black jersey features a snakeskin pattern with yellow accents and 16 stars representing the team's 16 championships at the time. [59], He is also a second cousin of his former Lakers teammate Cedric Ceballos. [204] This marked the first time the Lakers won a Game 7 against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. [366][367] Many players have considered him difficult to play with because of his high level of commitment and performance. As such, Bryant always had a really unique perspective on . [265] He remained the league's highest-paid player, although he accepted a discounted deal; he had been eligible to receive an extension starting at $32 million per year. [358] However, some critics have suggested that Bryant's defensive accolades in his later years were based more on his reputation than his actual play. Jason Terry is still going at age 38 . Defenders struggled to get in front of him, and his performance excited West and Lakers coach Del Harris. [536], Also, beginning with the Spurs and the Raptors in their game in San Antonio on the day of the crash, teams paid tribute to Bryant at the start of their games with intentional on-court violations referring to his uniform numbers on their first possessioneither a 24-second shot clock or an 8-second backcourt violation. Email. [306] Prior to announcing his retirement, he had been steadfast about not wanting the fuss of a staged farewell tour, preferring to hear boos instead of cheers. [106] In that series, Bryant averaged 22.6 points per game and 4.4 assists while shooting 35.1% from the field. During the season, Bryant signed a six-year contract extension worth $70million. He claimed his first All-Star MVP trophy after a 31-point performance in Philadelphia when he was loudly booed by fans as they had throughout the game, stemming from his earlier comment to a 76ers heckler during the Finals that the Lakers were "going to cut your hearts out". [302], During the 2020 NBA playoffs, the Lakers' players wore 'Black Mamba' jerseys in honor of Bryant. [174] This set up a Western Conference Finals berth against the San Antonio Spurs. [304][305], Bryant requested that opposing teams on the road not hold any on-court ceremonies in his honor or present him any gifts in public. With starting guards Van Exel and Jones traded, Bryant started every game for the lockout-shortened 50-game season. [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. [408][409] The wedding was not attended by Bryant's parents, his two sisters, his longtime advisor and agent Arn Tellem, or his Laker teammates. The headquarters are in Newport Beach, California. Roundup - Los Angeles; Lakers' Bryant Signs for $71 million", "1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats", "Bryant, McGrady Highlight All-NBA Selections", "Garnett, Bryant top NBA All-Defensive selections", "Lakers lose bryant at least six weeks to broken hand", "Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, June 4, 2000", "Kobe Bryant sprains left ankle in Lakers loss, out indefinitely", "Jalen Rose on That Time He Intentionally Tried to Injure Kobe Bryant", "Article: No doubt: It's Bryant's team. [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. In all, $200 million in . He led the Lakers to two more championships in 2009 and 2010, winning the Finals MVP award on both occasions. [245] His streak would be snapped at 10 on December 28 in a 10487 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, when he scored 27 points, sitting out the whole fourth quarter. [514], At 9:06a.m. Pacific Standard Time on January 26, 2020, a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter departed from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, with nine people aboard: Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, six family friends, and the pilot, Ara Zobayan. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Jordan and Bryant didn't really guard . People can say he stole his moves from Michael Jordan, but Kobe did it in a great way and always showed. However, the Lakers were able to beat their division rivals and make their third consecutive NBA Finals appearance. [25] In 1999, Bryant appeared on a remix of "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child on the Maxi single version of the song. [535] The game was the second-most-watched in ESPN history, averaging 4.41 million viewers. The all-time leading scorer in Lakers history, Bryant was the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. [33], Bryant also learned to play soccer, and his favorite soccer team was A.C. [95][96] This cemented Bryant's reputation as a "clutch player". [529], On February 7, Bryant and his daughter were buried in a private funeral in Pacific View Memorial Park in the Corona del Mar neighborhood of Newport Beach, California. [21], Bryant and his wife Vanessa were founding donors of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, with Bryant also donating his uniform he that he wore in the 2008 NBA Finals, the year he was named the league MVP. [368][371] Bryant's longtime head coach Phil Jackson noted a big difference during his two Lakers coaching stints in Bryant's demeanor towards his teammates. It might seem shocking that Kobe Bryant leads all shooting guards for the most rebounds in the regular season by a shooting guard. had 23. . The Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in five games. [48][49] Bryant's varsity coach, Greg Downer, commented that he was "a complete player who dominates" and praised his work ethic, even as the team's top player. Navigation Toggle NBA. [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. [58] Bryant signed a three-year rookie contract totaling $3.5 million.[59]. [134] He won the league's scoring title for the first time by averaging 35.4 points per game, becoming just the fifth player in league history to average at least 35 in a season. [116] During the season, Bryant also engaged in public feuds with Malone and Ray Allen. [121][122] A month later, at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, the two were seen laughing together. "[431][432] During the 201213 season, he began referring to himself as "vino" to describe how his play had been aging like a fine wine. In another incident, he allegedly threatened a mall security guard, according to police reports uncovered by Molly Hensley-Clancy of the Washington Post. In 2014, Bryant passed Havlicek's previous mark of 13,417 missed shots. On March 28, Bryant scored a season-high 53 points to go with 10 rebounds in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. [280][282] In his second game back after resting, he had 23 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds in a 111103 win over Denver, and became just the third player in league history to record multiple triple-doubles in a season at age 36 or older. [492] The film also won the Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject and a Sports Emmy Award. The Sony president who originally signed Bryant had already left, and Bryant's other backers had mostly abandoned him. [441] He was also a fan of soccer teams Barcelona, AC Milan, and Manchester City. [259] The Lakers finished the season at 4537, good for seventh in the West. [447] In September 2004, the assault case was dropped by prosecutors after the accuser decided not to testify at the trial. ", "Better scoring night: Kobe's 81 or Wilt's 100? [253][254][255] In the next three games, Bryant had at least 10 assists in three wins with a three-game total of 39 assists, the most in his career. [26] He was especially fond of Reggio Emilia, which he considered a loving place and where some of his best childhood memories were made. In Game 2, Bryant finished the game with 13 assists, setting a new playoff career-high; it was the most assists by a Laker in the playoffs since Magic Johnson had 13 in 1996. [260] On April 10, 2013, Bryant became the first player in NBA history to get 47 points, eight rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and three steals in an NBA game. Lakers guard Russell Westbrook channels inner Kobe Bryant after finger dislocation in loss vs. Nuggets. Firefighters work the scene of a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California where Kobe Bryant and eight others died. Bryant's parents were opposed to the marriage for a number of reasons. 1 On NY Times Bestseller List. [56] Bryant was the first guard drafted directly out of high school. The group was signed by Sony Entertainment, but the company's ultimate goal was to eliminate the group and have Bryant record on his own. [496][497] He also appeared on MTV's Ridiculousness in 2019. [414][415] On January 11, 2013, Bryant and his wife both announced via social media that they had called off their divorce. "[301] In a letter distributed to Lakers' fans before that evening's game against the Indiana Pacers, Bryant wrote, "What you've done for me is far greater than anything I've done for you. [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. "[68], In Bryant's second season, he received more playing time and began to show more of his abilities as a talented young guard. [141][142], During the 200607 season, Bryant was selected to his ninth All-Star Game appearance, and on February 18, he logged 31 points, 6 assists, and 6 steals, earning his second career All-Star Game MVP trophy. In 2010 Nike launched another shoe, Nike Zoom Kobe V.[461] In 2009, Bryant signed a deal with Nubeo to market the "Black Mamba collection", a line of sports/luxury watches that range from $25,000 to $285,000. [444], In the summer of 2003, the sheriff's office of Eagle, Colorado, arrested Bryant in connection with an investigation of a sexual assault complaint filed by a 19-year-old hotel employee. Kobe Bryant will always be remembered as one of the most skilled scorers in the NBA. He was exceptional in everything that he did. [31] Another source of inspiration was animated European films about sports, from which he learned more about basketball. After the draft, the trade was put in jeopardy when Divac threatened to retire rather than be traded from Los Angeles. A shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). [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". [45] In his senior year of high school, Bryant led the Aces to their first state championship in 53 years. [520], Due to light rain and fog that morning, the Los Angeles Police Department helicopters[518] and most other air traffic were grounded. 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