Kobe Bryant Biography, Stats, & Facts

Olympic teams, profitable consecutive gold medals with teammates Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, among several other top players. From Michael Jordan to LeBron James to Steph Curry, these are the 30 greatest basketball players of all time. When discussing the best Los Angeles Lakers of all time, it doesn't take long for the late Kobe Bryant's name to come up. Bryant spent 20 historic seasons with the Lakers, winning five championships and the 2008 MVP Award, but it wasn't always a smooth experience.

"Not unhealthy for the seventh-best player in the league", stated Bryant, referring to a preseason ESPN ranking of the NBA's prime players. It was the sixth time in his career he scored 40 or more points in four straight games, a feat exceeded only by Chamberlain . At the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, Bryant scored 27 points to move Jordan as the career scoring leader in the All-Star Game. He sat out the season finale against Sacramento, foregoing the chase for a possible third NBA scoring title, having needed 38 points to surpass Kevin Durant.

The playoff results, however, had been no higher, because the Lakers have been swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals. Fitting in is a challenge that I’ve by no means been capable of grasp. I was a tall, skinny 13-year-old child who spoke Italian better than English. I knew little or no of American culture and people knew me only as “the son of a former NBA player.” During this time, the sport of basketball grew to become greater than only a refuge, it became my outlet. Basketball grew to become the place the place I might channel my frustrations about being totally different — the place I might scream from the top of the mountain and allow myself to be heard. I realized every little thing concerning the recreation, the history, the gamers, the basics.

But being a “great friend” is something I will never be. A great friend will call you every day and remember your birthday. I’ll get so wrapped up in my shit, I’ll never keep in mind that stuff. And the people who are my pals understand this, and they’re usually the identical means.

I grew up with Jordan, Jordan is my favorite player of all time. But when I got in the game, Kobe Bryant was that bar for all of us and make no mistake about it we have been making an attempt to make him proud. We never in all probability spoke it, stated it to the media, or stated it to him, but deep down inside, that’s what we were trying to do. And I think he knew, as a result of the way in which that we competed versus one another.

The common denominator in each championship team is the mentality that Kobe has … You should be so obsessed with successful that you simply pull no punches with your teammates, even when you’re in first place. On January 30, the primary game after the crash was performed at Staples Center between the Clippers and the Kings; the Clippers honored Bryant before the sport, with Southern California native Paul George narrating a video tribute to Bryant. The next day, the Lakers performed their first sport after the crash in opposition to the Trail Blazers.

Receive a MyPLAYER gamerplate and 2 further MyTEAM Promo Packs if you order by way of the PlayStation Store. Kobe's mother's brother, John Cox, additionally played in the NBA. At the time of the writing of this text he was third on the all-time NBA scoring record. He was chosen to the All-NBA Team fifteen instances and the All-Defensive Team twelve instances. His high school team won the state championship his senior year. To continue Kobe's mission in creating a positive impact for underserved athletes and boys & women in sports, please think about donating to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.

Kobe Bryant had a profitable business career off the court. He had a profitable basketball profession even earlier than becoming a member of the NBA. He tragically died in a helicopter accident in January 2020 alongside his daughter Gianna.