Kobe Bryant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kobe Bryant

Position	Shooting guard
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg)
Team	Los Angeles Lakers
Jersey	#24
Born	August 23, 1978 (1978-08-23) (age 29) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nationality	USA
High school	Lower Merion HS, Lower Merion, Pennsylvania
Draft	13th overall, 1996 Charlotte Hornets
Pro career	1996–present
Awards	2007-08 NBA MVP 10-time NBA All-Star 10-time All-NBA Selection 8-time All-Defensive Selection 3-time NBA Champion 2-time NBA All-Star MVP 2-time NBA Scoring Champion 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Champion 1996 Naismith Prep Player of the Year 1996-97 All Rookie Second Team

Kobe Bean Bryant^[1] (born August 23, 1978(1978-08-23)) is an American All-Star shooting guard who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Bryant is the only son of former Philadelphia 76ers player and former Los Angeles Sparks head coach Joe "Jellybean" Bryant. His parents named him after the famous beef of Kobe, Japan, which they saw on a restaurant menu.^[2]

Bryant rose to national prominence in 1996 when he became the first guard in league history to be drafted out of high school. Bryant and then-teammate Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002. Since O'Neal's departure following the 2003-04 season, Bryant has become the cornerstone of the Lakers franchise, and was the NBA's leading scorer during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. In 2006, Bryant scored a career high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second highest number of points scored in NBA history.^[3] He was awarded the season's MVP in the 2007-08 NBA season after leading his team to the 2008 NBA Playoffs as the first seed in the Western Conference.^[4]

In 2003, Bryant made headlines when he was accused of sexual assault at a ski resort in Eagle, Colorado by a hotel employee. Bryant admitted an adulterous sexual encounter with the accuser, but denied the sexual assault allegation. In September 2004, prosecutors dropped the case after his accuser informed them that she was unwilling to testify.^[5] Bryant's accuser brought a separate civil suit against him that was ultimately settled out of court.

Biography

This article or section is missing citations or needs footnotes. Using inline citations helps guard against copyright violations and factual inaccuracies. (June 2007)

Early life

Kobe Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the youngest child and only son of Joe and Pam Bryant.^[2]

When Bryant was six, his father left the NBA, moved his family to Italy, and started playing professional basketball there. Bryant became accustomed to the lifestyle there and learned to speak fluent Italian. At an early age, he learned to play soccer and at first his favorite team was AC Milan. He has said that if he had stayed in Italy, he would have tried to become a professional soccer player, and that his favorite team is FC Barcelona. Bryant is a big fan of former FC Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard and their star player Ronaldinho.^[6]

In 1991, the Bryants moved back to the United States. Kobe earned national recognition during a spectacular high school career at Lower Merion High School in the Philadelphia suburb of Lower Merion. His SAT score of 1080^[7] would have ensured his basketball scholarship to various top-tier colleges. Ultimately, however, the 17-year-old Bryant made the decision to go directly into the NBA. Bryant has stated that had he decided to go to college after high school, he would have attended Duke University.^[8]

1996 NBA Draft

Before he was chosen as the 13th overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, the 17-year-old Bryant refused to play for anyone but the Los Angeles Lakers. According to Kobe's agent Arn Tellum at the time, Kobe playing for the Charlotte Hornets was "an impossibility".^[9] Nevertheless, the Charlotte Hornets selected him, seeing that there was a chance to trade with the Lakers.^[9] On July 1, 1996, then L.A. general manager Jerry West traded his starting center, Vlade Divac, to the Hornets in exchange for Bryant's draft rights.^[10]

First three seasons (1997-1999)

During his first season, Bryant mostly came off the bench behind guards Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel. Initially, he played limited minutes, but as the season continued, he began to see some more playing time. He earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan-favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest.

In Bryant's second season (1997-98), he received more playing time and began to show more of his abilities as a talented young guard. He was the runner-up for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award, and through fan voting, he also became the youngest NBA All-Star starter.^[11] While his statistics were impressive for his age, he was still a young guard who lacked the experience to complement Shaquille O'Neal and significantly help the team contend for a championship. The 1998-99 season marked Bryant's emergence as starting guards Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones were traded at O'Neal's request. The results, however, were no better, as the Lakers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semi-finals.

Championship years (2000-2002)

Bryant's fortunes would soon change when Phil Jackson became coach for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999. After years of steady improvement, Bryant had become one of the premier shooting guards in the league, a fact that was evidenced by his annual presence in the league's All-NBA, All-Star, and All-Defensive teams. The Los Angeles Lakers became premier championship contenders under Bryant and O'Neal, who formed an outstanding center-guard combination. Jackson utilized the triangle offense he used to win six championships with the Chicago Bulls, which helped both Bryant and Shaq rise to the elite class of the NBA. Their NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 proved such a fact.

Post-Championship years (2002-04)

In the 2002-03 NBA season, Bryant averaged 30 points per game and embarked on a historic run, posting 40 or more points in nine consecutive games while averaging 40.6 in the entire month of February. In addition, he averaged 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, all career highs up to that point. For the first time in his career Bryant was voted on to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive 1st teams. After finishing 50-32 in the regular season, the Lakers floundered in the playoffs and lost in the Western Conference semi-finals to the eventual NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in six games.

In the following 2003-04 NBA season, the Lakers were able to acquire NBA All Stars Karl Malone, and Gary Payton to make another push at the NBA Championship. Before the season began, Bryant was arrested for sexual assault. However, with a starting lineup of four future Hall of Fame players in Shaquille O'Neal, Malone, Payton, and Bryant, the Lakers were able to reach the NBA Finals. In the Finals, they were eliminated by the Detroit Pistons in 5 games. In that series, Bryant averaged 22.6 points per game and 4.4 assists. He shot a mere 35.1% from the field. The surprising loss to the Pistons tore apart the Lakers. Phil Jackson resigned as coach, with Rudy Tomjanovich taking over. Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant.

Departure of Shaquille O'Neal (2004-2007)

With his reputation badly damaged from all that had happened over the previous year, Bryant was closely scrutinized and criticized during the 2004-05 season. This first season without O'Neal would prove to be a rocky one.

A particularly damaging salvo came from Phil Jackson in The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul. The book detailed the events of the Lakers' tumultuous 2003-04 season and has a number of criticisms of Bryant. In the book Jackson called Bryant "uncoachable".

Then, midway through the season, Rudy Tomjanovich suddenly resigned as Lakers coach, citing the recurrence of health problems and exhaustion. Without Tomjanovich, stewardship of the remainder of the Lakers' season fell to career assistant coach Frank Hamblen. Despite the fact that Bryant was the league's second leading scorer at 27.6 points per game, the Lakers floundered and missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. This year signified a drop in Bryant's overall status in the NBA, as he did not make the NBA All-Defensive Team and was also demoted to the All-NBA Third Team.

Kobe Bryant defending Michael Redd in December 2005.

The 2005-06 NBA season would mark a crossroads in Bryant's basketball career. Despite past differences with Bryant, Phil Jackson returned to coach the Lakers. Bryant endorsed the move, and by all appearances, the two men worked together well the second time around, leading the Lakers back into the playoffs. The team posted a 45-37 record, an eleven-game improvement over the previous season, and the entire squad seemed to be clicking.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers played well enough (3-1 series lead) to come within six seconds of eliminating the second-seeded Phoenix Suns. Despite Bryant's remarkable game winning shot in Game 4, the Lakers broke down, and ultimately fell to the Suns in seven games. In the following off-season, Bryant had knee surgery, preventing him from participating in the 2006 FIBA World Championship tournament.

Bryant's individual scoring accomplishments posted resulted in the finest statistical season of his career. On December 20, Bryant scored 62 points in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks. Entering the fourth quarter, Bryant had, by himself, outscored the entire Mavericks team 62-61, the only time a player has done this through three quarters since the advent of the 24-second shot clock. 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 the end of the feud that had festered between the two players since O'Neal's departure from Los Angeles. A month later, at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, the two laughed and joked together on several occasions. On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored 81 points in a 122-104 victory against the Toronto Raptors.^[12][3] In addition to breaking the previous franchise record of 71 set by Elgin Baylor, his point total in that game was the second highest in NBA history, surpassed only by Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962.

In January, Bryant also became the first player since 1964 to score 45 points or more in four consecutive games, joining Chamberlain and Baylor as the only players ever to do so.^[13] For the month of January, Bryant averaged 43.4 points per game, the eighth highest single month scoring average in NBA history and highest for any player other than Chamberlain. By the end of the season, Bryant set Lakers single-season franchise records for most 40-point games (27) and most points scored (2,832). He won the league's scoring title for the first time, posting a scoring average of (35.4). Bryant finished in fourth place in the voting for the 2006 NBA Most Valuable Player Award, but received 22 first place votes — second only to winner Steve Nash.

Bryant scored 50 points or more in four consecutive games in 2007.

Later in the season, it was reported that Bryant would change his jersey number from 8 to 24 at the start of the 2006-07 NBA season. Bryant's first high school number was 24 before he switched to 33.^[14] After the Lakers' season ended, Bryant said on TNT that he wanted 24 as a rookie, but it was unavailable, as was 33, retired with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Bryant wore 143 at the Adidas ABCD camp, and chose 8 by adding those numbers.

During the 2006-07 season, Bryant was selected to his 9th All-Star Game appearance, and on February 18, he logged 31 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 steals, earning his second career All-Star Game MVP trophy.

Over the course of the season, Bryant became involved in a number of on court incidents. OnJanuary 28 while attempting to draw contact on a potential game winning jumpshot, he flailed his arm striking San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili in the face with his elbow. Following a league review, Bryant was suspended for the subsequent game at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks. The basis given for the suspension was that Bryant had performed an "unnatural motion" in swinging his arm backwards. Later, on March 6, he seemed to repeat the motion, this time striking Minnesota Timberwolves guard Marko Jarić. On March 7, the NBA handed Bryant his second one-game suspension. In his first game back on March 9, he elbowed Kyle Korver in the face which was retrospectively re-classified as a Type 1 flagrant foul.

On March 16, Bryant scored a season-high 65 points in a home game against the Portland Trail Blazers, which helped end the Lakers 7-game losing streak. This was the second best scoring performance of his 11-year career. The following game, Bryant recorded 50 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves, after which he scored 60 points in a road win against the Memphis Grizzlies - becoming the second Laker to score three straight 50-plus point games, a feat not seen since Michael Jordan last did it in 1987. The only other Laker to do so was Elgin Baylor, who also scored 50+ in three consecutive contests in December 1962. On March 23, in a game against the New Orleans Hornets, Bryant scored 50 points, making him the second player in NBA history to have 4 straight 50 point games behind Wilt Chamberlain, who is the all-time leader with seven consecutive 50 point games twice. Bryant finished the year with a total of ten 50-plus point games,^[15] becoming the only player beside Wilt Chamberlain in 1961-62 and 1962-63 to do so in one season. He also won his second straight scoring title that season.

During the 2006-07 season, Bryant's jersey became the top selling NBA jersey in the United States and China.^[16] A number of journalists have attributed the improved sales to Bryant's new jersey number, as well as his continuing All-Star performance on the court.^[17][18] In the 2007 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers were once again eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns.

MVP year (2007-present)

Taipei Store Launch.

On May 27, 2007, ESPN reported that Bryant stated that he wanted to be traded if Jerry West did not return to the team with full authority.^[19] Bryant later confirmed his desire for West's return to the franchise, but denied stating that he would want to be traded if that does not occur.^[20] However, three days later, on Stephen A. Smith's radio program, Bryant expressed anger over a Lakers "insider" who claimed that Kobe was responsible for Shaquille O'Neal's departure from the team, and publicly stated, "I want to be traded." Three hours after making that statement, Kobe stated in another interview that after having a conversation with head coach Phil Jackson, he has reconsidered his decision and backed off his trade request.^[21] On December 23, 2007 Kobe became the youngest player (29 years, 122 days) to reach 20,000 points, in a game against the New York Knicks, in Madison Square Garden.^[22]

Despite an injury, described as "a complete tear of the radial collateral ligament, an avulsion fracture, and a volar plate injury at the MCP joint" of his shooting hand's small finger, that occurred in a game against the New Jersey Nets on February 5, 2008, Bryant played all 82 games of the regular season instead of opting for surgery. Regarding his injury, he stated, "I would prefer to delay any surgical procedure until after our Lakers season, and this summer’s Olympic Games. But, this is an injury that myself and the Lakers’ medical staff will just have to continue to monitor on a day-to-day basis."^[23]

Leading his team to a West best 57-25 record, they swept the Nuggets in the first round and on May 6, 2008, Bryant was officially announced as the NBA Most Valuable Player award, his first for his career.^[24] He said, "It's been a long ride. I'm very proud to represent this organization, to represent this city."^[25] Jerry West, who was responsible for bringing Kobe to the Lakers was on hand at the press conference to observe Bryant receive his MVP trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern. He stated, "Kobe deserved it. He's had just another great season. Doesn't surprise me one bit."^[26] 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.^[27] He would then headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team with Kevin Garnett, receiving 52 points overall including 24 first-place nods, earning his eighth selection.^[28]

On May 16, 2008, Bryant and the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz in 6 games, and moved on to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2004. ^[29]

On May 29, 2008, Bryant tallied 39 points (17 in the fourth quarter) as the Lakers defeated the Spurs 100-92 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals to advance to the NBA Finals for the fifth time in his career and the first time without Shaquille O'Neal. ^[30]

Player profile

Bryant is a shooting guard who is capable of playing the small forward position. He is considered one of the most complete players in NBA history,^[31] has been elected to every All-NBA Team since 1999, and has been featured in the last ten NBA All-Star games. He is a prolific scorer, averaging 25.0 points per game for his career, along with 4.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. He is known for his ability to create shots for himself, and is an adept outside shooter, sharing the single-game NBA record for three pointers made with twelve. He has exceptional ballhandling skills and utilizes his speed and athletic ability to elude defenders to finish at the basket. Aside from this, he is also a standout defender, having made the All-Defensive 1st or 2nd Team 8 of the last 9 seasons.

Conflicts and turmoil

Main article: Kobe Bryant sexual assault case

In the summer of 2003, the sheriff's office of Eagle, Colorado arrested Kobe Bryant in connection with an investigation of a sexual assault complaint filed by 19-year old hotel employee Katelyn Faber. Bryant had checked into The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera hotel in Eagle, Colorado in advance of undergoing knee surgery nearby. Faber accused Bryant of raping her in his hotel room the night before Bryant was to have the procedure. Bryant admitted an adulterous sexual encounter with his accuser, but denied her sexual assault allegation.^[32][33]

The accusation tarnished Bryant's reputation, as the public's perception of Bryant plummeted, and his endorsement contracts with McDonald's, Nutella, and Ferrero SpA were terminated. Sales figures from NBA merchandisers indicate that sales of Bryant's replica jersey fell far off from their previous highs.

In 2004, the 57-page transcript of Bryant's police interview was leaked to the media. During the investigation, Bryant told Eagle County police that ejaculating on his partner's face was his "thing."^[34] At the time, he asked the accuser if he "could cum in her face, she said no.” He claimed that he stopped having intercourse with his accuser after she refused his request. When the investigator asked him if he always liked to cum on his partner’s face, Bryant sounded embarrassed, stating “That’s my thing, not always, I mean, so I stopped. Jesus Christ man (inaudible)." He also mentioned that he had a mistress named Michelle.^{[35][36][37][38]} During the investigation, Kobe also told police that "he should have done what Shaq does ... that Shaq would pay his women not to say anything" and that Shaq already had paid up to $1 million "for situations like this." This created controversy because Kobe and Shaq were teammates at the time and many thought that Kobe broke "locker-room code" by revealing confidential information.^[39]

However, in September 2004 the assault case was dropped by prosecutors after Faber refused to testify in the trial. Afterwords, Kobe agreed to "apologize" to the victim for the incident, including his public mea culpa, which was read by his attorney in court when the charges were dropped, and was part of an agreement with the accuser: "Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did."^[40] Faber filed a separate civil lawsuit against Bryant, which the two sides ultimately settled with the specific terms of the settlement being undisclosed to the public. Bryant's endorsement deals resumed again with certain companies like Nike, Spalding, and Coca-Cola.^[41]

Personal life

In November 1999, 21 year old Bryant met 17 year old Vanessa Laine while she was working as a background dancer on the Tha Eastsidaz music video G'd Up.^[42] Bryant was in the building working on his debut musical album, which was never released.

The two began dating and became engaged just six months later in May 2000,^[42] while Laine was still a senior at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California. To avoid media scrutiny, she finished high school through independent study.^[42] According to Vanessa's cousin Laila Laine, there was no prenuptial agreement. Vanessa said Kobe "loved her too much for one".^[43]

They married on April 18, 2001 in Dana Point, California. Neither Bryant's parents, his two sisters, longtime advisor and agent Arn Tellem, nor Bryant's Laker teammates attended. Bryant's parents were opposed to the marriage for a number of reasons. Reportedly Bryant's parents had problems with him marrying so young, especially to a woman who was not African-American.^[42] This disagreement resulted in an estrangement period of over two years, during which Kobe Bryant did not have any contact with his parents.

The Bryants' first child, a daughter named Natalia Diamante Bryant, was born on January 19, 2003. The birth of Natalia influenced Bryant to reconcile his differences with his parents. Vanessa Bryant suffered a miscarriage due to an ectopic pregnancy in the spring of 2005. Their second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, was born on May 1, 2006. Gianna was born 6 minutes ahead of former teammate Shaquille O'Neal's daughter Me'arah Sanaa, who was born in Florida. ^[44]

NBA career statistics

Awards and achievements

• 3-time NBA champion: 2000, 2001, 2002
• NBA Most Valuable Player: 2008
• 2-time scoring champion: 2006, 2007
• 10-time NBA All-Star: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

• Has started in each of his appearances
• 10 consecutive appearances (No All-Star game in 1999 due to league-wide lock-out)

• 2-time NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2002, 2007
• 10-time All-NBA Selection:

• First Team: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Second Team: 2000, 2001
• Third Team: 1999, 2005

• 8-time All-Defensive Selection:

• First Team: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Second Team: 2001, 2002

• NBA All-Rookie Second Team: 1997
• NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion: 1997
• NBA regular season leader in:

• points: 2003 (2,461), 2006 (2,832, 7th in NBA history), 2007 (2,430), 2008 (2,323)
• points per game: 2006 (35.4, 9th in NBA history), 2007 (31.6)
• field goals attempted: 2006 (2,173), 2007 (1,757), 2008 (1,690)
• field goals made: 2003 (868), 2006 (978), 2007 (813)
• free throws attempted: 2006 (819), 2007 (768)
• free throws made: 2006 (696), 2007 (667)

• 2nd most points in a Game: 81 (January 22, 2006 vs. the Toronto Raptors)

NBA records

Kobe Bryant holds four and shares five NBA records:

• Most three-point field goals made, one game: 12 (January 7 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics; shared with Donyell Marshall)^[45]
• Most three-point field goals made, one half: 8 (March 28 2003 vs. Washington Wizards; shared with 6 players).^[45]
• Most consecutive three-point field goals made, one game: 9 (January 7 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics; shared with Latrell Sprewell and Ben Gordon).^[46]
• Most free throws made, one quarter: 14 (3rd quarter, December 20 2005 vs. Dallas Mavericks; shared with 6 players).^[47][48]
• Most free throws attempted, one quarter: 16 (3rd quarter, December 20 2005 vs. Dallas Mavericks; shared with 6 players).^[47][48]
• Youngest player to score 15,000 points: (27 Years, 136 days)
• Youngest player to score 20,000 points: (29 years, 122 days old), surpassing Wilt Chamberlain, the previous holder of the record. Bryant also became one of the only three players to reach the milestone under the age of 30. The other two are Chamberlain (29 years, 134 days old) and Michael Jordan (29 years, 326 days old).^[49]
• Youngest Slam Dunk champion: (18 years, 175 days), after winning the contest at the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend.
• Youngest player to be named to the NBA All-Defensive Team: (1999-00 NBA season)^[50]
• Youngest player to start a game: (18 Years, 158 days)

Lakers franchise records

Kobe Bryant holds or shares 30 Los Angeles Lakers franchise records:

• Points

• Season: 2,832 (2005-06)
• Game: 81 (January 22 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors)^[51][3]
• Half: 55 (2nd half, January 22 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors).^[51]
• Quarter: 30 (twice, most recently on November 30, 2006 in 3rd quarter vs. Utah Jazz)^[51]
• Games scoring 50 points or more, career: 23^[50]
• Games scoring 50 points or more, season: 10 (2006-07)^[50]
• Games scoring 40 points or more, career: 92^[52]
• Games scoring 40 points or more, season: 27 (2005-06)^[53]
• Consecutive games of 50 points or more: 4 (March 16–23 2007)^[54]
• Consecutive games of 40 points or more: 9 (February 6–February 23 2003)^[55]

• Field goals made

• Half: 18 (2nd half, January 22 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors).^[56]
• Quarter: 11 (February 2 1999 vs. Seattle SuperSonics).^[57]

• Free throws made

• Game: 23 (twice, most recently on January 31 2006 vs. New York Knicks).^[58]
• Game, playoffs: 21 (May 4]2008 vs. Utah Jazz).^[59]
• Half: 16 (January 30 2001 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers)^[60]
• Quarter: 14 (3rd quarter, December 20 2005 vs. Dallas Mavericks)^[61]
• Quarter, playoffs: 11 (tied with 3 players; May 8 1997 vs. Utah Jazz).^[62]
• Consecutive: 62 (January 11–22, 2006).^[51]

• Three-point field goals made and attempted

• Career: 1,086 (1996–present)^[2]
• Career, playoffs: 168 (1996–present)^[63]
• Game: 12 (January 7 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics).^[46]
• Half: 8 (1st half, March 28 2003 vs. Washington Wizards).^[64]
• Consecutive: 9 (January 7 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics).^[46]
• Season attempts: 518 (2005-06)^[2]
• Game attempts: 18 (January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics).^[46]

• Steals

• Half: 6 (tied with 3 players; February 13 2006 vs. Utah Jazz).^[65]
• Quarter, playoffs: 3 (tied with 6 players; May 17 1999 vs. San Antonio Spurs).^[66]

Other awards and achievements

• Gold Medal with Team USA, Tournament of Americas Olympic Qualifiers
• 1996 Naismith High School Player of the Year^[31]
• 1996 Gatorade Circle of Champions High School Player of the Year^[31]
• 1996 McDonald's High School All-American^[31]
• 1996 USA Today All-USA First Team^[31]
• 1995 Adidas ABCD Camp Senior MVP^[31]
• Named to the USA Today All-Time All-USA First Team in 2003.^[31]
• USA Today and PARADE's 1996 National High School Player of the Year with a seasonal average of 30.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.9 blocks per game.^[2]
• Led Lower Merion High School to a 31-3 record, including 27 straight wins, and the PIAA Class AAAA state title as a senior. The Aces defeated Erie Cathedral Prep 48-43 to take home the gold (1996).^[2]
• The all-time leading scorer in Southeastern Pennsylvania school history with 2,883 points.^[2]
• Had his Lower Merion High School number 33 retired on January 26, 2002.^[67]

See also

• List of individual National Basketball Association scoring leaders by season
• List of National Basketball Association players with 60 or more points in a game
• List of active NBA players who have spent their entire career with one team

Notes

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Kobe Bryant

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Kobe Bryant

• Official Site
• Player Profile at NBA.com
• Player Profile at ESPN.com
• Kobe Bryant at the Internet Movie Database
• NBA.com - The Ultimate Kobe Page