Three championships were won consecutively in 2000, 2001, and 2002, further cementing this view. 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, on Oct. 21, 2022, in Delaware. Despite a feud with teammate Shaquille O'Neal, the pair led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002. [13], Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia,[14] the youngest of three children and the only son of Pamela Cox Bryant and former NBA player Joe Bryant. [33], Bryant also learned to play soccer, and his favorite soccer team was A.C. But, this is an injury that myself [sic] and the Lakers' medical staff will just have to continue to monitor on a day-to-day basis. It might seem shocking that Kobe Bryant leads all shooting guards for the most rebounds in the regular season by a shooting guard. [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. [139] In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers played well enough to reach a 31 series lead over the Phoenix Suns, culminating with Bryant's overtime-forcing and game-winning shots in Game 4. [362][363] Throughout his first 17 seasons, his body was resilient,[292] and he exhibited a high pain threshold while often playing through injuries. [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. [298][299] On December 1, 2015, Bryant played his last game against his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers, where the Lakers lost 10391. In 2014, Bryant passed Havlicek's previous mark of 13,417 missed shots. [395] He won another gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Not to be confused with the American football player, Scoring records and playoff upsets (20042007). In addition, he averaged 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, all career-highs to that point. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [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. Kobe Bean Bryant (/kobi/ KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. [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. [535] The game was the second-most-watched in ESPN history, averaging 4.41 million viewers. [27][28] Bryant began to play basketball seriously while living in Reggio Emilia. 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. 1 On NY Times Bestseller List. [256][257] In two crucial wins in March, he scored at least 40 points and had at least 10 assists in back-to-back games, becoming the first Laker to accomplish the feat since West in 1970. The 201516 season "is all I have left to give./My heart can take the pounding/My mind can handle the grind/But my body knows it's time to say goodbye./And that's OK./I'm ready to let you go. 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). The following day, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner stated that the official cause of death for him and the eight others on the helicopter was blunt force trauma. [116] During the season, Bryant also engaged in public feuds with Malone and Ray Allen. Bryant made two buzzer-beaters to win the game and the Pacific Division title. [72] He was joined by teammates O'Neal, Van Exel, and Jones, making it the first time since 1983 that four players on the same team were selected to play in the same All-Star Game. Bryant Erupts as Lakers Roll", "In Most Areas, Good or Bad, Kobe Bryant Has Simply Done More", "What was more impressive: Chamberlain's 100 point game or Kobe's 81? While the Lakers swept the Blazers and defeated the Spurs 41 in the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Lakers did not have home-court advantage against the Sacramento Kings. [391] Bryant led the NBA in scoring during the 200506 and 200607 seasons. [359][360][361], Bryant was also lauded for his relentless work ethic, dubbed the "Mamba mentality". The others were Chamberlain (2 in 197273) and Kidd (2 each in 200910 and 201011). Bryant was awarded his first NBA Finals MVP trophy upon winning his fourth championship,[185] achieving series averages of 32.4 points, 7.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks. [16][17] His middle name, Bean, was derived from his father's nickname "Jellybean". 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. [300], On November 29, 2015, Bryant announced via The Players' Tribune that he would be retiring at the end of the season. [324] Bryant was originally selected for the FIBA Americas Championship in 2003 but withdrew after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder and knee surgeries. The 34-year-old Bryant was averaging his most minutes (38.6) in six years, and only Portland rookie Damian Lillard was averaging more minutes. 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. [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. [25], Sony pushed Bryant from his roots of underground hip hop into a more radio-friendly sound. [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. [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. 1,126 Security Guards jobs available in Tempe, AZ on Indeed.com. [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. [113] Without Tomjanovich, stewardship of the remainder of the Lakers' season fell to career assistant coach Frank Hamblen. Memphis Grizzlies All-Star Ja Morant is accused of punching a 17-year-old boy more than a dozen times and flashing a gun at him. [188] Bryant was the league's leading scorer throughout the 2000s decade, accumulating 21,065 points in regular season play between the 1999-00 and 200809 seasons. Games. [414][415] On January 11, 2013, Bryant and his wife both announced via social media that they had called off their divorce. "[371] After the departure of Shaquille O'Neal, he led the Lakers to two NBA championships; during this period, he became more of a mentor to his teammates than he had been earlier in his career. The 23-year-old point guard was allegedly involved in an altercation with the head of security in the parking lot of a Memphis mall last summer, according to a police report obtained by the. Bryant appeared as the cover athlete for the following video games: Bryant was also one of the global ambassadors of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China. Kobe Bryant Officially Introduces His 'Little Princess' Daughter Capri Kobe", "Kobe Bryant's Wife Vanessa Gives Birth, Welcomes Fourth Daughter", "Remembering Kobe Bryant at the Church Where He Prayed Before Helicopter Crash", "Before fatal flight, Kobe and daughter attended California church, took communion, priest says", "Kobe Bryant's private funeral service likely at same Catholic church he went before boarding chopper", "Kobe Bryant tras anunciar su retiro: "Ahora me siento relajado", "Kobe Bryant and, Robert Rodriguez talk about Black Mamba Nike ads, six-minute film", "Rapid Reaction: Lakers 113, Trail Blazers 106", "Kobe Bryant and Lakers soar to new heights (or at least .500)", "Kobe Bryant Buys Home For More Than $4 million", "Kobe Bryant sets price record with Newport Coast home sale", "Kobe Wins Battle to Prevent Mom From Auctioning His Stuff", "Kobe auction suit settled; parents apologize", "Kobe: I'm staying an Eagles fan despite L.A. team | PhillyVoice", "Kobe Bryant credits soccer for his extraordinary basketball court vision", "Laker News: Former Laker In ICU Fighting Covid-19", "Bryant distracted, scared amid sex assault case", "Shaq, Kobe still main keys to Lakers' fortunes", "Fans Shunning Kobe Bryant's Jersey Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment", "Article: Basketball Star Leaps into Global Ventures", "Information and results for 'Adidas, Basketball Star Kobe Bryant Part Ways. Bryant's parents apologized to him for the misunderstanding in a written statement, and appreciated the financial support he had given them over the years. [534] On January 30, the first game after the crash was played at Staples Center between the Clippers and the Kings; the Clippers honored Bryant before the game, with Southern California native Paul George narrating a video tribute to Bryant. [119] 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. His debut album, Visions, was scheduled to release in the spring of 2000. However, after high schooler Kevin Garnett went in the first round of the 1995 NBA draft, Bryant also began contemplating going directly to the pros. [105] However, they were upset in five games by the Detroit Pistons, who won their first championship since 1990. The initial investment was a 10% stake in the Bodyarmor SuperDrink company for $6 million in March 2014. LeBron James surpassed Kobe Bryant to become the NBA's third-highest scorer of all time in the LA Lakers' 108-91 defeat by the Philadelphia 76ers. [242][243] On December 5 against New Orleans, Bryant became the youngest player (34 years and 104 days) in league history to score 30,000 points, joining Hall of Famers Chamberlain, Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Karl Malone as one of five players to reach that milestone. [530] A public memorial service was held on February 24 (2/24, marking both Kobe's and Gianna's jersey numbers) at Staples Center with Jimmy Kimmel hosting. [398] Bryant was also a 12-time All-Defensive Team selection, trailing only Duncan's 15, and nine times he was named to the All-Defensive First Team, tied with Jordan, Garnett, and Gary Payton for the most all time. . [287] For the season, Bryant had been shooting just 37 percent from the field, and the team's record was only 819. It was as if the other players were now his partners, not his personal spear-carriers. [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.