A heated feud between the duo and a loss in the 2004 NBA Finals was adopted by O'Neal's commerce from the Lakers after the 2003–04 season. Following O'Neal's departure Bryant grew to become the cornerstone of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise. He led the NBA in scoring in the course of the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, setting numerous scoring records in the process. In 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second most points scored in a single sport in NBA historical past, second solely to Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point recreation in 1962. He was awarded the regular season's Most Valuable Player Award in 2008. After losing within the 2008 NBA Finals, Bryant led the Lakers to 2 consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, earning the NBA Finals MVP Award on both events.

During his taking part in days with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant wasn’t just successful on the court docket however off the court as well. Before his media ventures took off, Bryant had one of the well-liked sneakers available on the market with both followers and players clamoring to get the most recent pair. He averaged 25.0 factors, 5.2 rebounds and four.7 assists in 1,346 regular-season games.

The first guard to ever be taken out of highschool, Bryant was chosen as the thirteenth total draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996. According to Arn Tellem, Bryant's agent at the time, Bryant enjoying for the Charlotte Hornets was "an impossibility". However, Bill Branch, the Hornets' head scout at the time, said that the Hornets agreed to trade their draft choice to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier than picking Bryant. The teams agreed to the trade the day earlier than the draft and the Lakers advised the Hornets whom to pick five minutes before the decide was made. Branch mentioned that previous to the trade agreement, the Hornets never even thought-about drafting Bryant.

Bryant's United States nationwide group profession finally began in 2007. He was a member of the 2007 USA Men's Senior National Team and USA FIBA Americas Championship Team that finished 10–0, won gold and certified the United States males for the 2008 Olympics. He began in all 10 of the USA's FIBA Americas Championship video games.

A variety of journalists have attributed the improved gross sales to Bryant's new quantity, as nicely as his persevering with All-Star efficiency on the court docket. In the 2007 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers were once again eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns, 4–1. 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 properly the second time around, leading the Lakers back into the playoffs. Bryant's individual scoring accomplishments posted resulted in the finest statistical season of his career.

Former pro basketball player Kobe Bryant won 5 NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers whereas establishing himself as one of the game's all-time greats. He died tragically in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. In real reverence to one of many biggest basketball players ever, Kobe Bryant is honored on the quilt of NBA 2K24, a legendary tribute. This alternative observes Kobe’s influence on the game of basketball that stretches throughout generations.

His mother and father named him after the well-known beef of Kobe, Japan, which they saw on a restaurant menu. His center name, Bean, was derived from his father's nickname "Jellybean". Bryant's family was Catholic and he was introduced up with this faith. In 2003, Bryant was charged with sexual assault, with the alleged sufferer being a 19-year-old hotel worker. Criminal charges had been later dropped after the accuser failed to testify, and a lawsuit was settled out of courtroom, with Bryant issuing a public apology and admitting to a sexual encounter he maintained was consensual. The accusation briefly tarnished Bryant's popularity, ensuing in the lack of a number of of his endorsement contracts.

Finally, Kobe’s lasting legacy as the last word competitor on the court will final eternally. As a fitting tribute to his lasting legacy, NBA 2K24 selected Bryant as the quilt athlete. He had a significant impression on the sport and the NBA group, leaving an imprint that will live on for generations to come back. The determination for Kobe to be on the duvet speaks to his character and the recognition he has earned all through his basketball profession.