Kobe Unveils Investment Fund With Business Partner Jeff", "Sports Academy retires 'Mamba' name out of respect to Kobe Bryant", "Legendary photographer Andrew Bernstein talks collaboration with Kobe Bryant on Mamba Mentality", "Author deletes children's book co-written with Kobe Bryant", "Kobe Bryant brought sports to page, podcast and film through Costa Mesa production company Granity Studios", "Kobe Bryant Book For Children And Young Adults Hits No. The Lakers, however, only won 56 games, an 11-game dropoff from the previous year. [191], On April 2, 2010, Bryant signed a three-year contract extension worth $87 million. [526] The 2020 Pro Bowl was also played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on the day of the crash, and before kickoff, NFC players who learned of Bryant's death conducted a prayer led by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, while various on-field and PA tributes were made during the game. [140] In his first game back on March 9, he elbowed Kyle Korver in the face which was retroactively re-classified as a Type 1 flagrant foul. [199] Bryant said that this was the most satisfying of all of his five championships. Ian is an avid reader, researcher and producer of knowledge. To avoid media scrutiny, she finished high school through independent study. The label wanted to capitalize on Bryant's youth and NBA fame. [261][262][263] Bryant resumed playing on December 8 after missing the season's first 19 games. In the last game of the regular season, against Sacramento, he chose not to go for a possible third NBA scoring title, having needed 38 points to surpass Kevin Durant. [395], The Bryants' first daughter was born in January 2003. High School: Lower Merion in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. During the All-Star weekend, Bryant participated in the Rookie Challenge and won the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, becoming the youngest dunk champion at the age of 18. Bryant even appeared on Lakers teammate O'Neal's Respect, starting the track "3 X's Dope", though Bryant's name was not listed on the credits. Many players try to model his work ethic and drive, and they want to succeed as he did. [123][124] In that same month, 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 to do so. ROUNDUP – LOS ANGELES; Lakers' Bryant Signs for $71 million", "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. [204] On January 30 against the Celtics, he became the youngest player to score 27,000 points. [260] Bryant's contract became a polarizing topic, with detractors arguing that stars should take less money to allow their team more financial freedom, while supporters countered that the NBA's biggest stars were being paid less than their true value. [252][253], With the Lakers fighting to secure the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference, coupled with injuries on the team, Bryant began playing almost all 48 minutes each game. [99], With a starting lineup of O'Neal, Malone, Payton, and Bryant, the Lakers were able to reach the NBA Finals. Afterward, Bryant co-founded an independent record label, Heads High Entertainment, but it folded within a year. On November 25, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Lakers at an estimated value of $48.5 million. ), Lakers need comeback to top woeful Bobcats", "Dwight Howard powers surging Lakers past Blazers", "Kobe Bryant recognizes he's better defending on the ball", "Mike D'Antoni minces words when describing Kobe Bryant's defense", "Lakers found formula, can they repeat it? [247][248][249] 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. [55] He scored 36 points in the finale and finished with averages of 24.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in four games. [488], On October 23, 2018, Bryant's book The Mamba Mentality: How I Play, with photographs and afterword by Andrew D. Bernstein, an introduction by Phil Jackson, and a foreword by Pau Gasol, was published by MCD / Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Tags kobe bean bryant kobe bryant kobe bryant basketball kobe bryant career kobe bryant photos michael jordan price shaq shaquille o'neal vanessa bryant. [461] The proceeds for downloads of both the single and ringtones were donated to impoverished schools for basketball facilities and equipment. [440], Together with his wife, Bryant founded the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation (KVBFF). [439] Bryant was also the cover athlete for NBA '07: Featuring the Life Vol. [51] Bryant was the first guard drafted directly out of high school. 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. [68] This kept him with the Lakers until the end of the 2003–04 season. A dominant scorer, Bryant won five NBA championships and the 2008 MVP Award with the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant stated that he was open to discussing the matter with gay rights groups and wanted to appeal his fine. On March 28, Bryant scored a season-high 53 points to go with 10 rebounds in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. [g] Phil Jackson, who coached Bryant for many years, stated that Bryant "tends to force the action, especially when the game isn't going his way. In the semifinals round, the Lakers swept the Sacramento Kings. [271] At age 36, he became the oldest NBA player to achieve 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game. Zoo due to heavy air traffic in the area. [518][519][520] Bryant also appeared at the start of the In Memoriam segment of the 92nd Academy Awards, having won an Oscar in 2018, and Spike Lee wore a suit in tribute to him at the ceremony. [333][344] Throughout his career, Bryant was disparaged for being a selfish, high-volume shooter;[342][345][346] he missed more field goal attempts in his career than any other player in NBA history. Player Responds to Kobe Bryant", "Bryant to appeal $100K fine for slur, but takes responsibility", "Kobe Bryant, Lakers teammates appear in PSA touting diversity", "Dallas Mavericks sweep Lakers from NBA playoffs", "Yankees say A-Rod had shoulder treatment, too", "Lakers' Kobe Bryant won't give in to age", "Chris Paul-led Clips win L.A. clash despite Kobe Bryant's 42", "NBA Recap – Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs – Apr 20, 2012", "Kobe Bryant chooses not to go for NBA scoring title", "Bryant Raises Bar, but Thunder Clear It Easily", "Chris Paul, Clippers deal Lakers third straight loss to open season", "The Lakers Change Direction and Hire D'Antoni as Coach", "Mike D'Antoni to be next coach of the Lakers", "Kobe Bryant (30 pts. Sony abandoned plans for the album, which was never released, and dropped Bryant later that year. [275][277] He was suffering from soreness in his knees, feet, back, and Achilles tendons and Scott planned to reduce his workload going forward. [501] At that time, the helicopter experienced extreme fog and turned south towards the mountains. The Sony president who originally signed Bryant had already left, and Bryant's other backers had mostly abandoned him. In Game 2 win against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals, Anthony Davis made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and yelled Bryant's name, while the team was wearing the 'Black Mamba' jerseys. He first missed a game-winning two-point jump shot in the fourth quarter, and then misfired 3 three-point field goals in overtime, including two tying shots in the final minute. [184] Five days after his finger injury, he made another game-winning shot, after missing on an opportunity in regulation, this time against the Milwaukee Bucks in an overtime game. [78] He also threw an alley-oop pass to O'Neal to clinch the game and the series. 3 all-time scorer in Lakers' win", "Kobe Bryant misses Lakers vs. Warriors for rest", "Suns win 6th straight by spoiling Kobe Bryant's return to Lakers lineup", "Bryant's ailments likely reflect new reality for Lakers", "Lakers' Byron Scott to handle Kobe Bryant's playing time on game-by-game basis", "How will Kobe Bryant fare in his 20th NBA season? On December 17, Bryant matched his season high of 21 points in a 96–92 win over Memphis, but he suffered a lateral tibial plateau fracture in his left knee that was expected to sideline him for six weeks. 33,570 points, third all time in NBA history. [143] The only other Laker to do so was Baylor, who also scored 50+ in three consecutive contests in December 1962. [284] Prior to the injury, Bryant had been rested in 8 of 16 games. Kobe wasn’t just another player I … [484] With The Coca-Cola Company purchasing a minority stake in the company in August 2018, the valuation of Bryant's stake rose to approximately $200 million. The series would stretch to seven games, the first time this had happened to the Lakers since the 2000 Western Conference Finals. [445] In 2010, Bryant was ranked third behind Tiger Woods and Jordan in Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes with $48 million. Despite past differences with Bryant, Jackson returned to coach the Lakers. [239] His streak would be snapped at 10 on December 28 in a 104–87 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, when he scored 27 points, sitting out the whole fourth quarter. Apr 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) is introduced before a game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. [176] 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. [443] On February 9, 2009, Bryant was featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine.