[511] 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. However, Bryant's lawyers asked the auction house to return the items. [477], Beginning in 2018, Bryant wrote, produced and hosted the television series Detail, which aired for multiple seasons on ESPN and ESPN+. 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. For other uses, see, Scoring records and playoff upsets (2004–2007), Chasing a sixth championship (2010–2013). And I feel good about that", he said. [68] This kept him with the Lakers until the end of the 2003–04 season. [317] Bryant was originally selected for the FIBA Americas Championship in 2003 but withdrew after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder and knee surgeries. [387] In May 2020, the Mamba Sports Academy was renamed to Sports Academy out of respect for Bryant. On December 20, 2005, Bryant scored 62 points in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks. [117], On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a 122–104 victory against the Toronto Raptors. [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. ", "Federal investigators look for answers in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash", "Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna among nine dead in helicopter crash in Calabasas", "NBA superstar Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna killed in LA-area helicopter crash", "Kobe Bryant was one of five people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California", "This map shows the exact path of Kobe Bryant's helicopter before it crashed, killing all 9 people on board", "Kobe Bryant & Daughter Die in Helicopter Crash, Photos from Her Last Game", "Kobe Bryant: Pilot warned 'you're too low' seconds before helicopter crashed in fog", "Kobe Bryant is killed in helicopter crash in Calabasas", "Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna die in helicopter crash", "Kobe Bryant among those killed in California helicopter crash", "Investigation underway to determine cause of helicopter Calabasas, California, crash that killed Kobe Bryant", "Kobe Bryant: Basketball legend dies in helicopter crash", "Coroner officials confirm IDs of five more people killed in crash of Kobe Bryant's helicopter", "Investigators report Kobe Bryant's pilot got disoriented in clouds", "Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were buried near their home in a private service last week", "Vanessa Bryant announces 'A Celebration of Life' for Kobe and Gianna", "Kobe Bryant public memorial service set for Feb. 24 at Staples Center", "Kobe Bryant memorial service will be held February 24 at Staples Center", "NBA postpones Clippers-Lakers game after Kobe Bryant's death", "Kobe Bryant Memorial:Lakers Nation Sinks in an Emotional Arena", "Kobe Bryant Tribute Game 2nd Most Watched in ESPN NBA History", "Kobe Bryant death: NBA teams honor Lakers legend with 24-second, 8-second violations to start games", "Grammys 2020: Lil Nas X, DJ Khaled, the Jonas Brothers, and More Pay Tribute to Kobe Bryant", "Grammys 2020: Billie Eilish's triumph overshadowed but well-deserved", "Kobe Bryant remembered at Oscars ceremony", "Kobe Bryant fans upset he wasn't included in 2020 MTV VMAs 'in memoriam' segment", "Kobe Bryant Fans Outraged at His Absence From 2020 MTV VMAs Tribute", "Fans shocked as Kobe Bryant and Nick Cordero excluded from Emmys 'In Memoriam' tribute", "Chadwick Boseman and Naya Rivera among those honoured during Emmys 'in memoriam' segment", "Chadwick Boseman's Passing Has Fans Mourning His and Kobe Bryant's Deaths", "First Kobe Bryant, now Chadwick Boseman: Twitter mourns loss of superstars in 2020", "Famosos lamentam morte de Chadwick Boseman, o 'Pantera Negra', aos 42 anos", "Adiós a Chadwick Boseman, Wakanda se viste de luto", "Chadwick Boseman Married His Longtime Love before His Death, His Family Reveals", "Chadwick Boseman, Naya Rivera, Alex Trebek and more celebs we lost in 2020", "All the Celebrities We've Said Farewell to in 2020", "Celebrity Deaths in 2020: Stars We've Lost", "Famosos que fallecieron en 2020 dejando al mundo de luto", "Google Top Trending Searches 2020: Kobe Bryant, Naya Rivera, Chadwick Boseman Among Most Popular Queries", "Pro Bowl becomes tribute to Lakers legend Kobe Bryant", The NFL Pays Respects to Fallen Legend Kobe Bryant, "Snoop Dogg Honors Kobe Bryant, Lakers With Massive Arm Tattoo", "The fourth quarter : Kobe Bryant confronts a long—and possibly painful—goodbye", NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kobe_Bryant&oldid=1011676116, American expatriate basketball people in Italy, Basketball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Basketball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics, National Basketball Association All-Stars, National Basketball Association high school draftees, National Basketball Association players with retired numbers, Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball, Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball), Sportspeople from Newport Beach, California, United States men's national basketball team players, Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2020, Victims of helicopter accidents or incidents in the United States, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Pages using Sister project links with default search, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CANTIC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with PLWABN identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Беларуская (тарашкевіца)‎, Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Also writer & executive producer; winner of, Also creator & writer; 18 episodes as a host, 16 episodes as a writer; Produced by, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 12 March 2021, at 05:56. Bryant said he wanted more out of life than just a successful basketball career. [188] The following day, he surpassed West to become the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history. In 2006, he scored a career-high 81 points; the second most points scored in a single game in league history, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962. As a result, Bryant's point averages more than doubled, from 7.6 to 15.4 points per game. He continued to be among the top players in the league through 2013, when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon at age 34. [228] At the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, Bryant scored 27 points to pass Jordan as the career scoring leader in the All-Star Game. Kobe ended up wearing number 8 for ten seasons before making the switch to number 24 for the start of the 2006-2007 season. [49], Before the 1996 NBA draft, Bryant had worked out in Los Angeles, where he scrimmaged against former Lakers players Larry Drew and Michael Cooper and, according to then-Laker manager Jerry West, "marched over these people". [274][276] In his second game back after resting, he had 23 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds in a 111–103 win over Denver, and became just the third player in league history to record multiple triple-doubles in a season at age 36 or older. [212], On April 13, 2011, the NBA fined Bryant $100,000 for directing a gay slur at referee Bennie Adams in frustration in the previous day's game. [15][16][17] Bryant and his family were regular attendees at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Newport Beach. "[363], Bryant was called "one of the greatest players in the history of our game" by NBA commissioner Adam Silver,[365] and The New York Times wrote that he had "one of the most decorated careers in the history of the sport. (Beckett/BAS & PSA/DNA LOAs)", "Dixon Happy He Stayed With Aces (4–0)", "As Kobe returns home, his old coach urges Philadelphia to give him proper sendoff", "Kobe may already be the greatest Laker ever – and he's not done yet", "Wilkins Honored as One of 35 Greatest McDonald's All Americans", "Lakers' trade for Bryant has been misconstrued", "Kobe Bryant Will Retire With Record $680 Million In Career Earnings", "Kobe Bryant's farewell season has been painful to watch", "How Kobe, LeBron and other NBA stars fared in Summer League debuts", "The Youngest NBA Basketball Player Records", "Kobe Bryant: Perfect time for All-Star break as 'everything' aches", "Kobe Bryant's 'airball game' in 1997 was as defining moment in his career", "NBA Playoffs; A Dilemma for Kobe; NBA playoffs: The Lakers can still go small with Bryant in the frontcourt, but it could come at a price against the bigger Schrempf", "BASKETBALL: N.B.A. [476] In addition to future animation projects, he had been in talks with animator veteran Bruce Smith for the last six months before his death about starting his own animation studio. Citing physical decline, Bryant retired after the 2015–16 season. Reportedly Bryant's parents had problems with him marrying so young, especially to a woman who was not African-American. [471], Bryant made his acting debut in 1996, appearing in an episode of Moesha. [153] Bryant was later shown in an infamous amateur video saying that center Andrew Bynum should have been traded for All-Star Jason Kidd. [161] He said, "It's been a long ride. [442], In a 2008 video promoting Nike's Hyperdunk shoes, Bryant appears to jump over a speeding Aston Martin. His father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, is a Philadelphia legend who played in the NBA for eight years, and from 1984 t… Sports", "Lakers equal best 19-game start in franchise history", Kobe's steady pace lands him top spot in rankings, "Lakers' Bryant, Magic's Howard named Players of the Week", "Shaq, Kobe lead freestyling West All-Stars past East", James outdistances Bryant in winning Kia MVP award, Daily Dime: Kobe named MVP as Lakers win NBA title, "Man on a mission: Bryant revels in victory, Finals MVP", "Kobe Bryant, making the best of bad situations", Lakers win 11th straight, Bryant injures finger, Kobe's jumper at OT buzzer lifts Lakers over Bucks, Bryant joins 14 others with 25,000 points, "Kobe's 3-pointer at buzzer gives Lakers win â€“ NBA â€“ Yahoo! With career averages of 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game,[328] he was considered one of the most complete players in NBA history. Before the trade agreement, the Hornets never considered drafting Bryant. [225] On January 10, 2012, Bryant scored 48 points against the Suns. [486] 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. When his shot is off, Kobe will pound away relentlessly until his luck turns. [22], Sony pushed Bryant from his roots of underground hip hop into a more radio-friendly sound. [175] In a game against the Knicks on February 2, 2009, Bryant scored 61 points, setting a record for the most points scored at Madison Square Garden. [495], At 9:06 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on January 26, 2020, a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter departed from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, with nine people aboard: Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, six family friends, and the pilot. Chamberlain had 50 points 45 times in 1961–62 and 30 in 1962–63. [366][367] In 2008 and again in 2016, ESPN ranked him the second-greatest shooting guard of all time after Jordan. He was born in Philadelphia, PA on August 23, 1978. This included leading the team in assists per game and steals per game. Lakers Just Trying To Keep It Simple", "Lakers rise as D'Antoni's offense ditched", "Lakers hold on despite late surge from Hornets", "Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash help Lakers hold on for 2nd straight win", "Kobe Bryant's heroics help Lakers rally, edge Raptors in OT", "2012–13 Lakers Report Card: Starting five", "Lakers weren't strong enough to protect Kobe Bryant from himself", "Kobe Bryant tears Achilles, sidelined for months", "Lakers sign Kobe Bryant to two-year, $48.5 million contract extension", "Lakers sign Kobe Bryant to a two-year contract extension", "Kobe Bryant does not want to hear that he is overpaid", "Kobe Bryant on the difference between Tim Duncan's contract and his: 'It's a different market, man, "As Kobe faces Duncan for 78th time, comparison unavoidable", "Lakers' Kobe Bryant breaks bone in knee, out 6 weeks", "Anthony Davis selected to fill Kobe Bryant's All-Star slot in West", "Rockets rout Lakers 108–90 in Kobe's return", "Byron Scott assured Kobe Bryant he had his best interests at heart", "Bryant leads Lakers over Toronto 129–122 in OT", "ELIAS: TOP 5 QUESTIONS FROM SUNDAY, NOV. 30", "Kobe Bryant becomes NBA's No. … There is a much better explanation for why Kobe chose number 10 and it’s deeply seeded in his Italian roots. LOS ANGELES — One retired jersey number just isn’t enough for Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. The Lakers won 58 games that year and finished second in the Pacific Division behind in-state rival Sacramento Kings. In 1997, he appeared on an episode of Hang Time, this was followed by a guest appearance on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series All That (1998). ", "Kobe Bryant's Charity Work, Events and Causes", "Honor Kobe Bryant's legacy through the charities he supported", "Statement on the Death of Basketball Icon and Museum Founding Donor Kobe Bryant", "Kobe Bryant Granted Over 200 Make-A-Wish Requests During Career: It Was the 'Highlight of My Life, "Kobe's $6M drink investment has $200M return", "Kobe Bryant and Jeff Stibel Unveil $100 Million Venture Capital Fund", "What Is Bryant Stibel, Venture Capitalist Fund? At 9:30 a.m., the pilot contacted the Burbank Airport's control tower,[502] notifying the tower of the situation, and was told he was "flying too low" to be tracked by radar. Six months later they got engaged and finally tied the nuptial knot two years after they met, without a prenuptial agreement. Vanessa Bryant's father is of Mexican and Italian descent and her mother is of Mexican and Filipino descent. Then, in the 2006-07 season, Bryant abruptly switched to No. During the playoffs, Bryant played heavy minutes which brought his stats up to 29.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. [85] He continued his all-round play by averaging 25.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 26: Laker’s Kobe Bryant ,24, celebrates a three pointer in the fourth quarter as the Lakers beat the Nuggets 122-107 during a first round playoff basketball game between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers April 23. [402] In early December 2016, Vanessa gave birth to their third daughter,[403][404][405] and in January 2019 the Bryants announced they were expecting a fourth daughter. [392] Bryant was in the building and working on his debut album. [160], Aided by the trade for All-Star Pau Gasol, Bryant led his team to a West-leading 57–25 record. Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, received the Eucharist together just hours before they died. Bryant had checked into The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera in Eagle County in advance of undergoing knee surgery nearby. [446] CNN estimated Bryant's endorsement deals in 2007 to be worth $16 million a year. [315], Bryant declined to play in the 2000 Olympics because he was getting married in the off-season. [275][276] However, Scott held him out for three straight games to rest after one of his worst performances of the season, when Bryant committed nine turnovers and scored 25 points on just 8-for-30 shooting in a 108–101 loss to Sacramento. Bryant did not feel he was deserving of the selection, and some likened it to a career achievement award for his past performance. According to this Associated Press article, Kobe was quoted as saying the following about the number change: “No. Afterward, Bryant co-founded an independent record label, Heads High Entertainment, but it folded within a year. [169] The Lakers then won the next two games to win the semifinals. [265] Bryant was averaging 13.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds. At the time, the team was 22–42 and tied for the worst record in the Western Conference. [500] The group was traveling to Camarillo Airport in Ventura County for a basketball game at Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks. His debut album, Visions, was scheduled to release in the spring of 2000. After finishing 50–32 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. [56] As a rookie in 1996–97, Bryant mostly came off the bench behind guards Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel. [419] He sold the house in May 2015. [250][251] 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. 8 for two reasons. On November 25, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Lakers at an estimated value of $48.5 million. [487], In 2013, Bryant launched a production company called Granity Studios, which developed different media, ranging from films to television shows and novels. [303][304][305] Previously, Bryant was respected but not beloved,[306][307] and he was astonished at the cheers he was now receiving. Kobe Bryant: August 23rd, 1978 - January 26th, 2020 Died 41 yrs, 5 mo, 4 days old Ritual Foreshadowing This is the first posting we could find. [197] In a rematch against the 2008 Champion Boston Celtics, Bryant, despite shooting 6 for 24 from the field, led the Lakers back from a 13-point third-quarter deficit in Game 7 to win the championship; he scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 15 rebounds. In four years with the new number, Kobe has led his team to … [530], "The Black Mamba" redirects here. [208] Bryant, selected to his 13th straight All-Star game after becoming the leading vote-getter, had 37 points, 14 rebounds, and three steals in the 2011 All-Star Game and won his fourth All-Star MVP, tying Hall of Famer Bob Pettit for the most All-Star MVP awards. His jersey number was no longer number 8; it was number 24, his original number in high school. He grew up with two older sisters, Sharia and Shaya, and had a close relationship with them until his death. [40] While in high school, then 76ers coach John Lucas invited Bryant to work out and scrimmage with the team, where he played one-on-one with Jerry Stackhouse. The Lakers would respond by going 15–1 in the playoffs. [109] The 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. [200], Bryant wanted a sixth championship to match Jordan's total. Zoo due to heavy air traffic in the area. Three championships were won consecutively in 2000, 2001, and 2002, further cementing this view. [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. [103] O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant. [55] He scored 36 points in the finale and finished with averages of 24.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in four games. [527] 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. ", Bryant was the youngest of three children. [284] Prior to the injury, Bryant had been rested in 8 of 16 games. [57] At the time he became the youngest player ever to play in an NBA game (18 years, 72 days; a record since broken by Jermaine O'Neal and former teammate Andrew Bynum), and also became the youngest NBA starter (18 years, 158 days). [168] The Lakers won the next game as well, but dropped Games 3 and 4, even with Bryant putting up 33.5 points per game. Slay, who wore the number 23 jersey throughout his six-year stint at the Lions, was traded to the Eagles for third- and fifth-round draft picks, and announced that he's changing his number to 24 in a tribute to the late NBA legend, Philadephia-born Kobe Bryant. "#2, #24 #20 years … Kobe Bean Bryant(August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. ... My love for this city, this team and for each of you will never fade.  As you probably know, Michael Jordan wore number 23 as a member of the Bulls and number 9 as a member of the USA Olympic team. In 2001, at the age of 23, Bryant married his then-girlfriend, Vanessa Laine. [62] O'Neal commented that "[Bryant] was the only guy who had the guts at the time to take shots like that. Kobe became accustomed to his new lifestyle and learned to speak fluent Italian. In addition, he averaged 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, all career-highs to that point. Then she fell in love with a phenomenon", Cupcake Magazine interview with Vanessa Bryant, "Kobe Bryant Divorce: Kobe and Vanessa Through the Years [PHOTOS]", "Kobe Bryant's Sweetest Moments With His Wife Vanessa Bryant and 4 Daughters: Pics", "Kobe Bryant divorce: Vanessa cites 'irreconcilable differences, "Kobe Bryant, wife Vanessa call off their divorce", "Kobe Bryant and Wife Vanessa Welcome Third Child", "Kobe Bryant Shares Adorable First Pic of Newborn Daughter Bianka", "Meet Baby 'KoKo!' However, this was most likely not the case. 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. There’s likely a deeper meaning behind it than you initially thought. Bryant was suspended one game after he punched Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers after the Lakers' March 1, 2002 victory over the Pacers.[88][89]. Bryant scored the winning shot to put the Lakers ahead 120–118. Despite past differences with Bryant, Jackson returned to coach the Lakers. Kobe Bryant", "Lil Wayne Releases New Song Titled 'Kobe Bryant, "Chief Keef's "Kobe" Saw A 13,000 Percent Increase In Genius Pageviews After Kobe Bryant's Death", "Hip-hop mourns Kobe Bryant — an icon in rap lyrics for decades", "Chief Keef Thinks He's 'Kobe' in New Video", Brandy Mourns Death of Kobe Bryant, Her Prom Date, Kobe Bryant Declined Jesus Shuttlesworth Role Before It Was Given to Ray Allen, "Kobe Bryant Was Building an Entertainment Empire", "Kobe Bryant's Death Cuts Short a Promising Second Act in Entertainment", Kobe Bryant Was Planning To Launch An Animation Studio; Sergio Pablos And Bruce Smith Involved, "Jazz's Mitchell taking analysis of Kobe to heart", "Kobe Bryant explains his 'Detail' show on ESPN", "Catch me on a NEW episode of #Ridiculousness tonight at 8/7c on @mtv! [7] The criminal charges were dropped after the accuser refused to testify, and a lawsuit was settled out of court. The latest stats, facts, news and notes on Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers [301][302] Still, he was honored around the league with video tributes and fan ovations,[300] including arenas that historically jeered him such as TD Garden in Boston, Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, and Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. "Kobe Bryant: 'Do I want to play again or don't I... the reality is no, I don't. A fourth novel, The Wizenard Series: Season One, was released posthumously in March 2020. ... but Kobe Bryant's achievments cannot be denied. He joined Jordan (3 times), Karl Malone (3) and Abdul-Jabbar. History of Kobe Bryant Day. Defenders struggled to get in front of him, and his performance excited West and Lakers coach Del Harris. 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. Bryant also led the NBA in scoring twice, and ranks fourth on the league's all-time regular season scoring and all-time postseason scoring lists. [120][121] Chamberlain, playing in an era when the games were paced faster and scoring opportunities were more plentiful,[121][122] accounted for 59 percent of his team's points in Philadelphia's 169–147 win, compared to Bryant scoring 66 percent of the Lakers' 122 points.