He led the NBA in scoring in the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons and was named league MVP in 2008. On January 22, 2006, he scored a career-high eighty one factors; the second most factors scored in a single NBA recreation, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game. Bryant led the team to consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, being named NBA Finals MVP on each occasions. He continued to be among the premier gamers within the league via the 2012–13 season, when he suffered a torn achilles tendon at age 34. His next two seasons had been reduce brief by injuries to his knee and shoulder, respectively. In 2017, the Lakers retired each his Nos. 8 and 24, making him the only participant in NBA history to have a number of numbers retired by the identical franchise.

But Douglas-Roberts made an impression on Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford, who went on to be the top coach in Charlotte. He additionally caught the eye of his momentary teammate Bryant, who appreciated Douglas-Roberts' tenacity and determination to improve—and openly supplied secrets and techniques to success. Bryant has gained the post-Shaq title he needed in '09, and now it is a 12 months later and Bryant hopes to redeem the Lakers' '08 loss to Boston in the Finals and beat the Celtics in the '10 championship collection. And with that gesture, the photograph of Bryant and Leslie turns into a real portrait of him, not simply one other snapshot of him in a successful moment.

Bryant and fellow Lakers meet with President Barack Obama in honor of the 2010 championship.Bryant needed a sixth championship to match Jordan's total. Bryant additionally recorded his first triple-double since January 21, 2009. On February 1, 2011, Bryant grew to become certainly one of seven gamers with no less than 25,000 factors, 5,000 rebounds, and 5,000 assists. Bryant was sidelined for six weeks prior to the beginning of the 1999–2000 season as a end result of a hand injury that he had incurred throughout a preseason recreation against the Washington Wizards. When Bryant was back and playing over 38 minutes a game, he had a rise in all statistical categories during the 1999–2000 season. This adopted with O'Neal winning the MVP and Bryant being named to the All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team for the primary time in his career (the youngest player to obtain All-Defensive honors).

Bryant was an avid helicopter commuter who began utilizing this novel transport method during his Los Angeles Lakers days. Unfortunately, this time one thing went badly wrong. According to eyewitnesses, the helicopter's engine had started "sputtering" earlier than happening. All five individuals on board, together with Bryant himself and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, perished within the fiery crash.

Arguably the Drew League’s most iconic moment nearly never occurred, though. A police sergeant advised Smiley that with two minutes left in the sport, he’d be taking Bryant out of the game so he may go back to the locker room and change. It’s the primary time an item worn by Bryant in the course of the 2006 recreation has appeared at public sale. His internet price at the time of his demise was an estimated $600 million. Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association to 5 championships (2000–02 and 2009–10). Javascript is required for the selection of a player.

There’s lots of trash speaking on the court docket, but no one ever stated shit to Kobe. When they rolled the ball out at follow, there was no need for him to warm up. He would go at guys so exhausting in practice that I began to suppose to myself, Okay, this man is really trying to be MJ.

The announcement drew a powerful reaction, particularly from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "With 17 NBA All-Star alternatives, an NBA MVP, 5 NBA championships with the Lakers, two Olympic gold medals and a relentless work ethic, Kobe Bryant is among the biggest players in the historical past of our recreation," Silver said in a statement. "Whether competing within the finals or hoisting bounce photographs after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the sport." Former pro basketball participant Kobe Bryant received 5 NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers while establishing himself as one of the recreation's all-time greats. He died tragically in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. In genuine reverence to one of the greatest basketball gamers ever, Kobe Bryant is honored on the quilt of NBA 2K24, a legendary tribute.

His mother and father named him after the famous beef of Kobe, Japan, which they saw on a restaurant menu.His center name, Bean, was derived from his father's nickname "Jellybean". Kobe turned accustomed to his new lifestyle and realized to speak fluent Italian.He was especially keen on Reggio Emilia, which he considered a loving place and the place his greatest childhood memories had been made. On January 26, 2020, Bryant was onboard a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that crashed in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas. Nine folks, together with Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna "Gigi," died. The helicopter was on its way from Orange County to Thousands Oaks, California where Bryant was scheduled to coach a match recreation at Mamba Sports Academy. An all-star lineup of Laker icons also paid tribute to Bryant, including O’Neal, Phil Jackson, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom and Magic Johnson.