The Lakers concluded the 2007-08 regular season with a 57-25 record, finishing first in the West Conference and setting up themselves for a first-round contest against the Nuggets . In game 1. Kobe who said the made himself a decoy though most of the game, scored 18 of the 32 points in the final 8 minutes to keep Los Angeles safely ahead . That made Denver the first 50-win team to swept out of the first round of the playoffs since the Memphis Grizzlies fell in four on the San Antonio Spurs in 2004. In the first game against the Jazz in the second round , Bryant scored 38points as the Lakers beat the Jazz in the game 1 . The Lakers won the next game as well but dropped Games 3 and 4 even if Bryant putting up 33.5ppg . The lakers then won the next two games to win the semifinals in 6. This set up a Western Conference Finals berth against San Antonio Spurs , in 5 games they defeated and eliminate the Spurs , sending themselves to the NBA Finals , Kobe’s 5th Appearance and first without Shaq , And the most important of all is the NBA fans will witness the greatest rivalry in NBA history . Lakers vs Boston . The Boston started 2-0 to lead the series but the Lakers comeback in game 3 to make 2-1 .But in the game 4 the Celtic reserves make awesome plays to seal the game 4 to take a commanding 3-1 series and will be playing game 5 at home , at TD Garden . Game 6 , though the Lakers and Kobe Bryant put some fire to remain in the finals , the boys in Green were eager to hoist the Larry O’brien trophy and does so rot the Lakers in 131-92 win and celebrate their 17th NBA championship in franchise history . Kobe though heartbroken , he said that they will comeback next year stronger to win the NBA championship and his 4th .
First MVP honors
On May 27, 2007, ESPN reported that Bryant stated that he wanted to be traded if Jerry West did not return to the team with full authority.[112] Bryant later confirmed his desire for West’s return to the franchise, but denied stating that he would want to be traded if that does not occur.[113] However, three days later, on Stephen A. Smith‘s radio program, Bryant expressed anger over a Lakers “insider” who claimed that Bryant was responsible for Shaquille O’Neal‘s departure from the team, and publicly stated, “I want to be traded.”[114] Three hours after making that statement, Bryant stated in another interview that after having a conversation with head coach Phil Jackson, he has reconsidered his decision and backed off his trade request.[115] Bryant would later be shown on an infamous amateur video saying that center Andrew Bynum should have been traded for All-Star Jason Kidd.[116][117]
Bryant’s Lakers lost to theBoston Celtics in 6 games during the 2008 NBA Finals.
On December 23, 2007, Bryant became the youngest player (29 years, 122 days) to reach 20,000 points, in a game against the New York Knicks, in Madison Square Garden.[118] This record has since been broken by LeBron James. Despite an injury to his shooting hand’s small finger, described as “a complete tear of the radial collateral ligament, an avulsion fracture, and a volar plate injury at the MCP joint” that occurred in a game on February 5, 2008, Bryant played all 82 games of the regular season instead of opting for surgery. Regarding his injury, he stated, “I would prefer to delay any surgical procedure until after our Lakers season, and this summer’s Olympic Games. 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.”[119] In early September 2008, Bryant decided not to have surgery to repair the injury.[120]
Aided by the signing of Spanish All-Star Pau Gasol, Bryant lead his team to a West best 57–25 record. The Lakers swept the Nuggets in the first round and on May 6, 2008, and Bryant was officially announced as the NBA Most Valuable Player award, his first for his career.[121] He said, “It’s been a long ride. I’m very proud to represent this organization, to represent this city.”[122] Jerry West, who was responsible for bringing Bryant to the Lakers, was on hand at the press conference to observe Bryant receive his MVP trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern. He stated, “Kobe deserved it. He’s had just another great season. Doesn’t surprise me one bit.”[123] In addition to winning his MVP award, Bryant was the only unanimous selection to the All-NBA team on May 8, 2008 for the third straight season and sixth time in his career.[124] He would then headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team with Kevin Garnett, receiving 52 points overall including 24 first-place nods, earning his eighth selection.[125]
Three-peat (1999–2002)
Bryant was a member of the Lakers teams that won three consecutive NBA Championships from 2000 to 2002.
Bryant’s fortunes would soon change when Phil Jackson became coach for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999.[46] After years of steady improvement, Bryant became one of the premier shooting guards in the league, earning appearances in the league’s All-NBA,[47] All-Star, and All-Defensive teams.[48] The Los Angeles Lakers became true championship contenders under Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, who formed a legendary center-guard combination. Jackson utilized the triangle offense he used to win six championships with the Chicago Bulls, which would help both Bryant and O’Neal rise to the elite class of the NBA. The three resulting championships won consecutively in 2000, 2001, and 2002 further proved such a fact.[49]
Bryant started the 1999–2000 season sidelined for six weeks due to an injury to his hand in a preseason game against the Washington Wizards.[50] With Bryant back and playing over 38 minutes a game, he saw an increase in all statistical categories in the 1999–2000 season. This included leading the team in assists per game and steals per game. The duo of O’Neal and Bryant backed with a strong bench led to the Lakers winning 67 games, tied for fifth-most in NBA history. This followed with O’Neal winning the MVP and Bryant being named to the All-NBA Team Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team for the first time in his career (the youngest player ever to receive defensive honors).[51] While playing second fiddle to O’Neal in the playoffs, Bryant had some clutch performances including a 25 point, 11 rebound, 7 assist, 4 block game in game 7 of the Western Conference finals against the Portland Trail Blazers.[52] He also threw an alley-oop pass to O’Neal to clinch the game and the series. In the 2000 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Bryant injured his ankle in the second quarter of Game 2 after landing on the Pacers’ Jalen Rose‘s foot. Rose later admitted he placed his foot under Bryant intentionally.[53][54] Bryant did not return to the game, and he also missed Game 3 due to the injury. In Game 4, Bryant scored 22 points in the second half, and led the team to an OT victory as O’Neal fouled out of the game. Bryant scored the winning shot to put the Lakers ahead 120–118.[55] With a 116–111 Game 6 victory, the Lakers won their first championship since 1988.[56]
Statistically, the 2000–01 season saw Bryant perform similarly to the previous year, but he averaged 6 more points a game (28.5). It was also the year when disagreements between Bryant and O’Neal began to surface.[57] Once again he led the team in assists with 5 per game. The Lakers however, only won 56 games, an 11-game drop off from last year. The Lakers would respond by going 15–1 in the playoffs. They easily swept the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs, before losing their first game against the Philadelphia 76ers in OT. They would go on to win the next 4 games and bring their second championship to Los Angeles in as many seasons. 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. In the playoffs, teammate O’Neal declared Bryant the best player in the league.[19][58] Bryant ended up making the All NBA Second team and All NBA Defensive Team for the second year in a row. In addition, he was also voted to start in the NBA All-Star Game for the 3rd year in a row (no game in 1999).
In the 2001–02 season, Bryant played 80 games for the first time in his career. He continued his all-round play by averaging 25.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. He also had a career high 46.9% shooting and once again led his team in assists. While making the All-Star team and All-NBA Defensive team again, he was also promoted to the All-NBA First Team for the first time in his career. The Lakers won 58 games that year and finished second place in the Pacific Division behind in-state rival Sacramento Kings. Bryant was suspended one game after he punched Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers after the Lakers’ March 1, 2002 victory over the Pacers.[59][60]
The road to the Finals would prove a lot tougher than the record run the Lakers had the previous year. While the Lakers swept the Blazers and defeated the Spurs 4–1, the Lakers did not have home court advantage against the Sacramento Kings. The series would stretch to 7 games, the first time this happened to the Lakers since the 2000 Western Conference Finals. However, the Lakers were able to beat their division rivals and make their third consecutive NBA Finals appearance. In the 2002 Finals, Bryant averaged 26.8 points, 51.4% shooting, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists per game, which included scoring a quarter of the teams points.[61] At age 23, Bryant became the youngest player to win three championships.[61] Bryant’s play was notable and praised for his performance in the 4th quarter of games, specifically the last 2 rounds of the playoffs.[61][62] This cemented Bryant’s reputation as a “clutch player”.
Kobe Bryant Game Logs: 1996-97 / 1997-98 / 1998-99 / 1999-2000 / 2000-01 / 2001-02 / 2002-03
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With Del Harris coaching the Lakers, 18-year old Kobe Bryant didn’t play much in his rookie year, at least not the amount of time Lakers fans would have liked.He averaged 15.5 minutes per game and was a starter in just 6 matches. His season high was 24 points against the Warriors on April 8.
Quick Facts about Kobe Bryant
Personal:
Birth date: August 23, 1978
Birth place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Birth name: Kobe Bean Bryant
Father: Joe Bryant, a professional basketball player
Mother: Pam Bryant
Marriage: Vanessa (Laine) Bryant (April 18, 2001-present)
Children: Gianna, May 2006; Natalia, January 2003
Other Facts:
Bryant is 6 feet, 6 inches tall.
His parents named him after a type of steak. The beef is from a species of cattle, Wagyu, raised in the Kobe region of Japan.
Bryant lived in Italy for eight years while his father played in the Italian Professional Basketball League. He speaks Italian fluently.
He entered the NBA straight out of high school.
In 1996, Bryant was the youngest player in NBA history at that time, at 18 years, 2 months, and 11 days.
He has played his entire pro career for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bryant has two Olympic gold medals for men’s basketball.
Bryant is fourth on the NBA all-time scoring list with 31,700 points. He has also won five NBA championships.
Timeline:
1996 – Finishes his high school career as the all-time leading scorer in the history of southeastern Pennsylvania basketball. He leads the Lower Merion Aces to a season record of 31-3 and the Class-AAAA state championship.
1996 – USA Today names him the National High School Player of the Year and he wins Naismith Player of the Year.
June 26, 1996 – Bryant is selected by the Charlotte Hornets as the 13th pick in the first round of the NBA draft.
July 11, 1996 – Is traded by Charlotte to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac.
1996 – present – Guard for the Los Angeles Lakers.
1996-1997 – Is named to the NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team
February 1997 – Wins the All-Star Weekend slam dunk competition, but does not play in the All-Star game.
1998 – He is the youngest starter, at 19, in his first All-Star game.
2000-2002 – The L.A. Lakers win the NBA Championship three years in a row.
2002 – First of four times being named All-Star MVP. He’s also named in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
July 18, 2003 – Bryant is charged with one count of sexual assault in a case involving a 19-year-old hotel worker. The charge accuses Bryant of “sexual penetration or intrusion and (that) he caused submission of the victim through actual physical force,” according to District Attorney Mark Hurlbert.
January 19, 2004 – McDonald’s announces that it will not renew Bryant’s endorsement contract, which expired in December 2003.
August 10, 2004 – The same woman from the criminal court case files a lawsuit in federal court in Denver, Colorado. The woman, under the name of “Jane Doe”, claims Bryant raped her in his hotel room in a Vail-area resort in 2003 – the same incident alleged in the criminal charge against him. The suit is for an unspecified amount of damages.
September 1, 2004 – The criminal sexual assault charge is dropped.
January 22, 2005 – Bryant scores 81 points in the Lakers 122-104 win over Toronto. Only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 point game in 1962 tops this performance.
March 2, 2005 – The accuser agrees to settle her civil lawsuit. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.
May 2008 – Wins NBA regular season MVP award.
August 24, 2008 – Bryant wins a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics as a member of the U.S. men’s basketball team.
2009-2010 – Lakers win back-to-back NBA championships.
June 14, 2009 – Is named NBA Championship MVP.
February 1, 2010 – He surpasses Jerry West’s career record of 25,192 as the Los Angeles Lakers’ all-time leading scorer, with 25,208 points.
June 17, 2010 – For the second year in a row is named the NBA Championship MVP.
April 13, 2011 – Bryant is fined $100,000 by the NBA for making an anti-gay slur at a referee during a game on April 12.
December 16, 2011 – Vanessa Bryant files for divorce.
August 12, 2012 – Is a member of gold-medal-winning U.S. men’s basketball team at the 2012 London Olympics.
January 11, 2013 – Announces on Facebook that he and Vanessa have reconciled.
April 12, 2013 – Tears left Achilles tendon in game against Golden State Warriors. Successful surgery to repair the injury will leave him unable to play for six to nine months.
May 8, 2013 – Files a lawsuit to stop his mother, Pamela Bryant, from auctioning off memorabilia from beginning of his basketball career. Bryant claims he did not give his mother permission to sell the items. A settlement is reached in June.
December 17, 2013 – Breaks a bone in his left knee in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies and will be out for six weeks.
March 12, 2014 – The Lakers announce that Bryant will not play the rest of the season, after team doctors determine that the fractured lateral tibial plateau of his left knee has not healed.
About Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is an NBA athlete who’s one of the leading players in career points, having earned multiple championship rings. He has also won two Olympic gold medals with the U.S. basketball team.
Synopsis
Born on August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kobe Bryant played for the Charlotte Hornets right out of high school. He was soon traded to the L.A. Lakers, where he went on to win five championships and become one of the leading scorers of the NBA. He has had a famous rivalry with one-time teammate Shaquille O’Neal and was once accused of sexual assault, though charges were later dropped. Bryant played on both the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic teams, winning two consecutive gold medals with teammates Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, among several other top players.
Early Life
Kobe Bean Bryant was born August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Named after a Japanese steakhouse, Kobe Bryant is the son of former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant. In 1984, after ending his NBA career, the elder Bryant took the family to Italy where he played on the Italian League. Growing up in Italy alongside two athletic older sisters, Shaya and Sharia, Kobe was an avid player of both basketball and soccer. When the family returned to Philadelphia in 1991, Bryant joined the Lower Merion high school basketball team, leading it to the state championships four years in a row. With an eye on the NBA, he also started working out with the 76ers.
Though he boasted good grades and high SAT scores, Bryant decided to go straight to the NBA from high school. In 1996, he was picked by Charlotte in the draft, and was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kobe Bryant 24 