Guide Note:
Kobe Bryant is an All-Star Guard for the Los Angeles Lakers and one of the premier point scorers in the NBA.
Fast Facts:
- Born August 23, 1978
- 3-Time N.B.A. Champion
- Height: 6'6"
- Weight: 205 lbs
- 13th pick in the NBA Draft
- Arrested for Sexual Assault, charges dropped
- Number 8, and Number 24 (Current)
- High School: Lower Merion
- Helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics1
Early Life
Kobe Bean Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 23, 1978. He was however mostly raised in Italy, because his father, Joe Bryant, played in Italy after his own stint in the National Basketball Association. The family later returned to the United States where Kobe Bryant established himself as one of the premiere young players in the nation at Lower Merion High School.
Pro Career
In 1996, after several impressive workouts for pro scouts, Los Angeles Lakers President Jerry West set his sights on landing the prolific young player. After the Lakers signed Shaquille O'Neal in the summer, the Lakers traded center Vlade Divac to the Charlotte Hornets for the rights to Bryant. At 17 years of age Bryant became the youngest and first guard ever to be drafted directly to the NBA. In his first season he won the 1997 Slam Dunk Championship but struggled to land playing time in the very deep Lakers rotation. The following season the Lakers traded Eddie Jones and Bryant was inserted into the starting line-up. The Lakers were still unable to put their full potential together until the arrival of Head Coach Phil Jackson. In Jackson's first season at the helm, Bryant and the Lakers won the first of what would be three straight NBA championships.
Controversies
In 2003, Bryant drew national attention when he was arrested and tried for sexual assault in Colorado. The case was settled in 2004, when a judge dismissed the case, with Bryant giving a public apology to the victim, and she was compensated financially. His clean marketable image had been forever tarnished, and would unavoidably lead to unrest in his professional career. Even after winning three straight championships together the friction in the Lakers locker room could not be avoided. With three big personalities like Bryant, Jackson, and NBA MVP Shaquille O'Neal something had to give. Bickering and back biting had always been part of the Championship runs, but after the Lakers were unable to win a championship after two straight frustrating seasons, the franchise decided that change was inevitable. With Bryant blossoming into his prime, the focus of the franchise became retaining and appeasing Bryant. The Lakers elected to let Jackson go, and traded O'Neal making Bryant the face of the franchise. Bryant re-signed with the Lakers, but the team's championship caliber had been obviously dismantled.
Post Shaq Years
Although the team was no longer a legitimate championship contender Kobe continued to dominate the league with impressive individual statistics. For two straight years he was the NBA Scoring Champion, and on January 22, 2006 he produced one of the most impressive individual feats in the history of the NBA by scoring 81 points in one game. But it wasn't long before the team's lack of success began to wear on Kobe. The Lakers re-hired Phil Jackson and after Bryant famously demanding a trade in 2007, the Lakers traded for Pau Gasol returning the team to a Championship contender for years to come.
Kobe Bryant Timeline
Related Pages on Mahalo
Los Angeles Lakers | Phil Jackson | Jerry Buss | Shaquille O'Neal | LeBron James | Dwyane Wade | Tyra Banks | Gary Payton | Derek Fisher | Carmelo Anthony | Allen Iverson | Kobe Jumps Over Car | US Olympic Basketball 2008
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