Kobe Bryant (Black Mamba)

General Info

Born: Aug 23, 1978

Height: 6-6 / 1.98

Weight: 205 lbs. / 93.0 kg.

Prior to NBA / Country:
Lower Merion HS (PA) / USA

Years Pro: 16

Jersey #: 24

Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978. His father was a former NBA player that played in Philadelphia 76ers and was also a former head coach of a WNBA team Los Angeles Sparks. The name “Kobe” was inspired by a Japanese meat that his parents first seen in a restaurant menu.

Though Kobe Bryant was born in the U.S, his father's move to play in Europe brought Kobe Bryant to have his childhood years in Italy. There he would learn to speak Italian and Spanish. However Kobe still was travelling back to US every summer to play basketball at summer camps.

Kobe showed his love for the sport when he was just 3 years old. When his father retired from playing basketball in Italy, Kobe and his family decided to move back in the U.S and that was the time that Kobe’s future started to unveil.

Kobe’s basketball skills were honed when he played high school basketball. He played in Lower Marion High School in Philadelphia where he was recognized to be one of the best high school basketball players in the country. After he graduated in high school (1996), he immediately stated his eligibility to be drafted in the NBA. Back then he was only 17 years old. On NBA draft night, Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets as the 13^th overall pick but was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers that was his favorite team growing up. For Kobe, that trade was just perfect.

Kobe’s NBA career had a rough start. Though he was recognized as one of the most prolific and high flying rookie, Kobe Bryant didn’t had a rookie year he would want to have. He won Slam Dunk contest though but the rookie of the year award went to Allen Iverson.

Kobe’s career slowly rose as he was getting mature in the Lakers. When Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Lakers in 2000. That was also the 2^nd year of Phil Jackson as the Lakers head coach. That was the combination that made the Lakers world champions for three straight years and Kobe’s partnership with O’Neal has been known to be one of the best duo ever made.

Kobe and Shaq however had misunderstandings and issue after they lost the 2004 NBA finals against the Detroit Pistons leading Shaq to be traded to the Miami Heat. After that trade, more responsibility has been put in Kobe’s shoulders and the young superstar carried it with pride. He became the scoring champion for two consecutive season from 2005-2007. He would also won the NBA season MVP award the following year. In 2006, Kobe Bryant slated 81 points in a game against the Raptors. It was the 2^nd highest point output in an NBA game 2^nd only to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game back in 1962.

Though Kobe’s individual career rose, the Lakers as a team had a drought in final’s appearances since Shaquille O’Neal left. It was only in 2008 that the Lakers had another trip in the finals and much of the credit was given to a newly acquired Pau Gasol in the lineup. However the Lakers lost that Finals to a powerhouse team of Boston Celtics.

However Lakers would return again in the finals for 2 straight years and win back-to-back championships.

Kobe Bryant achievements thus far:

• 5-time NBA champion: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010

·         7 NBA Finals appearances: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010

• 2-time NBA Finals MVP: 2009, 2010
• NBA Most Valuable Player: 2008
• 2-time scoring champion: 2006, 2007
• 14-time NBA All-Star: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

·         14 consecutive selections, 13 consecutive appearances (No All-Star game in 1999 due to a league-wide lockout)

·         Missed the 2010 game due to injury

• 4-time NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011 (shared the 2009 award with Shaquille O'Neal)
• 14-time All-NBA Team selection:

·         First team: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

·         Second team: 2000, 2001

·         Third team: 1999, 2005

• 12-time All-Defensive Team selection:

·         First team: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

·         Second team: 2001, 2002, 2012

• NBA All-Rookie Team selection:

·         Second team: 1997

• NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion: 1997
• 16-time Player of the Month: December 2000, November 2001, January 2003, March 2004, January 2006, April 2006, December 2006, March 2007, April 2007, February 2008, April 2008, December 2008, January 2009, December 2009, March 2011, December/January 2012

·         Player of the Month was awarded separately to Eastern and Western Conference starting from the 2001–02 season.

• NBA regular season leader:

·         games played: 1998–99 (50), 2007–08 (82), 2008–09 (82)

·         usage percentage: 2005–06 (38.7), 2010–11 (35.1), 2011-12 (35.7)

·         points: 2002–03 (2,461), 2005–06 (2,832, 7th in NBA history),2006–07 (2,430), 2007–08 (2,323)

·         points per game: 2005–06 (35.4, 8th in NBA history),2006–07 (31.6)

·         field goals attempted: 2005–06 (2,173), 2006–07 (1,757), 2007–08 (1,690), 2010–11 (1,639), 2011-12 (1336)

·         field goals made: 2002–03 (868), 2005–06 (978), 2006–07 (813)

·         free throws attempted: 2006–07 (768)

·         free throws made: 2005–06 (696), 2006–07 (667)

2nd most points in a game: 81 (on January 22, 2006 vs. the Toronto Raptors)