Born: Aug 23, 1978
Height: 6-6 / 1.98
Weight: 205 lbs. / 93.0
kg.
Prior to NBA / Country:
Lower Merion HS (PA) / USA
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 13th 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 2nd
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 2nd highest point output in an NBA game 2nd
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)