The next day, the Lakers played their first recreation after the crash towards the Trail Blazers. James additionally delivered a speech to the crowd earlier than the game, and each participant within the Lakers beginning lineup was introduced with Bryant's name. The game was the second-most-watched in ESPN history, averaging 4.41 million viewers. Through his first sixteen seasons, his body was resilient, and he exhibited a excessive ache threshold while often enjoying via accidents.

He discovered how to communicate Italian and performed a lot of soccer. Kobe played for the Los Angeles Lakers his complete professional career. He holds the report for probably the most career points scored by a Los Angeles Laker. Kobe scored 81 factors in an NBA sport, which is the second most factors scored in a single sport.

He idolized Elgin Baylor — “the footwork king” — and admired the way West may hearth a quick leap shot or smoothly cut to the basket. His biggest admiration was reserved for Johnson, who had a sixth sense on the court, anticipating performs as they developed, delivering the ball precisely where it needed to be. Lakers star Kobe Bryant stands subsequent to educate Phil Jackson throughout a playoff game against the Phoenix Suns in April 2006. Los Angeles Lakers Karl Malone, left, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Shaquille O’Neal before their preseason opener with the Los Angeles Clippers. It was Bryant’s first sport since sexual assault costs had been filed towards him in Colorado.

When you break anyone's nostril in an All-Star Game, it is competitive. But then getting to play on the same staff in '08 within the Olympics was like the final word for me and I assume for him as properly. When he finally saw the way in which I labored and we simply received a chance to expertise being round each other, our chemistry and continuity on the court was simply second to none, like we have played together our whole life.

In 2006, he scored a career-high 81 factors; the second most points scored in a single recreation in league historical past, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962. Bryant led the staff to two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, and was named NBA Finals MVP on each occasions. He continued to be among the many high players within the league by way of 2013, when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon at age 34. He subsequently suffered season-ending injuries to his knee and shoulder, respectively, within the following two seasons. Citing bodily decline, Bryant retired after the 2015–16 season. On January 10, 2012, Bryant scored 48 factors in opposition to the Suns.

Led by Bryant, the Lakers returned to the finals in 2004, but they had been upset by the Detroit Pistons. O’Neal subsequently was traded, and Bryant emerged because the team’s sole chief. The figure includes the $15 million she was awarded from L.A. County in a 2022 civil trial, with “additional funds to settle potential claims from her daughters”—20-year-old Natalia, Bianka , and Capri .

But instead of watching the 2 stars go at it in a shootout, it was a shutdown. But Bryant was a special sort of athlete, the son of a well-to-do Philadelphia household who spent his early life in Europe. His unusual upbringing and steely determination — holding himself and people round him to the highest requirements — generally led to friction with coaches and teammates.

The Lakers swept the Utah Jazz within the second spherical and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where they faced Phoenix Suns. In Game 2, Bryant completed the sport with thirteen assists, setting a new playoff career high; it was essentially the most assists by a Laker in the playoffs since Magic Johnson had 13 in 1996. The Lakers went on to win the collection in six video games capturing the Western Conference Championship and advancing to the NBA Finals for a 3rd straight season. Bryant received his fifth championship and earned his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP award.