People | December 29, 2015 10:09 AM EST
47 Facts about Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers Player
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player, known for his work with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.
- Bryant was born on August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the youngest of three children and only son to his parents.
- He is son of former NBA player, Joe Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant. He is nephew of John Chubby Cox basket ball player.
- Bryant is a big fan of Lakers, and started to play at age of three. His grandfather was a big influence in his early age by mailing him videos of NBA games.
- He studied at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Lower Merion, and became first freshman in decades to start for Lower Merion Varsity Team.
- His performance in the junior years earned him the Pennsylvania Player of the Year 1994-95. He played all the five positions, attracting attention from many varsity teams.
- Bryant led his school team to first state championship in 53 years. He averaged 30.8 points with 12 rebound, 6.5 assists,4.0 steals and 3.8 blocked shots for Aces to record a 31-3 record.
- Bryant ended his senior year with all time high of 2,883 points and was named Naismith High School Player of the Year.
- As a 17 year old he was sixth player to be drafted directly in to NBA skipping college. He was picked up by Charlotte Hornets in 1996, before being traded for Vlade Divac to L.A Lackers.
- In the 1996-97season, at 18 years 72 days he was the youngest ever to play in the NBA game.
- In 1997 he was crowned the Slam Dunk Champion, he was the youngest slam dunk champion at 18 years. His performance earned him a place in the NBA All Rookie second team.
- Bryant’s second season was more rewarding with 15.4 points per game. He was voted as the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award. Same season he was selected to the NBA All Star starter, to become the youngest in NBA history.
- In the 1998-99season, Bryant started in every game as a premier guard. He signed a six years contract 70 million dollars.
- Bryant was sidelined for six week during 1999-2000 seasons due to hand injury. He returned to take Lakers to victory in 67 games in combination with Shaquille O’Neal.
- As the league’s premier Shooting guards, he was named in All-NBA second team and All-NBA Defensive Team. He is the youngest player to receive the defensive honor.
- In the 2000 NBA final against Indiana Pacers, Bryant ankle was injured during game 2, intentionally by Jalen Rose. He later returned in Game 4 to take Lakers to its first championship since 1988.
- Bryant along with Shaquille O’Neal combined to take Lakers to its second NBA Championship in a row. In the finals Lakers beat Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 1.
- After the finals, despite the difference O’Neal felt ‘Bryant is the best player in the league.’ Bryant averaged 29.4 points with 7.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists.
- For the third year in succession Lakers won the 2002 NBA Championship beating New Jersey Nets 4 games to nil. Bryant was awarded the All-Star MVP Trophy and was promoted to All-NBA First Team for the first time in his career.
- After Lakers game against Indiana Pacers altercation broke out between Bryant and Reggie Miller and Bryant punched Miller in the head. Bryant was suspended for a game.
- Bryant at 23 years became the youngest player to win three NBA Championship Finals. He earned a reputation as a Clutch Player.
- On January 7, 2003, by making 12 three pointers in a game against the Seattle Super Sonics, he set a new NBA record. Bryant scored 45 points in the match.
- On July 1, 2003, Bryant was accused of sexual assault on a hotel employee in Edwards, Colorado. The case was settled out of court with Bryant publicly apologizing.
- After Lakers lost the 2003-04 NBA Championship final to Detroit Pistons, Bryant renewed his contract with Lakers for another seven years worth 136.4 million dollars. He declined a transfer offer from Los Angeles Clippers.
- In the book ‘The Last Season: A Team in Search of its Soul,’ by former coach of Lakers Phil Jackson criticized Bryant as an un-coachable. Same year, Bryant was also engaged in public feud with Ray Allen and Karl Malone.
- On December 20, 2005 in a game against Dallas Mavericks Bryant scored 62 points in three quarters, one more than entire score of Maverick’s 61 points. The only time a players has done this through three quarters.
- Bryant score of 81 points in a 122-104 victory over Toronto Raptors was the second highest points in a NBA history. In 1962 Chamberlain of Philadelphia Warriors had scored 100 points against New York Knicks.
- In the 2006 season, Bryant scored 45 or more points in four consecutive games, a record since 1964. By the end of the 2006 season he had to his credit 27 games with 40 plus points. A record for Lakers.
- For the 2006-07season Bryant reverted back to jersey number 24, his first jersey number from school days. Through the season his jersey became top selling NBA jersey in USA and China.
- During the off season of 2006, he underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean up some scar tissue in his knee. He was out of competition for over six weeks and missed 2006 NBA World Championship tournament.
- Bryant played all 82 games of the season and was voted NBA Most Valuable Player. First of his career.
- During the 2009 season, Bryant became the youngest player to reach 25,000 points. He was 31 years and 151 days. In the same season he crossed Jerry West to become all-time leading scorer for Lakers.
- On April 13, 2011 the NBA fined him 100,000 dollar for his outburst against referee Bennie Adams. The outburst was criticized by NBA Commissioner David Stern who felt it was “offensive and inexcusable."
- Bryant was injured in his right shoulder with rotator cuff tear on January 21, 2015. He continued playing the game exclusively with his left hand.
- On November 29, 2015 he announced his intention of retiring at the end of the season. In his poem titled Dear Basketball he expressed his love for the game and his gratitude to his fans.
- He is the first NBA player to play for the same franchisee for 20 years, an accomplishment to be proud off.
- Bryant was questioned for his patriotism, when he refused to play in the 2000 Olympics due to his marriage.
- Bryant won two Gold medals when he participated in 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. Team USA beat Spain in both the finals.
- Bryant is considered by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the One of the Greatest Player in the History of our Game. Sporting and TNT named Bryant as the NBA Player of the Decade for 2000s.
- He is the first player to score 30,000 points in NBA history, with 6000 rebounds and 6000 assists.
- Bryant has been selected to ALL-NBA Team on 15 occasions and in the ALL-Star Team on 17 occasions. He was voted as Most Valuable Player four times.
- Bryant is very fluent in Italian and Spanish. He likes himself to be referred as Black Mamba to its accuracy and speed, in comparison to his basketball skills
- On April 18, 2001 Bryant married Vanessa at St, Edward Roman Catholic Church, in Dana Point, California. They have two daughters.
- On July 2009 he was awarded as the Cultural Ambassador by the Asian society. The function was attended by Minister of Sport Mr. Liu Peng , a member of China’s Communist Party Central Committee.
- Bryant supports charity. He the official ambassador for After School All-Stars, a national charity. He also supports lives of youth and family in need through Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation.
- Bryant established a sports industry Kobe Inc and launched Body Armor Sorts Drink in 2014.
- He demands a salary of 25 million dollars (USD) apart from many endorsements.
- Bryant disagreed with Kevin Durant’s criticism of the media, but appreciated the support.
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