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The NBA season is set to begin tomorrow. As the Lakers take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Staples Center, Kobe Bean Bryant will enter his 20th NBA season.He has been plagued by injuries for the last few seasons.Kobe Bryant won't be playing back to back games this season and will also play lower minutes per game to prevent injuries.As the veteran embarks upon a journey to play out what may be his last season we look at the moments that define the legend he is.
Also read: Top 10 Regular season scorers in NBA History
Early Life
Kobe Bryant was born to Joe Bryant and Pamela Bryant on the 23rd of August,1978.Joe Bryant was playing for the Philadelphia 76eers and along with the family moved to Italy to pursue his basketball career in the Italian A1 league.Bryant was brought up in Italy, a country known for its football than basketball. Kobe would watch video tapes of NBA games that his grandfather sent him and practise basketball in Italy. He would keep perfecting the jumpshots that made him the great shooter that he is.Kobe would also go to see the basketball games in which his father played.The basketball background in the family helped Kobe get a closer feel for the game.As years passed by,the time would come for Kobe Bryant to move back to the United States of America.
Lower Merion High School and the NBA Draft
On his return to the United States, Kobe would go on to join Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania. Bryant had a spectacular high school career.He led the Aces to their first championship in 53 years.Bryant ended up scoring 2883 points in his highschool career, more than NBA Legend Wilt Chamberlain.Bryant's spectacular performances attracted colleges like Duke, North Carolina and Michigan to recruit him.Having seen Kevin Garnett get drafted into the NBA from highschool, Kobe decided to enter the NBA Draft instead of going to college.
The decision sparked a furore as turning to a pro from a prep was not common in the NBA in those days.Bryant had been involved in scrimmages and workouts with the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers.During the 1996 NBA Draft,the Hornets had agreed to trade their draft pick with the Lakers.The Lakers would pick Kobe Bryant after being impressed by his workouts with them.
Early Years
In his first season,Bryant would come off the bench initially but as the season progressed he started getting more minutes in the game.He would go on to win the NBA Slam Dunk competition.In the last game of that season for the Lakers, a crucial game against the Utah Jazz, Kobe shot 4 air balls.In his second season, he started getting more minutes on the court as a result of which he started averaging double figures.
Kobe started in every single game during his 3rd NBA season.His game was being compared with one of the greatest player to ever play the game, Michael Jordan. Kobe combined with Shaq to great effect and the Lakers were flourishing under the able Phil Jackson.
The Three-Peat
Phil Jackson became the coach of the Lakers in 1999.Phil Jackson employed the Triangular Offense formation with which he had won 6 NBA Championships with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Kobe and Shaq flourished under Jackson's coaching.Barring injury Kobe averaged almost 38 minutes per game as he became one of the best Elite shooting guards in the league.With their marquee players performing the Lakers would go on to win 3 consecutive championships in the years 2000,2001 and 2002 respectively.
The Kobe-Shaq Spat
Kobe Bryant got caught in a rape offence.While ego problems already existed between Kobe and Shaq,Kobe would go on to mention that "he should've paid the woman like Shaq does" to make things worse.With the rift widening in their relationship and Shaq wanting a bigger contract,the Lakers would let go off Shaq.Shaquille O Neal would join the Miami Heat while Kobe Bryant would remain with the Lakers despite rumours of him wanting to leave.
Rebuilding his legacy and the team
The split with Shaq not only harmed Kobe's image, it also deprived the Lakers of a matchwinner.One of the greatest duo's in the history of the NBA would both part their ways.Kobe had to rebuild the Lakers from scratch.And what better way to lead the team other than actually leading them in scoring.Kobe set off on a red hot streak almost single handedly winning the games for the Lakers through his will and tenacity.He would also make history during this streak by scoring 81 points (2nd highest individual scoring performance in the NBA history) against the Toronto Raptors.
Phil Jackson would again sign up as the Lakers coach.With Pau Gasol ,Ron Artest being signed the Lakers Kobe would again embark on a journey to win an NBA Championship.The Lakers would go on to win the Western Conference Championship for the 2008 season but would lose to the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals.
The Lakers came back stronger by winning the next two NBA Championships and Kobe Bryant was the NBA finals MVP in both the seasons.Their pusrsuit for a three-peat would be ended in the Western Conference semifinals by the Dallas Mavericks.
Team USA
Kobe Bryant missed the 2004 Olympics due to injury.He would be selected for the 2008 Olympics.Having won only the bronze medal in 2004 Olympics, pressure was on Team USA to bring the gold back to the states.The USA team won both the olympics that kobe would be a part of.
Other Achievements:-
- 5× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2009–2010)
- 2× NBA Finals MVP (2009–2010)
- NBA Most Valuable Player (2008)
- 17× NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2015)
- 4× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007, 2009,2011)
- 11× All-NBA First Team (2002–2004, 2006–2013)
- 2× All-NBA Second Team (2000–2001)
- 2× All-NBA Third Team (1999, 2005)
- 9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2000,2003–2004, 2006–2011)
- 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2001–2002,2012)
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1997)
- 2× NBA scoring champion (2006–2007)
- NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1997)
- Los Angeles Lakers all-time leading scorer
- Naismith Prep Player of the Year (1996)
