Kobe Bryant was a celebrated American professional basketball player, renowned as one of the greatest and most influential figures in the sport. Spending his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, he achieved remarkable success, securing five NBA championships. Bryant's exceptional skills and dedication earned him numerous accolades, including 18 All-Star selections, 15 All-NBA Team honors, and 12 All-Defensive Team selections. He was named the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player and twice earned the title of NBA Finals MVP. Bryant's scoring prowess is evident in his fourth-place ranking in both regular season and postseason league history. Posthumously, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and recognized as part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
1962: Chamberlain's 100-Point Game
Bryant's 81-point game on January 22, 2006 was the second-highest point total in NBA history, surpassed only by Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962.
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1964: Consecutive 45-Point Games
In January 2006, Kobe Bryant became the first player since 1964 to score 45 points or more in four consecutive games.
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1969: Jerry West's Finals Performance
In the 1969 NBA Finals, Jerry West averaged at least 32.4 points and 7.4 assists, a feat Kobe Bryant matched in 2009.
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August 23, 1978: Kobe Bryant's Birth
On August 23, 1978, Kobe Bean Bryant was born. He would become an American professional basketball player.
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1983: All-Star Game
In 1983, four players on the same team were selected to play in the same All-Star Game.
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1987: Father Played for Olimpia Basket Pistoia
From 1987 to 1989, Kobe Bryant's father played for Olimpia Basket Pistoia, where Kobe practiced shooting at halftime during games.
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1987: Jordan's 50-plus Point Games
In 1987, Michael Jordan was the last player to score 50+ points in three straight games before Kobe Bryant matched the feat.
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1988: Lakers Last Championship
The Lakers won their first championship since 1988 in 2000.
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1989: Father Played for Olimpia Basket Pistoia
From 1987 to 1989, Kobe Bryant's father played for Olimpia Basket Pistoia, where Kobe practiced shooting at halftime during games.
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1990: Pistons First Championship
The Detroit Pistons won their first championship since 1990 in 2004.
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1995: Contemplating Going to the NBA
After high schooler Kevin Garnett went in the first round of the 1995 NBA draft, Bryant also began contemplating going directly to the pros.
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1995: Adidas ABCD Camp MVP
In 1995, at Adidas ABCD Camp, Bryant earned the senior MVP award while playing alongside future NBA teammate Lamar Odom.
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May 1996: Date with Brandy to Senior Prom
In May 1996, Kobe Bryant attended Brandy's Hollywood High School senior prom as her date, after meeting her at a Nike All-Star basketball game.
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July 9, 1996: Trade Finalized with Lakers
On July 9, 1996, the trade sending Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers was finalized after Divac relented on his threat to retire.
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1996: Adidas Contract
Before starting the 1996–97 season, Kobe Bryant signed a six-year contract with Adidas worth approximately $48 million.
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1996: Pre-Draft Scrimmages
Before the 1996 NBA draft, Bryant worked out in Los Angeles and scrimmaged against former Lakers players.
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1996: Bryant goes to prom with Brandy
In 1996, Bryant took R&B singer Brandy to her Hollywood High senior prom.
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1996: NBA Draft
In 1996, Kobe Bryant declared for the NBA draft and was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick, later traded to the Lakers.
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1996: NBA Rookie Season
In 1996, Kobe Bryant started his NBA rookie season with the Lakers, mostly coming off the bench.
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1997: Appearance on Hang Time
In 1997, Kobe Bryant appeared on an episode of Hang Time.
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1997: Performance with Sway & King Tech
In 1997, Kobe Bryant performed at a concert by Sway & King Tech and recorded a verse for a remix of Brian McKnight's "Hold Me."
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1997: All-Rookie Second Team
In 1997, Kobe Bryant was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
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1997: Won NBA Slam Dunk Contest
In 1997, Kobe Bryant won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and was its youngest winner.
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1997: Slam Dunk Contest Win
In 1997, as a rookie, Bryant won the Slam Dunk Contest.
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1998: Guest appearance on All That
In 1998, Kobe Bryant made a guest appearance on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series All That. He also turned down the role of Jesus Shuttlesworth in Spike Lee's film He Got Game in 1998.
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1998: Premier Guard
The 1998-99 season marked Kobe Bryant's emergence as a premier guard in the NBA league.
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November 1999: Meeting Vanessa Laine
In November 1999, 21-year-old Kobe Bryant met 17-year-old Vanessa Laine while she was working as a background dancer on a music video.
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1999: NBA All-Star Game
Bryant was also voted to start in the NBA All-Star Game for the third year in a row (no game in 1999).
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1999: Featured on Destiny's Child Remix
In 1999, Kobe Bryant appeared on a remix of "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child.
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1999: Hand Injury Sidelines Bryant
In 1999, Kobe Bryant was sidelined for six weeks due to a hand injury sustained in a preseason game.
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1999: Phil Jackson became coach of the Lakers
In 1999, Phil Jackson took over as coach of the Lakers, improving Bryant's fortunes.
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January 2000: Debut of "K.O.B.E."
In January 2000, Kobe Bryant's first single, "K.O.B.E.", featuring Tyra Banks, debuted and was performed at NBA All-Star Weekend.
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May 2000: Engagement to Vanessa Laine
In May 2000, Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Laine got engaged six months after they met.
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2000: NBA Championship
In 2000, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to their first of three consecutive NBA championships.
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2000: First Championship
In 2000, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers won their first NBA championship since 1988, defeating the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the Finals.
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2000: Bryant's Performance
Statistically, the 2000-01 season saw Bryant perform similarly to the previous year, but he averaged six more points per game (28.5).
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2000: Western Conference Finals
The series would stretch to seven games, the first time this had happened to the Lakers since the 2000 Western Conference Finals.
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April 18, 2001: Marriage to Vanessa Laine
On April 18, 2001, Kobe Bryant married Vanessa Laine at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point, California, in a ceremony not attended by his parents.
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2001: Season
In the 2001-02 season, Bryant played 80 games for the first time in his career.
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January 14, 2002: Career-High 56 Points
On January 14, 2002, Kobe Bryant scored a then career-high 56 points against the Memphis Grizzlies.
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January 2002: Home Purchase in Newport Coast
In January 2002, Kobe Bryant bought a Mediterranean-style house for $4 million in Newport Coast, Newport Beach.
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March 1, 2002: Suspension for Punching Reggie Miller
On March 1, 2002, Kobe Bryant was suspended for one game after punching Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers.
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2002: NBA Championship
In 2002, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to their third of three consecutive NBA championships.
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2002: Third Championship
In the 2002 Finals against the New Jersey Nets, Bryant averaged 26.8 points, 51.4% shooting, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists per game, which included scoring a quarter of the team's points. At age 23, he became the youngest player to win three championships.
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2002: Loss to the Spurs
The first game of the 2002-03 season, Bryant recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and four steals in an 87–82 loss to the visiting Spurs.
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January 7, 2003: NBA Record for Three-Pointers
On January 7, 2003, Kobe Bryant set an NBA record for three-pointers in a game, making 12 against the Seattle SuperSonics.
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January 2003: Birth of Natalia Bryant
In January 2003, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant's first daughter, Natalia, was born.
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June 18, 2003: Sexual Assault Charge
On June 18, 2003, Kobe Bryant was charged in Eagle, Colorado, in connection with a sexual assault complaint filed by a 19-year-old hotel employee.
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2003: Sexual Assault Allegation
In 2003, Bryant was charged with sexual assault, with charges later dropped after the accuser refused to testify.
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2003: Leading All-Star Vote-Getter
In 2003, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star game.
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2003: First meeting between Shaq and Yao Ming
In 2003, the first head-to-head meeting between Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming became the most-watched game, highlighting Kobe Bryant's era.
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2003: Six-Year Contract Extension
In 2003-04 season, Bryant signed a six-year contract extension worth $70 million.
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2003: Book Details Lakers Season
Phil Jackson wrote The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul. The book detailed the events of the Lakers' tumultuous 2003–04 season and has several criticisms of Bryant.
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September 2004: Assault Case Dropped
In September 2004, the sexual assault case against Kobe Bryant was dropped by prosecutors after the accuser decided not to testify, leading to Bryant issuing a public apology.
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2004: Most Alienated Superstar
According to sportswriter Mark Heisler, around 2004 Kobe Bryant was considered the most alienated superstar in the NBA.
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2004: Criticism and Damaged Reputation
In 2004, Kobe Bryant faced scrutiny and criticism, with his reputation damaged due to events of the previous year, including criticisms in Phil Jackson's book.
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2004: Lakers Lost NBA Finals
In 2004, the Lakers lost the NBA Finals, leading to O'Neal's trade and Bryant becoming the franchise's cornerstone.
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2004: Loss to the Pistons
In 2004, the Lakers, with a star-studded lineup, reached the NBA Finals but were upset by the Detroit Pistons in five games.
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December 20, 2005: 62 Points in Three Quarters
On December 20, 2005, Kobe Bryant scored 62 points in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks, outscoring the entire Mavericks team.
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2005: End of Season
By the end of the 2005–06 season, Bryant set Lakers single-season franchise records for most 40-point games (27) and most points scored (2,832).
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2005: NBA Leading Scorer
In the 2005-06 season, Bryant led the NBA in scoring.
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January 16, 2006: Reconciliation with Shaquille O'Neal
On January 16, 2006, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal made headlines by engaging in handshakes and hugs before a game, signifying a change in their relationship.
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January 22, 2006: Career-High 81 Points
On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points, the second-most in a single NBA game.
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January 22, 2006: 81-Point Game
On January 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a 122–104 victory over the Toronto Raptors, the second-highest point total in NBA history.
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May 2006: Birth of Gianna Bryant
In May 2006, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant's second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore, was born.
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2006: All-Star Game MVP
During the 2006–07 season, on February 18, Kobe Bryant logged 31 points, six assists, and six steals, earning his second career All-Star Game MVP trophy.
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2006: 81-point performance against Toronto
In 2006, Kobe Bryant had an 81-point performance against Toronto which was the second-highest in NBA history, behind only Chamberlain's 100.
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2006: Jersey Number Change
Later in the 2006 season, it was reported that Kobe Bryant would change his jersey number from 8 to 24 at the start of the 2006–07 season.
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May 27, 2007: Trade Request and Reconsideration
On May 27, 2007, Kobe Bryant expressed a desire to be traded due to anger over comments made by a Lakers insider regarding Shaquille O'Neal's departure, but later reconsidered after a conversation with coach Jackson.
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December 23, 2007: Youngest to Reach 20,000 Points
On December 23, 2007, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player at 29 years, 122 days old to reach 20,000 career points, in a game against the New York Knicks.
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2007: Most Alienated Superstar
According to sportswriter Mark Heisler, around 2007 Kobe Bryant was considered the most alienated superstar in the NBA.
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2007: Endorsement Deals Estimated
CNN estimated Kobe Bryant's endorsement deals in 2007 to be worth $16 million a year.
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2007: Filming for "Kobe Doin' Work" documentary during the 2007-08 NBA season
In 2007, filming began for Spike Lee's documentary film Kobe Doin' Work, which chronicled Bryant during the 2007-08 NBA season.
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2007: Playoff Elimination
In the 2007 NBA playoffs, the Lakers were eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns, losing the series 4-1.
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February 5, 2008: Finger Injury
On February 5, 2008, Kobe Bryant sustained a significant finger injury, including a complete tear of the radial collateral ligament, but chose to play through the injury for the remainder of the season.
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May 6, 2008: NBA MVP Award
On May 6, 2008, Kobe Bryant was officially announced as the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2007-2008 season.
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May 8, 2008: All-NBA and All-Defensive Team Selections
On May 8, 2008, Kobe Bryant was unanimously selected to the All-NBA First Team for the third straight season and named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
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June 23, 2008: Named to USA Olympic Team
On June 23, 2008, Kobe Bryant was named to the USA Men's Senior National Team for the 2008 Summer Olympics, marking his first Olympic appearance.
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August 24, 2008: Olympic Gold Medal
On August 24, 2008, Kobe Bryant scored 20 points as Team USA defeated Spain 118–107 in the gold medal game at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
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September 2008: Postponed Finger Surgery
In September 2008, Kobe Bryant decided to delay surgery on his injured right pinkie finger.
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2008: NBA MVP Award
In 2008, Bryant was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP).
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2008: ESPN ranks Bryant the second-greatest shooting guard of all time
In 2008, ESPN ranked Bryant the second-greatest shooting guard of all time after Jordan.
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2008: Guitar Hero World Tour Commercial
In 2008, Kobe Bryant appeared in commercials for the video game Guitar Hero World Tour.
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2008: Donation to National Museum of African American History and Culture
In 2008, Kobe Bryant donated his uniform from the NBA Finals, the year he was named league MVP, to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where he and his wife were founding donors.
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2008: Hyperdunk Promotion
In 2008, Kobe Bryant promoted Nike's Hyperdunk shoes, which featured a stunt of him jumping over a speeding Aston Martin.
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2008: Named League MVP and Led Team to NBA Finals
In 2008, Kobe Bryant was voted the league MVP and led his team to the 2008 NBA Finals as the first seed in the Western Conference. In the 2008 Summer Olympics, Bryant won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. men's basketball team.
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2008: Olympic Gold Medal
In 2008, Kobe Bryant won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team.
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2008: NBA Finals Appearance
In 2008, The Los Angeles Lakers reached the NBA finals against the Boston Celtics, but lost the series in six games
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2008: Rematch Against Celtics
In 2008, the Lakers faced a rematch in the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics
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February 2, 2009: Scoring Record at Madison Square Garden
On February 2, 2009, Kobe Bryant set a record for the most points scored at Madison Square Garden, with 61 points against the Knicks.
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February 9, 2009: ESPN The Magazine Cover
On February 9, 2009, Kobe Bryant was featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine, highlighting his being a big fan of FC Barcelona.
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December 4, 2009: Game-Winning Shot Against Miami
On December 4, 2009, Kobe Bryant made a buzzer-beating, one-legged three-pointer over Dwyane Wade, leading to the Lakers' victory over the Miami Heat.
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2009: Revealed Mets Fan
During the 2009 National League Championship Series, Kobe Bryant revealed that he grew up a fan of the New York Mets, despite supporting the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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2009: Lil Wayne releases "Kobe Bryant" song
In 2009, American rapper Lil Wayne released a song called "Kobe Bryant."
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2009: NBA Championship
In 2009, Bryant led the Lakers to an NBA championship and was named NBA Finals MVP.
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2009: Led Lakers to Championship and Won Finals MVP
In 2009, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to another championship and won the Finals MVP award.
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2009: Release of "Kobe Doin' Work" documentary
In 2009, Spike Lee's documentary film Kobe Doin' Work, chronicling Bryant during the 2007–08 NBA season, was released.
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April 2, 2010: Contract Extension
On April 2, 2010, Kobe Bryant signed a three-year contract extension worth $87 million with the Lakers.
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November 4, 2010: Call of Duty donation
On November 4, 2010, Kobe Bryant and Zach Braff presented a $1 million check to the Call of Duty Endowment at the Call of Duty: Black Ops launch event, aiding veterans' transition to civilian careers.
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December 13, 2010: Turkish Airlines Endorsement
On December 13, 2010, Kobe Bryant signed a two-year endorsement deal with Turkish Airlines.
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2010: Sho Baraka releases "Kobe Bryant On'em"
In 2010, American rapper Sho Baraka released a song called "Kobe Bryant On'em" on his album Lions and Liars.
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2010: NBA Championship and Finals MVP
In 2010, Bryant led the Lakers to another NBA championship and was again named NBA Finals MVP.
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2010: Call of Duty Commercial
In 2010, Kobe Bryant appeared in commercials for the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops.
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2010: Youngest to Reach 25,000 Points
In 2010, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player at 31 years, 151 days old to reach 25,000 career points, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain.
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2010: Led Lakers to Championship and Won Finals MVP
In 2010, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to another championship, winning the Finals MVP award.
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2010: Forbes Ranking
In 2010, Kobe Bryant was ranked third in Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes, with $48 million.
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January 30, 2011: Youngest to Score 27,000 Points
On January 30, 2011, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to score 27,000 points.
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April 13, 2011: Fine for Using Gay Slur
On April 13, 2011, Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 by the NBA for directing a gay slur at a referee during a game, leading to apologies and public service announcements.
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December 16, 2011: Vanessa Bryant files for divorce
On December 16, 2011, Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce from Kobe Bryant, citing irreconcilable differences.
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2011: Collaboration with Jay Chou for "The Heaven and Earth Challenge"
In 2011, Kobe Bryant collaborated with Taiwanese singer Jay Chou on the single "The Heaven and Earth Challenge", with proceeds benefiting impoverished schools. Bryant also appeared in the music video, and the song was used in a Sprite marketing campaign in China during 2011.
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2011: Leading All-Star Vote-Getter
In 2011, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star game.
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January 10, 2012: Kobe Bryant scores 48 points against the Phoenix Suns
On January 10, 2012, Kobe Bryant scored 48 points against the Phoenix Suns, following a preseason ranking that placed him as the seventh-best player in the league.
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September 2012: Commercial with Lionel Messi
In September 2012, Kobe Bryant shot a commercial for Turkish Airlines with FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
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November 2, 2012: Bryant passes Magic Johnson as Lakers' career leader in steals
On November 2, 2012, Kobe Bryant scored 40 points with two steals, surpassing Magic Johnson to become the Lakers' career leader in steals. Despite Bryant's achievement, the Lakers lost the game to the Clippers.
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2012: "Vino" Nickname
During the 2012 NBA season, Kobe Bryant began referring to himself as "vino" to describe how his play had been aging like a fine wine.
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2012: Torn Achilles Tendon
During the 2012-13 season, Bryant suffered a torn Achilles tendon.
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2012: Chief Keef releases "Kobe"
In 2012, American rapper Chief Keef released a song called "Kobe" as a tribute to Bryant on his album, Finally Rich.
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2012: McDonald's All-American
In 2012, Bryant was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans for his high school play as well as his later accomplishments.
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2012: Clutch Player Recognition
In 2012, Kobe Bryant was selected for the 10th consecutive season as the player NBA general managers would want to take a clutch shot with the game on the line.
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2012: Won Gold Medal at Summer Olympics
In 2012, Kobe Bryant won another gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
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2012: Olympic Gold Medal
In 2012, Kobe Bryant won another gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team.
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January 11, 2013: Divorce Called Off
On January 11, 2013, Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa announced via social media that they had called off their divorce.
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March 30, 2013: Bryant surpasses Chamberlain as fourth-leading scorer
On March 30, 2013, Kobe Bryant surpassed Wilt Chamberlain to become the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history during a victory over the Sacramento Kings.
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April 10, 2013: Bryant achieves unique stat line
On April 10, 2013, Kobe Bryant became the first player in NBA history to record at least 47 points, eight rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and three steals in a single game.
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2013: Forbes Ranking
In 2013, Forbes listed Kobe Bryant as the fifth-highest paid sports star in the world.
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2013: Memorabilia Dispute
In 2013, Kobe Bryant had a legal disagreement with an auction house over memorabilia from his early years that his parents had put up for auction, leading to a settlement.
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2013: Launch of Granity Studios
In 2013, Kobe Bryant launched Granity Studios, a production company focused on developing various media projects.
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2013: Leading All-Star Vote-Getter
In 2013, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star game.
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2013: Postponement of Celtics game due to Boston Marathon bombing
In 2013, the Boston Marathon bombing led to the postponement of a Celtics game, marking the first time an NBA game was postponed for any reason since that event. However, this event is not directly related to Kobe Bryant.
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March 2014: Investment in Bodyarmor SuperDrink
In March 2014, Kobe Bryant established Kobe Inc. and made his initial investment, acquiring a 10% stake in Bodyarmor SuperDrink for $6 million.
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November 30, 2014: Bryant records 20th career triple-double
On November 30, 2014, Kobe Bryant recorded his 20th career triple-double, scoring 31 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds in an overtime victory against the Toronto Raptors. At 36, he became the oldest NBA player to achieve 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game.
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January 21, 2015: Bryant Tears Rotator Cuff
On January 21, 2015, Kobe Bryant tore his rotator cuff in his right shoulder. He finished the game playing almost exclusively with his left hand, but underwent season-ending surgery shortly after.
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May 2015: Sale of Newport Coast Home
In May 2015, Kobe Bryant sold his Mediterranean-style house in Newport Coast, Newport Beach.
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November 24, 2015: Lakers fall to 2-12 as Bryant struggles against Warriors
On November 24, 2015, the Lakers lost to the Warriors with Kobe Bryant scoring just four points on 1-for-14 shooting, matching his worst-shooting game.
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November 29, 2015: Bryant announces his retirement
On November 29, 2015, Kobe Bryant announced his retirement from the NBA at the end of the 2015-16 season in a poem titled "Dear Basketball" published in The Players' Tribune.
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2015: Later Career Hampered By Injuries
Starting from 2015, the last years of Bryant's playing career were hampered by injuries and limited playing time.
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August 22, 2016: Launch of Bryant-Stibel venture capital firm
On August 22, 2016, Kobe Bryant and Jeff Stibel launched Bryant-Stibel, a venture capital firm with $100 million in funding focused on media, data, gaming, and technology businesses.
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December 2016: Birth of Third Daughter
In early December 2016, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant's third daughter was born.
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2016: ESPN ranks Bryant the second-greatest shooting guard of all time
In 2016, ESPN ranked Bryant the second-greatest shooting guard of all time after Jordan.
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2016: Leading All-Star Vote-Getter
In 2016, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star game.
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December 18, 2017: Lakers retire Kobe Bryant's jersey numbers
On December 18, 2017, the Los Angeles Lakers retired both numbers Kobe Bryant wore during his career, 8 and 24.
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2017: Lakers Retire Bryant's Numbers
In 2017, the Lakers retired both of Kobe Bryant's numbers, 8 and 24, a unique honor in NBA history.
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August 2018: Coca-Cola's investment in Bodyarmor
In August 2018, The Coca-Cola Company purchased a minority stake in Bodyarmor SuperDrink, increasing the valuation of Kobe Bryant's stake to approximately $200 million.
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October 23, 2018: Publication of "The Mamba Mentality: How I Play"
On October 23, 2018, Kobe Bryant's book, The Mamba Mentality: How I Play, which reflects on his career with photos and reflections, was published.
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2018: Academy Award Win
In 2018, Bryant won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for Dear Basketball (2017).
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2018: Launch of Mamba Sports Academy
In 2018, Kobe Bryant and Sports Academy launched Mamba Sports Academy, a joint athletic-training business venture, with locations in California.
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2018: Beginning of Detail television series
In 2018, Kobe Bryant began writing, producing, and hosting the television series Detail, which aired on ESPN and ESPN+.
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2018: Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film
In 2018, Kobe Bryant won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for his film Dear Basketball, becoming the first African-American to win in this category. The film also won the Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject and a Sports Emmy Award in 2018.
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2018: Appearance at 92nd Academy Awards
In 2018, after winning an Oscar for Dear Basketball, Kobe Bryant appeared at the start of the In Memoriam segment of the 92nd Academy Awards.
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January 2019: Expecting Fourth Daughter
In January 2019, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant announced they were expecting a fourth daughter.
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June 2019: Birth of Fourth Daughter
In June 2019, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant's fourth daughter was born.
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2019: Appearance on MTV's Ridiculousness
In 2019, Kobe Bryant appeared on MTV's Ridiculousness.
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2019: FIBA Ambassador
In 2019, Kobe Bryant was one of the global ambassadors of the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.
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January 2020: Helicopter Crash and Death
In January 2020, Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna passed away in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
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January 26, 2020: Kobe Bryant's Death
On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant passed away. He was a professional basketball player.
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March 2020: Posthumous release of "The Wizenard Series: Season One"
In March 2020, Kobe Bryant's fourth novel, The Wizenard Series: Season One, was released posthumously and topped the New York Times middle-grade hardcover list.
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April 2020: Election into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
In April 2020, Kobe Bryant was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, weeks after his death.
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May 2020: Mamba Sports Academy Renamed
In May 2020, the Mamba Sports Academy was renamed to Sports Academy out of respect for Kobe Bryant.
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August 2020: Omission from 2020 VMAs and Emmys
In August 2020, Kobe Bryant was not included in the montages at the 2020 VMAs and Emmys, causing upset among fans.
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2020: Lakers honor Bryant with 'Black Mamba' jerseys during NBA playoffs
During the 2020 NBA playoffs, the Lakers' players wore 'Black Mamba' jerseys in honor of Bryant. Designed by Bryant himself, the black jersey features a snakeskin pattern with yellow accents and 16 stars representing the team's 16 championships at the time. Following a Game 2 victory in the 2020 NBA Finals, LeBron James talked about how special it was to honor Bryant.
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2020: Honorary Draft Picks in WNBA
In 2020, Gianna Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli, and Payton Chester were made honorary draft picks in the WNBA draft.
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2020: Snoop Dogg's tribute tattoo
In 2020, after the Lakers won the NBA Finals, Snoop Dogg paid homage to Kobe Bryant and the Lakers with a full forearm tattoo.
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2020: Tributes at 2020 Pro Bowl
In 2020, the Pro Bowl was played on the day of Kobe Bryant's death, with NFC players conducting a prayer led by Russell Wilson and various on-field tributes made during the game.
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February 9, 2021: NTSB declares cause of helicopter crash
On February 9, 2021, the NTSB declared that pilot Ara Zobayan likely became disoriented after flying into thick clouds, causing the crash that killed Kobe Bryant and others.
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October 2021: Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In October 2021, Kobe Bryant was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
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2021: NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In 2021, Bryant was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
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2021: Posthumous Induction into Basketball Hall of Fame
In 2021, Kobe Bryant was posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, with his wife Vanessa delivering the acceptance speech on his behalf.
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January 26, 2022: Statue of Kobe and Gianna Bryant Placed at Crash Site
On January 26, 2022, which was the second anniversary of Kobe Bryant's death and the helicopter crash, a statue of Bryant and his daughter Gianna was placed at the site where the crash occurred.
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2022: Named 10th-greatest player of all time by The Athletic
In 2022, The Athletic ranked Kobe Bryant as the 10th-greatest player in NBA history and the second-highest shooting guard on the list, behind only Jordan.
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2022: Civil trial verdict
In 2022, Vanessa Bryant was awarded $15 million from L.A. County in a civil trial relating to the sharing of graphic photos from the helicopter crash, with additional funds to settle potential claims from her daughters.
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February 28, 2023: Settlement in crash photos lawsuit
On February 28, 2023, Vanessa Bryant was awarded a $28.85 million settlement from Los Angeles County over graphic photos of the helicopter crash aftermath that were shared without family permission.
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August 24, 2023: Lakers Announce Date for Kobe Bryant Statue Unveiling
On August 24, 2023, the Lakers stated that Kobe Bryant's statue outside of the Crypto.com Arena would be revealed on February 8, 2024, to honor his two numbers with the Lakers, 8 and 24, and 2 for the number of his daughter Gianna.
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February 8, 2024: Kobe Bryant Statue Unveiling
On February 8, 2024, the Kobe Bryant statue outside of the Crypto.com Arena will be revealed to honor his two numbers with the Lakers, 8 and 24, and 2 for the number of his daughter Gianna.
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2024: LeBron Breaks Missed Shot Record
In 2024, Lebron James broke Kobe Bryant's record for the most missed field goal attempts in NBA history.
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