Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kobe Bryant

Discover the career path of Kobe Bryant, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Kobe Bryant, a celebrated American professional basketball player, dedicated his 20-year NBA career to the Los Angeles Lakers. Renowned as one of basketball's greatest and most influential figures, he secured five NBA championships, earned 18 All-Star selections, and consistently featured in the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams. Bryant was honored as the 2008 NBA MVP and twice received the NBA Finals MVP award. His scoring prowess places him fourth in both regular season and postseason league history. Posthumously, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, solidifying his legacy.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

1964: First Player Since 1964

In January 2006, Kobe Bryant became the first player since 1964 to score 45 points or more in four consecutive games.

1983: Four All-Stars Selected to the Same Game

Kobe Bryant was joined by teammates O'Neal, Van Exel, and Jones, making it the first time since 1983 that four players on the same team were selected to play in the same All-Star Game.

July 9, 1996: Trade to the Lakers Finalized

On July 9, 1996, Kobe Bryant was officially traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

1996: Workout in Los Angeles

Before the 1996 NBA draft, Kobe Bryant worked out in Los Angeles.

1996: NBA Debut

In 1996, Kobe Bryant debuted in the Summer Pro League and played his rookie season with the Lakers.

1996: Signed with Adidas

In 1996, prior to the start of the 1996–97 season, Kobe Bryant signed a six-year contract with Adidas worth approximately $48 million.

1997: Appeared on Hang Time

In 1997, Kobe Bryant appeared on an episode of Hang Time, marking another guest appearance in his early acting career.

1997: Performed at Sway & King Tech Concert

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."

1997: NBA Slam Dunk Contest Winner

In 1997, Kobe Bryant won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and was its youngest winner.

1998: Guest appearance on All That

In 1998, Kobe Bryant made a guest appearance on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series All That, showcasing his versatility beyond basketball.

1998: Emergence as a Premier Guard

The 1998-99 season marked Kobe Bryant's emergence as a premier guard in the league.

1999: Start of Decade Scoring Dominance

From 1999-00 to 2008-09, Kobe Bryant started accumulating 21,065 points in regular season play.

1999: Remix of Say My Name

In 1999, Kobe Bryant appeared on a remix of "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child on the Maxi single version of the song.

1999: Phil Jackson Hired as Coach

In 1999, Phil Jackson became the coach of the Lakers, improving Bryant's fortunes.

1999: No All-Star Game in 1999

Kobe Bryant was voted to start in the NBA All-Star Game for the third year in a row in the 2000-01 season. There was no All-Star game in 1999.

January 2000: Single Release and Performance

In January 2000, Kobe Bryant's first single, "K.O.B.E'," featuring Tyra Banks, debuted and was performed at NBA All-Star Weekend.

2000: Lakers Win Championship

In 2000, Bryant and O'Neal led the Lakers to win 67 games, O'Neal won MVP, and Bryant was named to the All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team. They also won the 2000 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, marking their first championship since 1988.

2000: Bryant Leads Lakers in Assists

In the 2000-01 season, Bryant led the Lakers in assists with five per game, although the team won 56 games, which was an 11-game drop from the previous year.

2001: NBA Championship

In 2001, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal won the second of three consecutive NBA championships with the Lakers.

2001: Bryant's All-Round Play

In the 2001-02 season, Bryant played 80 games for the first time in his career and averaged 25.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, while shooting a career-high 46.9%.

January 14, 2002: Bryant Scores Career-High 56 Points

On January 14, 2002, Kobe Bryant scored a career-high 56 points against the Memphis Grizzlies.

2002: NBA Championship

In 2002, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal won the third of three consecutive NBA championships with the Lakers.

2002: Bryant Wins Third Championship

In the 2002 NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets, Kobe Bryant averaged 26.8 points and became the youngest player to win three championships at age 23, cementing his reputation as a "clutch player."

2002: Bryant's Season Start

In 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.

January 7, 2003: Bryant Sets 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.

2003: Shot Count Decrease

In 2003, Kobe Bryant averaged less than 20 shots a game, his fewest since the 2003–04 season.

2003: All-Star Leading Vote-Getter

In 2003, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter at the All-Star game.

2003: Contract Extension Ends

In 2003-04 Kobe Bryant's contract extension ended.

2004: Lakers Lose Finals to Pistons; Bryant Re-Signs

In 2004, the Lakers, despite having a strong lineup, were upset by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals. Kobe Bryant averaged 22.6 points in the series. Following this, Bryant declined an offer from the Clippers and re-signed with the Lakers for a seven-year contract.

December 20, 2005: Bryant Scores 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 62–61.

2005: Bryant's Scoring Title

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). He won the league's scoring title for the first time by averaging 35.4 points per game.

January 22, 2006: Career High 81 Points

On January 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a single NBA game.

2006: 81-Point Performance

In 2006, Kobe Bryant had an 81-point performance against Toronto, which was the second-highest in NBA history.

2006: Jersey Sales Increase

In 2006, Kobe Bryant's jersey became the top-selling NBA jersey in the United States and China, attributed to his new number and performance.

December 23, 2007: Youngest to Reach 20,000 Points

On December 23, 2007, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player at 29 years and 122 days old to reach 20,000 career points in a game against the New York Knicks.

2007: Filming of Kobe Doin' Work

During the 2007-08 NBA season, Kobe Bryant was filmed for Spike Lee's documentary Kobe Doin' Work, released in 2009.

2007: Lakers' 2007 Season

In 2007, the Lakers finished the regular season with a 57–25 record, finishing first in the Western Conference and setting up themselves for a first-round contest against the Nuggets.

2007: Playoff Elimination

In the 2007 NBA playoffs, the Lakers were eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns, 4–1.

May 6, 2008: League MVP Announcement

On May 6, 2008, Kobe Bryant was officially announced as the NBA's league MVP, marking a significant milestone in his career.

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 sixth time in his career. He also headlined the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

June 23, 2008: Named to USA Men's Senior National 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 time participating in the Olympics.

August 24, 2008: Won Gold Medal at the Olympics

On August 24, 2008, Kobe Bryant scored 20 points in the gold medal game, helping Team USA defeat Spain 118–107 to secure their first gold medal in a worldwide competition since the 2000 Olympics.

2008: Ranked Second-Greatest Shooting Guard of All Time

In 2008, ESPN ranked Kobe Bryant the second-greatest shooting guard of all time after Michael Jordan.

2008: Donated Uniform to National Museum of African American History and Culture

In 2008, Kobe Bryant donated the uniform he wore in the NBA Finals to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, marking his MVP year.

2008: Rematch Against Celtics in NBA Finals

In 2008, Kobe Bryant lead the Lakers to a rematch against the 2008 Champion Boston Celtics.

2008: League MVP and Olympics Gold Medal

In 2008, Kobe Bryant was voted the league MVP and led his team to the NBA Finals. He also won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics.

2008: Lakers Reach NBA Finals

In 2008, the Lakers earned their second straight trip to the NBA Finals.

January 21, 2009: Bryant Records Triple-Double

On January 21, 2009, Kobe Bryant recorded his first triple-double.

February 2, 2009: Record-Breaking Performance at Madison Square Garden

On February 2, 2009, Kobe Bryant scored 61 points in a game against the Knicks, setting a record for the most points scored at Madison Square Garden.

December 4, 2009: Game-Winning Shot Against Miami Heat

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.

2009: Subject of Kobe Doin' Work

In 2009, Kobe Bryant was the subject of Spike Lee's documentary film Kobe Doin' Work, which chronicled Bryant during the 2007–08 NBA season.

April 2, 2010: Contract Extension

On April 2, 2010, Kobe Bryant signed a three-year contract extension worth $87 million with the Lakers.

November 4, 2010: Call of Duty Endowment Donation

On November 4, 2010, Kobe Bryant, alongside Zach Braff, presented a $1 million check to the Call of Duty Endowment at the Call of Duty: Black Ops launch event, supporting veterans transitioning to civilian careers.

2010: Youngest to Reach 25,000 Points

In 2010, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player (31 years, 151 days) to reach 25,000 career points, surpassing Chamberlain.

2010: Back-to-Back Championship and Finals MVP

In 2010, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to another championship, winning the Finals MVP award again.

2010: Start of 2010-2011 Season

In 2010, the Lakers started the 2010–11 season by winning their first eight games.

January 30, 2011: Youngest to Score 27,000 Points

On January 30, 2011, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to score 27,000 points.

2011: Featured in "The Heaven and Earth Challenge"

In 2011, Kobe Bryant was featured in Taiwanese singer Jay Chou's single "The Heaven and Earth Challenge," with proceeds donated to impoverished schools for basketball facilities. The song was also used in a Sprite marketing campaign in China.

2011: All-Star Leading Vote-Getter

In 2011, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter at the All-Star game.

January 10, 2012: Bryant Scores 48 Points Against the Suns

On January 10, 2012, Kobe Bryant scored 48 points against the Phoenix Suns, which he noted was "Not bad for the seventh-best player in the league," referencing a preseason ESPN ranking.

November 2, 2012: Bryant Passes Magic Johnson in Lakers Career Steals

On November 2, 2012, Kobe Bryant scored 40 points with two steals, surpassing Magic Johnson as the Lakers' career leader in steals with 1,724. However, the Lakers lost the game to the Clippers, starting the season 0-3 for the first time in 34 years.

2012: Referenced Himself as Vino

During the 2012–13 season, Kobe Bryant began referring to himself as "vino" to describe how his play had been aging like a fine wine.

2012: Olympics Gold Medal and Retirement from National Team

In 2012, Kobe Bryant rejoined the national team for the Summer Olympics, and after winning another gold medal, he decided to retire from the team, finishing his national team career with an undefeated record.

2012: Selected as Clutch Player by NBA General Managers

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, highlighting his reputation as a premier closer.

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.

April 10, 2013: Bryant Achieves Unique Statistical Feat

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.

2013: Launched Granity Studios

In 2013, Kobe Bryant launched Granity Studios, a production company that developed various media projects, including films, television shows, and novels.

2013: All-Star Leading Vote-Getter

In 2013, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter at the All-Star game.

March 2014: Initial investment in Bodyarmor SuperDrink

In March 2014, Kobe Bryant made an initial investment in the Bodyarmor SuperDrink company for $6 million, acquiring a 10% stake.

November 30, 2014: Bryant Records 20th Career Triple-Double

On November 30, 2014, Kobe Bryant recorded his 20th career triple-double with 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.

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, focusing on media, data, gaming, and technology businesses.

2016: Ranked Second-Greatest Shooting Guard of All Time

In 2016, ESPN ranked Kobe Bryant the second-greatest shooting guard of all time after Michael Jordan.

2016: All-Star Leading Vote-Getter

In 2016, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter at the All-Star game.

December 18, 2017: Lakers Retire Both of Bryant's Numbers

On December 18, 2017, the Los Angeles Lakers retired both numbers Kobe Bryant wore during his career, 8 and 24, marking a unique honor in NBA history.

August 2018: Coca-Cola Purchase Boosts Bodyarmor Valuation

In August 2018, The Coca-Cola Company purchased a minority stake in Bodyarmor, causing the valuation of Kobe Bryant's stake to rise to approximately $200 million.

October 23, 2018: Publication of The Mamba Mentality

On October 23, 2018, Kobe Bryant's book "The Mamba Mentality: How I Play" was published, featuring photos and reflections on his career.

2018: Hosted Detail on ESPN

Beginning in 2018, Kobe Bryant wrote, produced, and hosted the television series Detail, which aired on ESPN and ESPN+.

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 Thousand Oaks and Redondo Beach, California.

2019: Appeared on MTV's Ridiculousness

In 2019, Kobe Bryant appeared on MTV's Ridiculousness, expanding his presence in television.

April 2020: Elected into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In April 2020, Kobe Bryant was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

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.

2022: Named Tenth-Greatest Player of All Time

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.