Discover the career path of Kobe Bryant, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Kobe Bryant, a celebrated shooting guard, played his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Recognized as one of basketball's greatest, he secured five NBA championships, 18 All-Star selections, and the 2008 NBA MVP award. Bryant earned two NBA Finals MVP awards and two scoring titles, holding the fourth-highest rank in NBA regular season and postseason scoring history. Posthumously honored, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021 and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice; once in 2020 as a player and again in 2025 for his contribution to the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.
In January 2006, Kobe became the first player since 1964 to score 45 points or more in four consecutive games, joining Chamberlain and Baylor as the only players to do so.
In Kobe Bryant's second season, in 1983, four players on the same team were selected to play in the same All-Star Game.
The Lakers won their first championship since 1988 in 2000.
In 2004, the Detroit Pistons won their first championship since 1990, defeating the Lakers in five games.
During his junior year, Kobe Bryant averaged impressive stats and was named Pennsylvania Player of the Year, attracting attention from college recruiters in 1995.
On July 9, 1996, the trade was made final, sending Kobe Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets to the Los Angeles Lakers after Vlade Divac relented on his threat to retire.
Before starting the 1996–97 season, Kobe Bryant signed a six-year contract with Adidas worth approximately $48 million. His first signature shoe was the Equipment KB 8.
Before the 1996 NBA draft, Kobe Bryant scrimmaged against former Lakers players in Los Angeles and impressed the Lakers general manager, Jerry West.
In 1996, Kobe Bryant debuted in the Summer Pro League, scoring 25 points and showing great promise. Later that year he began his NBA career as a rookie, playing limited minutes initially.
In 1996, Kobe Bryant decided to go directly into the NBA after considering college offers, becoming only the sixth player in NBA history to do so.
In 1996, Kobe Bryant declared for the NBA draft and was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick before being traded to the Lakers.
In 1997, Kobe Bryant appeared on an episode of Hang Time, expanding his presence in television.
In 1997, Kobe Bryant performed at a concert by Sway & King Tech, showcasing his early musical endeavors alongside his basketball career.
In 1997, Kobe Bryant won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and was its youngest winner.
In 1997, Kobe Bryant won the Slam Dunk Contest and was named an All-Star by his second season.
In 1997, during the All-Star weekend, Kobe Bryant participated in the Rookie Challenge and won the Slam Dunk Contest.
In 1998, Kobe Bryant appeared on an episode of the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series All That. That same year, he turned down the role of Jesus Shuttlesworth in Spike Lee's film He Got Game.
In 1998, Kobe Bryant emerged as a premier guard in the league. Bryant started every game for the lockout-shortened 50-game season.
In January 1999, Kobe Bryant made his only credited appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 as a featured rapper on Brian McKnight and Tone's single "Hold Me," which peaked at number 35.
In 1999, Kobe Bryant appeared on a remix of "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child on the Maxi single version of the song.
In 1999, Kobe Bryant was sidelined for six weeks due to a hand injury sustained during a preseason game against the Washington Wizards.
In 1999, Phil Jackson became the coach of the Lakers, improving Kobe Bryant's fortunes.
There was no NBA All-Star Game in 1999. Bryant was voted to start in the NBA All-Star Game for the third year in a row in 2000.
In January 2000, Kobe Bryant's first single, "K.O.B.E'", which featured Tyra Banks, debuted. The single was performed at NBA All-Star Weekend that same month, but it was not well received, leading to Sony abandoning plans for the album, Visions.
In 2000, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal won the first of three consecutive NBA championships with Phil Jackson as coach.
In 2000, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers won their first championship since 1988, defeating the Indiana Pacers in the Finals. Bryant had clutch performances, including Game 4 where he led the team to an overtime victory with 22 points in the second half after O'Neal fouled out. The Lakers won the series 4-2.
In 2000, Kobe Bryant declined to participate in the Olympics due to his upcoming wedding in the off-season.
In 2000, Kobe Bryant's performance remained similar to the previous year, but he averaged six more points per game (28.5). Disagreements between Bryant and O'Neal also began to surface during the season.
On August 24, 2008, Team USA won its first gold medal since the 2000 Olympics. Kobe Bryant scored 20 points in the gold medal game, leading Team USA to defeat Spain 118–107.
The series against the Sacramento Kings would stretch to seven games, the first time this had happened to the Lakers since the 2000 Western Conference Finals.
In 2001, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal won their second consecutive NBA championship under coach Phil Jackson.
In the 2001–02 season, Bryant played 80 games for the first time in his career.
On January 14, 2002, Kobe Bryant scored a then career-high 56 points, along with five rebounds and four assists, in a 120–81 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
In 2002, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal secured their third consecutive NBA championship with the Lakers.
In 2002, Kobe Bryant decided not to play in the FIBA World Championship.
In 2002, at age 23, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to win three championships after the Lakers defeated the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals. He averaged 26.8 points, 51.4% shooting, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists per game in the series.
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.
On January 7, 2003, Kobe Bryant set an NBA record for three-pointers in a game, making 12 against the Seattle SuperSonics.
In 1998, Bryant signed a six-year contract extension worth $70 million, which kept him with the Lakers until the end of the 2003-04 season.
In 2003, Kobe Bryant initially selected for the FIBA Americas Championship, but withdrew after undergoing shoulder and knee surgeries.
In 2003, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game.
The book "The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul" detailed the events of the Lakers' tumultuous 2003–04 season and has several criticisms of Bryant.
In 2004, after the Lakers lost the NBA Finals, Shaquille O'Neal was traded, and Kobe Bryant became the franchise's cornerstone.
In 2004, the Memphis Grizzlies were swept in four games by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, marking the first time a 50-win team had been swept out of the first round since that event.
On December 20, 2005, Kobe Bryant scored 62 points in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks, outscoring the entire Mavericks team 62–61, a feat unmatched since the introduction of the shot clock.
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
In 2005, Kobe Bryant led the NBA in scoring during the 2005–06 season.
On January 16, 2006, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal made headlines by engaging in handshakes and hugs before the game between the Lakers and the Miami Heat, indicating a change in their long-standing feud.
On January 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a 122–104 victory over the Toronto Raptors, marking the second-highest point total in NBA history.
On January 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a single NBA game.
During the 2006–07 season, Kobe Bryant was selected to his ninth All-Star Game appearance, and on February 18, he logged 31 points, six assists, and six steals, earning his second career All-Star Game MVP trophy.
In 2006, Kobe Bryant changed his jersey number from 8 to 24. In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers reached a 3–1 series lead over the Phoenix Suns but ultimately lost in seven games.
In 2006, Kobe Bryant led the NBA in scoring during the 2005-06 season and scored 81 points against Toronto, which was the second-highest in NBA history.
In 2006, Kobe Bryant was publicly named to the 2006-2008 U.S. preliminary roster along with LeBron James. However, he was sidelined after knee surgery and did not participate in the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
In the 2006-07 season, Kobe Bryant led the NBA in scoring.
On May 27, 2007, Kobe Bryant initially expressed a desire to be traded if Jerry West didn't return to the Lakers with full authority. He later confirmed wanting West back but denied demanding a trade. After a dispute with a Lakers insider and a conversation with coach Jackson, Bryant requested a trade, then reconsidered after talking with coach Jackson.
On December 23, 2007, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player at 29 years and 122 days old to reach 20,000 career points, scoring 39 points against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. He also had 11 rebounds and eight assists in that game. This record has since been broken by LeBron James.
CNN estimated Kobe Bryant's endorsement deals in 2007 to be worth $16 million a year.
In 2007, Kobe Bryant began his United States national team career, being a member of the 2007 USA Men's Senior National Team and USA FIBA Americas Championship Team.
In the 2007 NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns, losing the series 4–1.
On May 6, 2008, Kobe Bryant was officially announced as the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) after leading his team to a West-leading 57–25 record.
On May 8, 2008, Kobe Bryant was the only unanimous selection 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.
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.
On August 24, 2008, Kobe Bryant scored 20 points in the gold medal game, leading Team USA to defeat Spain 118–107 and secure their first gold medal since the 2000 Olympics.
In 2008, Kobe Bryant and his wife were founding donors of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, with Bryant also donating his uniform from the 2008 NBA Finals, the year Bryant was named the league MVP.
In 2008, Kobe Bryant appeared in commercials for the video game Guitar Hero World Tour with Tony Hawk, Michael Phelps, and Alex Rodriguez.
In 2008, Kobe Bryant was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP).
In 2008, Kobe Bryant was sidelined due to knee surgery.
In 2008, Kobe Bryant was voted the league MVP and won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. men's basketball team at the Summer Olympics.
In 2008, Kobe Bryant won a gold medal as part of the U.S. Olympic team.
In 2008, Kobe Bryant's team won gold at the USA FIBA Americas Championship, securing qualification for the United States men's team for the 2008 Olympics.
In 2010, the Lakers faced the Boston Celtics in a rematch of the 2008 NBA Finals, with Bryant leading the Lakers to victory in seven games to win the championship.
In a 2008 video promoting Nike's Hyperdunk shoes, Kobe Bryant appears to jump over a speeding Aston Martin. After promoting Nike's Hyperdunk shoes, Bryant came out with the fourth edition of his signature line by Nike, the Zoom Kobe IV.
On February 2, 2009, Kobe Bryant scored 61 points in a game against the New York Knicks, setting a record for the most points scored at Madison Square Garden.
On February 9, 2009, Kobe Bryant was featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine—not for anything basketball related, but about his being a big fan of FC Barcelona.
On December 4, 2009, Kobe Bryant made a buzzer-beating, one-legged three-pointer over Dwyane Wade, leading the Lakers to a 108–107 victory over the Miami Heat.
In 2009, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to another NBA Championship and was named NBA Finals MVP.
In 2009, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to another championship and won the Finals MVP award.
In 2009, Spike Lee's documentary film Kobe Doin' Work, chronicling Bryant during the 2007–08 NBA season, was released.
On April 2, 2010, Kobe Bryant signed a three-year contract extension worth $87 million with the Los Angeles Lakers.
On November 4, 2010, Kobe Bryant appeared with Zach Braff at the Call of Duty: Black Ops launch event and presented a $1 million check to the Call of Duty Endowment, an Activision-founded nonprofit helping veterans transition to civilian careers.
On December 13, 2010, Kobe Bryant signed a two-year endorsement deal with Turkish Airlines.
During the 2009-2010 season, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player at 31 years and 151 days old to reach 25,000 career points, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain.
In 2010, Kobe Bryant appeared in commercials for the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops alongside Jimmy Kimmel.
In 2010, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to another NBA Championship and was again named NBA Finals MVP.
In 2010, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to another championship and won the Finals MVP award.
In 2010, Nike launched another shoe, Nike Zoom Kobe V.
On January 30, 2011, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to score 27,000 points in a game against the Boston Celtics.
In 2011, Kobe Bryant was featured in Taiwanese singer Jay Chou's single "The Heaven and Earth Challenge", also known as "Tian Di Yi Dou". The proceeds for downloads were donated to impoverished schools for basketball facilities and equipment.
In 2011, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game.
On January 10, 2012, Kobe Bryant scored 48 points against the Phoenix Suns. After the game, Bryant referred to a preseason ESPN ranking that placed him as the seventh-best player in the league.
In September 2012, Kobe Bryant shot a commercial for Turkish Airlines with FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi, competing for the attention of a young boy.
On November 2, 2012, Kobe Bryant scored 40 points with two steals, passing Magic Johnson as the Lakers' career leader in steals. However, the Lakers lost the game to the Clippers and started the season 0–3 for the first time in 34 years.
In 2012, Kobe Bryant rejoined the national team for the Summer Olympics, where he won another gold medal and decided to retire from the team.
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 a game on the line, according to an annual survey.
In 2012, Kobe Bryant won another gold medal at the Summer Olympics.
In 2012, Kobe Bryant won his second gold medal as part of the U.S. Olympic team.
On March 30, 2013, Kobe Bryant surpassed Wilt Chamberlain to become the fourth-leading scorer in league history, during a victory over Sacramento.
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.
In 2013, Kobe Bryant launched Granity Studios, a production company that developed different media, ranging from films to television shows and novels.
In 2013, Kobe Bryant was listed by Forbes as the fifth-highest paid sports star in the world.
In 2013, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game.
In March 2014, Kobe Bryant established Kobe Inc. and made its initial investment with a 10% stake in the Bodyarmor SuperDrink company for $6 million.
On November 30, 2014, in an overtime victory against the Toronto Raptors, Kobe Bryant recorded his 20th career triple-double with 31 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds. At 36 years old, he became the oldest NBA player to reach 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game.
On August 22, 2016, Kobe Bryant and his business partner Jeff Stibel launched Bryant-Stibel, a venture capital firm focused on different businesses including media, data, gaming, and technology, with $100 million in funding.
In 2016, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game.
On December 18, 2017, the Los Angeles Lakers retired both numbers that Kobe Bryant wore during his career, 8 and 24.
In August 2018, with The Coca-Cola Company purchasing a minority stake in Bodyarmor SuperDrink, the valuation of Kobe Bryant's stake rose to approximately $200 million.
On October 23, 2018, Kobe Bryant's book The Mamba Mentality: How I Play was published, featuring photographs and reflections on his career. The book also featured contributions from Andrew D. Bernstein, Phil Jackson, and Pau Gasol.
In 2018, Kobe Bryant and Sports Academy launched Mamba Sports Academy, a joint athletic-training business venture. The academy established locations in Thousand Oaks and Redondo Beach, California.
In 2018, Kobe Bryant wrote, produced, and hosted the television series Detail, which aired on ESPN and ESPN+ for multiple seasons, showcasing his basketball insights.
In 2019, Kobe Bryant appeared on MTV's Ridiculousness.
In 2019, Kobe Bryant served as one of the global ambassadors of the FIBA Basketball World Cup held in China.
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