How Kobe Bryant Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline
A detailed timeline of the impact and legacy of Kobe Bryant across different fields.
Kobe Bryant, a celebrated American professional basketball player, dedicated his entire 20-year career to the Los Angeles Lakers. A shooting guard renowned as one of basketball's greatest, he secured five NBA championships. Bryant's accolades include 18 All-Star selections, a 2008 NBA MVP award, and two NBA Finals MVP titles. He earned spots on 15 All-NBA Teams and 12 All-Defensive Teams, and he was a two-time scoring champion. Bryant holds the fourth position in all-time regular season and postseason scoring. In 2020, he was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
September 2004: Assault case dropped and public apology
In September 2004, the sexual assault case against Bryant was dropped after the accuser declined to testify. Bryant issued a public apology, acknowledging the accuser's different perception of the encounter and later settled a separate lawsuit privately.
2008: ESPN ranks Bryant as second-greatest shooting guard
In 2008, ESPN ranked Kobe Bryant as the second-greatest shooting guard of all time, only behind Michael Jordan.
2009: Lil Wayne's Song "Kobe Bryant"
In 2009, American rapper Lil Wayne released a song titled "Kobe Bryant,"
2010: Sho Baraka's Song "Kobe Bryant On'em"
In 2010, American rapper Sho Baraka released a song called "Kobe Bryant On'em", which was featured on his album Lions and Liars.
2012: Chief Keef's Song "Kobe"
In 2012, American rapper Chief Keef released "Kobe", a song paying tribute to Bryant, and featured on his debut studio album, Finally Rich, as a part of the deluxe edition.
2016: ESPN again ranks Bryant as second-greatest shooting guard
In 2016, ESPN again ranked Kobe Bryant as the second-greatest shooting guard of all time, only behind Michael Jordan.
December 18, 2017: Lakers retire Kobe Bryant's jersey numbers
On December 18, 2017, the Los Angeles Lakers retired both jersey numbers worn by Kobe Bryant during his career, numbers 8 and 24.
2017: Lakers Retired Numbers
In 2017, the Lakers retired both Kobe Bryant's Nos. 8 and 24, making him the only player in NBA history to have multiple numbers retired by the same franchise.
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 was published by MCD / Farrar, Straus and Giroux, featuring photographs and an afterword by Andrew D. Bernstein, an introduction by Phil Jackson, and a foreword by Pau Gasol. The book looks back on his career with photos and his reflections.
2018: Appearance in In Memoriam Segment of Academy Awards
In 2018, Kobe Bryant also appeared at the start of the In Memoriam segment of the 92nd Academy Awards following his Oscar in 2018 for Dear Basketball, and Spike Lee wore a suit in tribute to him at the ceremony.
2018: Academy Award Win for "Dear Basketball"
In 2018, Kobe Bryant became the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, as well as the first former professional athlete to win an Oscar in any category, for his film Dear Basketball. The film also won the Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject and a Sports Emmy Award. Bryant was denied membership into the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences due to his past sexual abuse case. The film was produced by Bryant's production company, Granity Studios.
2018: Launch of Television Series Detail
In 2018, Kobe Bryant began writing, producing, and hosting the television series Detail, which aired for multiple seasons on ESPN and ESPN+. The show featured his basketball insights and analyses of games and players.
2018: Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film
In 2018, Kobe Bryant won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for Dear Basketball (2017).
March 2020: Posthumous Release of "The Wizenard Series: Season One"
In March 2020, the fourth novel co-written/produced by Kobe Bryant through Granity Studios, The Wizenard Series: Season One, was released posthumously, topping the New York Times middle-grade hardcover list.
April 2020: Bryant elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
In April 2020, Kobe Bryant was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, weeks after being named a finalist in his first year of eligibility.
May 2020: Mamba Sports Academy Renamed to Sports Academy
In May 2020, the Mamba Sports Academy was renamed to Sports Academy out of respect for Kobe Bryant.
August 2020: Omission from VMAs and Emmys Montages
In August 2020, Kobe Bryant was not included in the montages at the 2020 VMAs and Emmys. Fans were upset at the omission.
2020: Lakers Wear 'Black Mamba' Jerseys in Playoffs
During the 2020 NBA playoffs, the Lakers' players wore 'Black Mamba' jerseys in honor of Kobe Bryant.
2020: Snoop Dogg's Homage Tattoo and Lakers' Championship
In 2020, After the Lakers beat the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the 2020 NBA Finals to clinch the franchise's 17th NBA championship, rapper Snoop Dogg paid homage to Kobe Bryant and the Lakers with a full forearm tattoo.
2020: Honorary WNBA Draft Picks
In 2020, Gianna Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli, and Payton Chester were made honorary draft picks in the WNBA draft.
2020: Tributes at the 2020 Pro Bowl
In 2020, the 2020 Pro Bowl was played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on the day of the crash, and before kickoff, NFC players who learned of Bryant's death conducted a prayer led by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, while various on-field and PA tributes were made during the game.
October 2021: Bryant Honored on 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.
2021: Posthumous Induction into Basketball Hall of Fame
In 2021, Kobe Bryant was posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, with Vanessa Bryant delivering the acceptance speech on his behalf.
2021: Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In 2021, Kobe Bryant was posthumously named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
January 26, 2022: Statue of Kobe and Gianna Bryant Placed at Crash Site
On January 26, 2022, coinciding with the second anniversary of his death, a statue of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna was placed at the site where the helicopter crash occurred.
2022: Vanessa Bryant Awarded $15 Million in Civil Trial
In 2022, Vanessa Bryant was awarded $15 million from L.A. County in a civil trial, included in a later settlement to conclude legal proceedings over graphic photos of the aftermath of the helicopter crash that were shared without the permission of the family.
2022: Bryant named 10th-greatest player in NBA history by The Athletic
In 2022, to commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary, The Athletic ranked Kobe Bryant as the 10th-greatest player in NBA history.
February 28, 2023: Vanessa Bryant Awarded $28.85 Million Settlement
On February 28, 2023, Vanessa Bryant was awarded a $28.85 million settlement from Los Angeles County to conclude legal proceedings over graphic photos of the aftermath of the helicopter crash that were shared without the permission of the family.
August 24, 2023: Kobe Bryant Statue Reveal Date Announced
On August 24, 2023, the Lakers announced that Kobe Bryant's statue outside of the Crypto.com Arena would be revealed on February 8, 2024.
February 8, 2024: Scheduled Reveal Date for Kobe Bryant Statue
On February 8, 2024, Kobe Bryant's statue outside of the Crypto.com Arena is scheduled to be revealed, honoring his two numbers with the Lakers, 8 and 24, and 2 for the number of his daughter Gianna.
February 2025: Bryant to Get Statue in National Garden of American Heroes
In February 2025, Donald Trump announced that Kobe Bryant would get a statue in the proposed National Garden of American Heroes.
Mentioned in this timeline
Cristiano Ronaldo nicknamed CR is a Portuguese professional footballer widely...
Basketball is a team sport played on a rectangular court...
Adidas AG is a German multinational corporation the largest sportswear...
Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr known as Snoop Dogg is a...
Coca-Cola a cola soft drink manufactured by The Coca-Cola Company...
LeBron James nicknamed King James is a highly decorated American...
Trending
15 minutes ago Rolene Strauss Visited Demi-Leigh Tebow in Florida for a Memorable Stay.
15 minutes ago Brian Kilmeade dismisses free speech concerns, slams Chris Cuomo on Fox & Friends.
16 minutes ago Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie's Relationship strained due to Piers Morgan's Influence?
16 minutes ago Brandon Aiyuk Trade Unlikely, Contract Complicates 49ers' Options, Patriots' Speculation Arises
16 minutes ago Earth Day Celebrations: Art Contest, Recycling Event, and Waste Management Initiatives
1 hour ago Jessica Simpson Claims Snake Sperm Improves Vocals For Comeback; Calls It 'Honey'
Popular
Jasmine Crockett is an American lawyer and politician currently serving...
Bruce Pearl is an American college basketball coach currently head...
LeBron James nicknamed King James is a highly decorated American...
Cristiano Ronaldo nicknamed CR is a Portuguese professional footballer widely...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is a celebrated American...
Pamela Jo Bondi is an American attorney lobbyist and politician...