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 shooting guard, played his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Considered one of basketball's greatest and most influential players, he secured five NBA championships, earned 18 All-Star selections, and was named the 2008 NBA MVP. Bryant also boasts two NBA Finals MVP awards and two scoring titles, ranking fourth in all-time NBA scoring. Posthumously named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice: once as a player in 2020 and again as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in 2025.

Sections (6)

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

2006: NBA jersey sales

Throughout 2006–07, Bryant's jersey became the top selling NBA jersey in the US and China. Journalists attributed improved sales to Bryant's new number, as well as his All-Star performance.

2007: The events of the Spike Lee's documentary film Kobe Doin' Work, occur

During the 2007–08 NBA season, Spike Lee's documentary film Kobe Doin' Work chronicled Kobe Bryant.

2008: ESPN Ranked Bryant Second-Greatest Shooting Guard

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

2009: Lil Wayne releases Kobe Bryant song

In 2009, American rapper Lil Wayne released a song called "Kobe Bryant".

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2009: Kobe Doin' Work documentary film released

In 2009, Spike Lee's documentary film Kobe Doin' Work was released, chronicling Kobe Bryant during the 2007–08 NBA season.

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2010: Sho Baraka releases Kobe Bryant On'em song

In 2010, American rapper Sho Baraka released a song called "Kobe Bryant On'em", which was featured on his album Lions and Liars.

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2012: Chief Keef releases Kobe song

In 2012, American rapper Chief Keef released "Kobe", a song paying tribute to Kobe Bryant, which was featured on his debut studio album, Finally Rich.

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2016: ESPN Ranked Bryant Second-Greatest Shooting Guard Again

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

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

On December 18, 2017, the Los Angeles Lakers retired both numbers that Kobe Bryant wore during his career, 8 and 24.

2017: Dear Basketball release

In 2017, Kobe Bryant released Dear Basketball.

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2017: Lakers Retire Bryant's Numbers

In 2017, the Lakers retired both of Kobe Bryant's jersey numbers, 8 and 24, making him the only player in NBA history to have multiple numbers retired by the same franchise.

October 23, 2018: Bryant's Book 'The Mamba Mentality: How I Play' Was Published

On October 23, 2018, Kobe Bryant's book, The Mamba Mentality: How I Play, was published. It included photographs by Andrew D. Bernstein, an introduction by Phil Jackson, and a foreword by Pau Gasol. The book reflects on Bryant's career.

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play

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2018: Bryant wins Academy Award for Dear Basketball

In 2018, Kobe Bryant became the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for his film Dear Basketball. The film also won the Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject and a Sports Emmy Award.

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2018: Bryant Wrote, Produced, and Hosted Detail on ESPN

In 2018, Kobe Bryant began writing, producing, and hosting the television series Detail, which aired on ESPN and ESPN+. The show featured Bryant's analysis of basketball games and players.

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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 Dear Basketball (2017).

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2018: Bryant appeared at Academy Awards following his Oscar win

In 2018, following his Oscar win for Dear Basketball, Kobe Bryant appeared at the start of the In Memoriam segment of the 92nd Academy Awards. Spike Lee wore a suit in tribute to him at the ceremony.

March 2020: The Wizenard Series: Season One Was Released Posthumously

In March 2020, The Wizenard Series: Season One, a young adult novel co-written by Kobe Bryant through Granity Studios, was released posthumously and topped the New York Times middle-grade hardcover list.

The Wizenard Series: Season One (The Wizenard Series, 2)

Check it on Amazon

April 2020: Bryant Elected 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.

May 2020: Mamba Sports Academy Renamed to Sports Academy

In May 2020, out of respect for Kobe Bryant, the Mamba Sports Academy was renamed to Sports Academy.

August 2020: Bryant Not Included in VMAs and Emmys Montages

In August 2020, Kobe Bryant was not included in the montages at the 2020 VMAs and Emmys, held later in the year. Fans were upset at the omission, especially as actors Naya Rivera and Chadwick Boseman had been featured prominently in both after their unexpected deaths.

2020: Lakers Players Wore 'Black Mamba' Jerseys

During the 2020 NBA playoffs, Lakers players wore 'Black Mamba' jerseys in honor of Kobe Bryant, designed by Bryant with a snakeskin pattern, yellow accents, and 16 stars. Anthony Davis made a game-winning shot while wearing the jersey.

2020: Lakers Win NBA Championship

In 2020, after the Lakers won the NBA Finals, Snoop Dogg paid homage to Kobe Bryant with a forearm tattoo.

2020: Tributes at the 2020 Pro Bowl

In 2020, the Pro Bowl was held on the day of Kobe Bryant's death, and NFC players conducted a prayer led by Russell Wilson, with various on-field tributes made during the game.

2020: Honorary WNBA Draft Picks

In the 2020 WNBA draft, Gianna Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli, and Payton Chester were made honorary draft picks in memory of them.

October 2021: Bryant Honored on NBA 75th Anniversary Team

In October 2021, Kobe Bryant was honored as one of the league's greatest players by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

2021: Bryant Posthumously Inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame

In 2021, Kobe Bryant was posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Vanessa Bryant delivered the acceptance speech on his behalf.

2021: NBA 75th Anniversary Team

In 2021, Kobe Bryant was posthumously named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

January 26, 2022: Statue placed at crash site

On January 26, 2022, which marked the second anniversary of Kobe Bryant's death, a statue of Bryant and his daughter Gianna was placed at the crash site in Calabasas.

2022: Vanessa Bryant Awarded Damages in Civil Trial

In 2022, Vanessa Bryant was initially awarded $15 million from L.A. County in a civil trial regarding the unauthorized sharing of graphic photos from the helicopter crash site.

2022: The Athletic Ranked Bryant as 10th-Greatest Player

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 Settlement from Los Angeles County

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 helicopter crash aftermath shared without family permission. This included the $15 million from the 2022 civil trial and additional funds for potential claims from her daughters.

February 8, 2024: Statue unveiling date announced

In 2023, on Kobe Bryant Day, August 24, the Lakers announced that Bryant's statue outside of Crypto.com Arena would be unveiled on February 8, 2024, to honor his two numbers with the Lakers, 8 and 24, and 2 for the number of his daughter Gianna.