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 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming a basketball icon. He secured five NBA championships, earned 18 All-Star selections, and was named the 2008 NBA MVP. Bryant received two NBA Finals MVP awards and twice led the league in scoring. He holds the fourth position in all-time NBA regular season and postseason scoring. Posthumously, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, once individually in 2020 and again in 2025 as part of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.

Sections (6)

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

2007: Top selling NBA jersey

In 2007, Kobe Bryant's jersey became the top-selling NBA jersey in the United States and China, attributed to his new number and All-Star performance.

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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: Release of Spike Lee's Kobe Doin' Work

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

2012: Honored as One of the Greatest McDonald's All-Americans

In 2012, Kobe Bryant was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans for his high school play and later accomplishments.

2013: Launch of Granity Studios

In 2013, Kobe Bryant launched a production company called Granity Studios, which developed various media projects, ranging from films to television shows and novels.

2016: ESPN Again Ranked Bryant Second-Greatest Shooting Guard

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

December 18, 2017: Lakers Retired Both Numbers 8 and 24

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

2017: Lakers Retired Both Numbers

In 2017, the Lakers retired both of Kobe Bryant's jersey numbers, 8 and 24.

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, featuring photographs and an afterword by Andrew D. Bernstein, an introduction by Phil Jackson, and a foreword by Pau Gasol, was published by MCD / Farrar, Straus and Giroux, looking back on his career with photos and reflections.

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play

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2018: Kobe Bryant Appears at the Academy Awards

In 2018, Kobe Bryant appeared at the Academy Awards and received an Oscar for his film, Dear Basketball.

2018: Launch of Detail Television Series

In 2018, Kobe Bryant began writing, producing, and hosting the television series Detail, which aired for multiple seasons on ESPN and ESPN+ and featured his insights into basketball.

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2018: Won Academy Award for Dear Basketball

In 2018, Kobe Bryant won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for "Dear Basketball (2017)".

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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.

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

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

August 2020: Omission from VMAs

In August 2020, Kobe Bryant was not included in the montages at the 2020 VMAs, leading to fan upset.

2020: Lakers Wore 'Black Mamba' Jerseys in Playoffs

During the 2020 NBA playoffs, the Lakers' players wore 'Black Mamba' jerseys in honor of Kobe Bryant. The team wore the "Black Mamba" jerseys during their Game 2 victory over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, and Anthony Davis made a buzzer-beating three-pointer and yelled Bryant's name.

2020: Honorary Draft Picks in WNBA Draft

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

2020: Lakers Win Championship and Snoop Dogg's Tattoo

In 2020, after the Lakers won their 17th NBA championship, Snoop Dogg paid tribute to Kobe Bryant with a full forearm tattoo.

2020: Tributes at 2020 Pro Bowl

In 2020, the Pro Bowl was played in Orlando, and before kickoff, NFC players conducted a prayer led by Russell Wilson after learning of Kobe Bryant's death. Various on-field and PA tributes were also 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: Posthumous Selection to NBA 75th Anniversary Team

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

January 26, 2022: Statue of Bryant and Gianna Placed at Crash Site

On January 26, 2022, 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.

2022: Civil Trial Award for Vanessa Bryant

In 2022, Vanessa Bryant was awarded $15 million from L.A. County in a civil trial regarding the unauthorized sharing of graphic photos from the helicopter crash. The settlement was followed by "additional funds to settle potential claims from her daughters".

2022: The Athletic Ranked Bryant 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: Settlement Awarded to Vanessa Bryant

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 permission of the family.

August 24, 2023: Announcement of Bryant's Statue Unveiling Date

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: Statue of Kobe Bryant to be revealed

To honor his two numbers with the Lakers, 8 and 24, and 2 for the number of his daughter Gianna. On February 8, 2024, Kobe Bryant's statue outside of the Crypto.com Arena was revealed.