Kobe Bryant's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Kobe Bryant. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

Kobe Bryant, a celebrated American professional basketball player, played his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers as a shooting guard. Considered one of basketball's all-time greats, he secured five NBA championships, was an 18-time All-Star, and earned numerous MVP awards. Bryant's accolades include being a 15-time All-NBA Team member, a 12-time All-Defensive Team member, the 2008 NBA MVP, and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. He holds the fourth position in all-time regular season and postseason scoring. Posthumously named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, Bryant was twice inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Sections (6)

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

December 1962: Baylor scores 50+ in three consecutive contests

In December 1962, Elgin Baylor was the only other Laker besides Kobe Bryant to score 50+ points in three consecutive games.

1962: Chamberlain's 100-Point Game

On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a 122–104 victory over the Toronto Raptors, surpassed only by Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962.

1964: Player to Score 45 Points or More in Four Consecutive Games

In January 2006, Kobe Bryant 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 achieve this feat.

1969: West averages 32.4 points and 7.4 assists in NBA Finals

In the 1969 NBA Finals, Jerry West averaged at least 32.4 points and 7.4 assists, a feat that Kobe Bryant later matched.

1987: Jordan scores 50+ points in three straight games

In 1987, Michael Jordan became the last player before Kobe Bryant to score 50 or more points in three consecutive games.

1988: Lakers Last Championship before 2000

In 2000, The Lakers won their first championship since 1988.

1995: Adidas ABCD Camp MVP Award

In 1995, Kobe Bryant earned the senior MVP award at Adidas ABCD Camp, playing alongside future NBA teammate Lamar Odom.

1996: Magic Johnson recorded 13 assists in the Playoffs

In the playoffs of 1996, Magic Johnson recorded 13 assists, which was the most by a Laker until Kobe Bryant tied the record in 2010.

1997: Bryant Wins NBA Slam Dunk Contest

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

1997: Slam Dunk Champion and All-Rookie Selection

In 1997, Kobe Bryant won the Slam Dunk Contest and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, marking a successful start to his NBA career.

1997: Slam Dunk Contest Win

In 1997, as a rookie, Kobe Bryant won the Slam Dunk Contest.

1999: Bryant's scoring record

Between the 1999-00 and 2008-09 seasons, Kobe Bryant was the league's leading scorer throughout the 2000s decade, accumulating 21,065 points in regular season play.

2000: Lakers Championship and Bryant's Clutch Performances

In 2000, Kobe Bryant experienced a statistical increase, leading the Lakers in assists and steals. The Lakers won 67 games and Kobe was named to the All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team. In the 2000 Finals against the Indiana Pacers, despite an ankle injury, Bryant led the team to an overtime victory in Game 4. The Lakers won their first championship since 1988 in Game 6.

2000: Last gold medal

Team USA won its first gold medal in a worldwide competition since the 2000 Olympics.

2001: Bryant's performance and achievements

In the 2001-02 season, Kobe Bryant played 80 games, averaging 25.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. He won his first All-Star MVP trophy and was named to the All-NBA First Team. He also made the All-NBA Defensive Team again.

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

On January 14, 2002, Kobe Bryant scored a career-high 56 points, along with five rebounds and four assists, leading the Lakers to a 120-81 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies.

2002: Third Consecutive NBA Championship

In 2002, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal secured their third consecutive NBA championship title with the Lakers.

2002: Bryant wins Third Championship

In the 2002 Finals against the New Jersey Nets, Kobe Bryant averaged 26.8 points, 51.4% shooting, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. At age 23, he became the youngest player to win three championships.

January 7, 2003: Bryant sets NBA record for three-pointers in a game

On January 7, 2003, Kobe Bryant set an NBA record for three-pointers in a game when he made 12 against the Seattle SuperSonics.

2003: Fewest shots a game since 2003-2004 season

During the 2003 season, Kobe Bryant finished the season averaging less than 20 shots a game, his fewest since the 2003–04 season.

2003: Bryant Leads All-Star Game Voting

In 2003, Kobe Bryant received the most votes among all players for the NBA All-Star Game.

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 Dominance

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).

2005: Bryant Leads NBA in Scoring

During the 2005–06 NBA season, Kobe Bryant led the NBA in scoring.

2005: NBA Scoring Leader

In the 2005-06 season, Kobe Bryant led the NBA in scoring.

January 22, 2006: Bryant Scores Career-High 81 Points

On January 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a 122-104 victory over the Toronto Raptors, the second-highest point total in NBA history.

January 22, 2006: Career-High 81 Points

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

2006: All-Star Game MVP and On-Court Incidents

During the 2006-07 season, Kobe Bryant was selected to his ninth All-Star Game and earned his second All-Star Game MVP trophy on February 18. Throughout the season, he was involved in several on-court incidents, leading to suspensions.

2006: Bryant Scores 81 Points Against Toronto

In 2006, Kobe Bryant achieved the second-highest single-game point total in NBA history by scoring 81 points against Toronto.

December 23, 2007: Bryant reaches 20,000 career 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 at Madison Square Garden, scoring 39 points along with 11 rebounds and eight assists.

2007: Began national team career

In 2007, Kobe Bryant's United States national team career began. He was a member of the 2007 USA Men's Senior National Team and USA FIBA Americas Championship Team that finished 10–0, won gold, and qualified for the 2008 Olympics.

May 6, 2008: Bryant announced as league MVP

On May 6, 2008, Kobe Bryant was officially announced as the league MVP, leading his team to a West-leading 57-25 record, aided by the trade for Pau Gasol.

May 8, 2008: Bryant named to All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams

On May 8, 2008, Kobe Bryant was the only unanimous selection to the All-NBA team for the third straight season and sixth time in his career. He also headlined the NBA All-Defensive First Team with Kevin Garnett.

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 Olympic appearance.

August 24, 2008: Won gold medal at 2008 Summer Olympics

On August 24, 2008, Team USA, including Kobe Bryant who scored 20 points, defeated Spain 118–107 in the gold medal game at the 2008 Summer Olympics, securing its first gold medal since the 2000 Olympics.

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.

2008: Competed in FIBA Americas Championship games

In 2008, Kobe Bryant had an average of 15.3 points, 2.9 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game in the FIBA Americas Championship tournament.

2008: Named NBA MVP and Olympic Gold Medal

In 2008, Kobe Bryant was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). Also in 2008, Bryant won an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team.

2008: Bryant Wins League MVP and 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 as a member of the U.S. men's basketball team at the Summer Olympics.

2008: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2008, Kobe Bryant won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. Olympic team.

2008: Rematch against Boston Celtics

In 2008, in a rematch against the Boston Celtics, Bryant led the Lakers back from a 13-point third-quarter deficit in Game 7 to win the championship. He scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 15 rebounds, tying an NBA Finals record.

2008: Lakers earn second straight trip to the NBA Finals

In 2008, the Lakers earned their second straight trip to the NBA Finals by finishing off the Denver Nuggets in the Conference Finals in six games.

February 2, 2009: Bryant scores 61 points 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.

2009: NBA Championship and Finals MVP

In 2009, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to another NBA championship and was named NBA Finals MVP.

2010: Bryant Leads Lakers to Another Championship and Earns Finals MVP

In 2010, Kobe Bryant again led the Lakers to another championship and earned his second consecutive Finals MVP award.

2010: Repeat NBA Championship and Finals MVP

In 2010, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers won another NBA championship, with Bryant again being named NBA Finals MVP.

2010: Bryant reaches 25,000 points in his career

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

January 30, 2011: Bryant becomes youngest player to score 27,000 points

On January 30, 2011, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to score 27,000 points in a game against the Celtics.

2011: Bryant Leads All-Star Game Voting Again

In 2011, Kobe Bryant was again the leading vote-getter for the NBA All-Star Game.

November 2, 2012: Bryant passes Magic Johnson as Lakers career leader in steals

On November 2, 2012, Kobe Bryant scored 40 points and recorded two steals, surpassing Magic Johnson to become the Lakers' all-time leader in steals. However, despite this achievement, the Lakers lost the game to the Clippers, marking their first 0-3 start to the season in 34 years.

2012: Retired from national team after another gold medal

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.

2012: Honored as McDonald's All-American

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

2012: Bryant Wins Second Olympic Gold Medal

In 2012, Kobe Bryant won another gold medal at the Summer Olympics as part of the U.S. men's basketball team.

2012: Selected as player GMs want for clutch shots

In a 2012 annual survey of NBA general managers, Kobe Bryant was selected for the 10th consecutive season as the player general managers would want to take a clutch shot with a game on the line.

March 30, 2013: Bryant becomes fourth-leading scorer in league history

On March 30, 2013, Kobe Bryant surpassed Wilt Chamberlain to become the fourth-leading scorer in NBA league history, during a victory over the Sacramento Kings.

April 10, 2013: Bryant achieves unique stat line in a game

On April 10, 2013, Kobe Bryant became the first player in NBA history to record 47 points, eight rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and three steals in a single game.

2013: Bryant Tops All-Star Voting

In 2013, Kobe Bryant received the highest number of votes for the NBA All-Star Game.

November 30, 2014: Bryant records his 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 a 129-122 overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors. At age 36, he became the oldest NBA player to reach 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game.

2016: ESPN Re-ranks Bryant as Second-Greatest Shooting Guard

In 2016, ESPN reaffirmed their previous assessment and again ranked Kobe Bryant as the second-greatest shooting guard of all time, remaining second to Michael Jordan.

2016: Bryant Leads All-Star Voting for the Last Time

In 2016, Kobe Bryant led the NBA All-Star Game voting, marking the fourth and final time he achieved this honor.

2017: Lakers Retire Both 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.

2018: Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film

In 2018, Kobe Bryant became the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for his film Dear Basketball.

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2018: Academy Award Win

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

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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, marking his first year of eligibility.

October 2021: Bryant 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.

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: Posthumously Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team

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

2022: The Athletic Ranks Bryant Among NBA's Greatest

In 2022, The Athletic ranked Kobe Bryant as the 10th-greatest player in NBA history and the second-highest shooting guard on the list for the NBA's 75th Anniversary.

2023: Lakers Announce Unveiling Date of Bryant's Statue

On Kobe Bryant Day, August 24 in 2023, the Lakers announced that Bryant's statue outside of Crypto.com Arena would be unveiled on February 8, 2024.

February 8, 2024: Unveiling of Kobe Bryant's Statue

On February 8, 2024, Kobe Bryant's statue was unveiled outside of Crypto.com Arena, honoring his two Lakers numbers, 8 and 24, and his daughter Gianna's number 2.