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, dedicated his 20-year NBA career to the Los Angeles Lakers. Renowned as one of basketball's greatest and most influential figures, he secured five NBA championships, earned 18 All-Star selections, and consistently featured in the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams. Bryant was honored as the 2008 NBA MVP and twice received the NBA Finals MVP award. His scoring prowess places him fourth in both regular season and postseason league history. Posthumously, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, solidifying his legacy.

Sections (6)

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

December 1962: Baylor's 50-plus point games streak

In December 1962, Elgin Baylor was the only other Laker to score 50+ in three consecutive contests.

1962: Chamberlain's 100-Point Game

On January 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a game, which was the second-highest point total in NBA history, surpassed only by Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962.

1964: First Player Since 1964

In January 2006, Kobe Bryant became the first player since 1964 to score 45 points or more in four consecutive games.

1969: West's Finals Performance

In the 1969 NBA Finals, Jerry West averaged at least 32.4 points and 7.4 assists for a Finals series, a feat Kobe Bryant would later match.

1988: Lakers Last Championship Before 2000

In 1988, the Lakers won a championship, marking their last championship until 2000 when Kobe Bryant helped lead the team to victory.

1995: Adidas ABCD Camp MVP

In 1995, Kobe Bryant earned the senior MVP award at Adidas ABCD Camp.

1996: Magic Johnson Assists in Playoffs

In 1996, Magic Johnson had 13 assists in a playoff game, a record that Kobe Bryant would later tie.

1997: NBA Slam Dunk Contest Winner

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

1997: Slam Dunk Champion

In 1997, Kobe Bryant won the Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star weekend.

1999: Start of Decade Scoring Dominance

From 1999-00 to 2008-09, Kobe Bryant started accumulating 21,065 points in regular season play.

2000: Lakers Win Championship

In 2000, Bryant and O'Neal led the Lakers to win 67 games, O'Neal won MVP, and Bryant was named to the All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team. They also won the 2000 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, marking their first championship since 1988.

2001: NBA Championship

In 2001, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal won the second of three consecutive NBA championships with the Lakers.

2001: Bryant's All-Round Play

In the 2001-02 season, Bryant played 80 games for the first time in his career and averaged 25.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, while shooting a career-high 46.9%.

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

On January 14, 2002, Kobe Bryant scored a career-high 56 points against the Memphis Grizzlies.

2002: NBA Championship

In 2002, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal won the third of three consecutive NBA championships with the Lakers.

2002: Bryant Wins Third Championship

In the 2002 NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets, Kobe Bryant averaged 26.8 points and became the youngest player to win three championships at age 23, cementing his reputation as a "clutch player."

January 7, 2003: Bryant Sets NBA Record for Three-Pointers

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

2003: All-Star Leading Vote-Getter

In 2003, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter at the 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 Scoring Title

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.

January 22, 2006: Career High 81 Points

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

2006: 81-Point Performance

In 2006, Kobe Bryant had an 81-point performance against Toronto, which was the second-highest in NBA history.

December 23, 2007: Youngest to Reach 20,000 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.

May 6, 2008: League MVP Announcement

On May 6, 2008, Kobe Bryant was officially announced as the NBA's league MVP, marking a significant milestone in his career.

May 8, 2008: All-NBA and All-Defensive Team Selections

On May 8, 2008, Kobe Bryant was unanimously selected 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.

August 24, 2008: Won Gold Medal at the Olympics

On August 24, 2008, Kobe Bryant scored 20 points in the gold medal game, helping Team USA defeat Spain 118–107 to secure their first gold medal in a worldwide competition since the 2000 Olympics.

2008: Ranked Second-Greatest Shooting Guard of All Time

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

2008: NBA MVP

In 2008, Kobe Bryant was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP).

2008: League MVP and Olympics 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 at the Summer Olympics.

2008: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2008, Kobe Bryant won a gold medal on the U.S. Olympic team.

January 21, 2009: Bryant Records Triple-Double

On January 21, 2009, Kobe Bryant recorded his first triple-double.

February 2, 2009: Record-Breaking Performance 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.

December 4, 2009: Game-Winning Shot Against Miami Heat

On December 4, 2009, Kobe Bryant made a buzzer-beating, one-legged three-pointer over Dwyane Wade, leading to the Lakers' victory over the Miami Heat.

2009: NBA Championship & Finals MVP

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

2010: Youngest to Reach 25,000 Points

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

2010: NBA Championship & Finals MVP

In 2010, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to a championship and was named NBA Finals MVP.

2010: Back-to-Back Championship and Finals MVP

In 2010, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to another championship, winning the Finals MVP award again.

2010: Forbes' List of Highest-Paid Athletes

In 2010, Kobe Bryant was ranked third, behind Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, in Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes, with $48 million.

January 30, 2011: Youngest to Score 27,000 Points

On January 30, 2011, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to score 27,000 points.

2011: All-Star Leading Vote-Getter

In 2011, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter at the All-Star game.

November 2, 2012: Bryant Passes Magic Johnson in Lakers Career Steals

On November 2, 2012, Kobe Bryant scored 40 points with two steals, surpassing Magic Johnson as the Lakers' career leader in steals with 1,724. However, the Lakers lost the game to the Clippers, starting the season 0-3 for the first time in 34 years.

2012: Olympics Gold Medal and Retirement from National Team

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, finishing his national team career with an undefeated record.

2012: McDonald's All-American Honor

In 2012, Kobe Bryant was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans.

2012: Selected as Clutch Player by NBA General Managers

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 the game on the line, highlighting his reputation as a premier closer.

2012: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2012, Kobe Bryant won a gold medal on the U.S. Olympic team.

March 30, 2013: Bryant Surpasses Chamberlain as Fourth-Leading Scorer

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

April 10, 2013: Bryant Achieves Unique Statistical Feat

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.

2013: Forbes' List of Highest-Paid Athletes

In 2013, Forbes listed Kobe Bryant the fifth-highest paid sports star in the world behind Floyd Mayweather, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James, and Lionel Messi.

2013: All-Star Leading Vote-Getter

In 2013, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter at the All-Star game.

November 30, 2014: Bryant Records 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 an overtime victory against the Toronto Raptors. At 36, he became the oldest NBA player to achieve 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game.

2016: Ranked Second-Greatest Shooting Guard of All Time

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

2016: All-Star Leading Vote-Getter

In 2016, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter at the All-Star game.

2018: Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film

In 2018, Kobe Bryant won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for "Dear Basketball", becoming the first African-American to win in that category and the first former professional athlete to win an Oscar in any category.

2018: Academy Award Win

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

April 2020: Elected into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In April 2020, Kobe Bryant was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

October 2021: 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: NBA 75th Anniversary Team

In 2021, Kobe Bryant was 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.

2022: Named Tenth-Greatest Player of All Time

In 2022, The Athletic ranked Kobe Bryant as the 10th-greatest player in NBA history and the second-highest shooting guard on the list, behind only Jordan.