A closer look at the biggest achievements of Kobe Bryant. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.
Kobe Bryant was a celebrated American professional basketball player, renowned as one of the greatest and most influential figures in the sport. Spending his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, he achieved remarkable success, securing five NBA championships. Bryant's exceptional skills and dedication earned him numerous accolades, including 18 All-Star selections, 15 All-NBA Team honors, and 12 All-Defensive Team selections. He was named the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player and twice earned the title of NBA Finals MVP. Bryant's scoring prowess is evident in his fourth-place ranking in both regular season and postseason league history. Posthumously, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and recognized as part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
1962: Chamberlain's 100-Point Game
Bryant's 81-point game on January 22, 2006 was the second-highest point total in NBA history, surpassed only by Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962.
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1964: Consecutive 45-Point Games
In January 2006, Kobe Bryant became the first player since 1964 to score 45 points or more in four consecutive games.
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1969: Jerry West's Finals Performance
In the 1969 NBA Finals, Jerry West averaged at least 32.4 points and 7.4 assists, a feat Kobe Bryant matched in 2009.
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1987: Jordan's 50-plus Point Games
In 1987, Michael Jordan was the last player to score 50+ points in three straight games before Kobe Bryant matched the feat.
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1995: Adidas ABCD Camp MVP
In 1995, at Adidas ABCD Camp, Bryant earned the senior MVP award while playing alongside future NBA teammate Lamar Odom.
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1997: All-Rookie Second Team
In 1997, Kobe Bryant was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
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1997: Won NBA Slam Dunk Contest
In 1997, Kobe Bryant won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and was its youngest winner.
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1997: Slam Dunk Contest Win
In 1997, as a rookie, Bryant won the Slam Dunk Contest.
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1999: NBA All-Star Game
Bryant was also voted to start in the NBA All-Star Game for the third year in a row (no game in 1999).
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2000: NBA Championship
In 2000, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to their first of three consecutive NBA championships.
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2000: First Championship
In 2000, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers won their first NBA championship since 1988, defeating the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the Finals.
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2000: Bryant's Performance
Statistically, the 2000-01 season saw Bryant perform similarly to the previous year, but he averaged six more points per game (28.5).
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January 14, 2002: Career-High 56 Points
On January 14, 2002, Kobe Bryant scored a then career-high 56 points against the Memphis Grizzlies.
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2002: NBA Championship
In 2002, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to their third of three consecutive NBA championships.
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2002: Third Championship
In the 2002 Finals against the New Jersey Nets, Bryant averaged 26.8 points, 51.4% shooting, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists per game, which included scoring a quarter of the team's points. At age 23, he became the youngest player to win three championships.
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January 7, 2003: 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.
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2003: Leading All-Star Vote-Getter
In 2003, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star game.
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December 20, 2005: 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.
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2005: End of Season
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).
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2005: NBA Leading Scorer
In the 2005-06 season, Bryant led the NBA in scoring.
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January 22, 2006: Career-High 81 Points
On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points, the second-most in a single NBA game.
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January 22, 2006: 81-Point Game
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.
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2006: All-Star Game MVP
During the 2006–07 season, on February 18, Kobe Bryant logged 31 points, six assists, and six steals, earning his second career All-Star Game MVP trophy.
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2006: 81-point performance against Toronto
In 2006, Kobe Bryant had an 81-point performance against Toronto which was the second-highest in NBA history, behind only Chamberlain's 100.
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December 23, 2007: Youngest to Reach 20,000 Points
On December 23, 2007, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player at 29 years, 122 days old to reach 20,000 career points, in a game against the New York Knicks.
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2007: Endorsement Deals Estimated
CNN estimated Kobe Bryant's endorsement deals in 2007 to be worth $16 million a year.
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May 6, 2008: NBA MVP Award
On May 6, 2008, Kobe Bryant was officially announced as the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2007-2008 season.
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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 named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
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August 24, 2008: Olympic Gold Medal
On August 24, 2008, Kobe Bryant scored 20 points as Team USA defeated Spain 118–107 in the gold medal game at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
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2008: NBA MVP Award
In 2008, Bryant was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP).
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2008: ESPN ranks Bryant the second-greatest shooting guard of all time
In 2008, ESPN ranked Bryant the second-greatest shooting guard of all time after Jordan.
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2008: Donation to National Museum of African American History and Culture
In 2008, Kobe Bryant donated his uniform from the NBA Finals, the year he was named league MVP, to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where he and his wife were founding donors.
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2008: Named League MVP and Led Team to NBA Finals
In 2008, Kobe Bryant was voted the league MVP and led his team to the 2008 NBA Finals as the first seed in the Western Conference. In the 2008 Summer Olympics, Bryant won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. men's basketball team.
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2008: Olympic Gold Medal
In 2008, Kobe Bryant won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team.
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February 2, 2009: Scoring Record at Madison Square Garden
On February 2, 2009, Kobe Bryant set a record for the most points scored at Madison Square Garden, with 61 points against the Knicks.
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December 4, 2009: Game-Winning Shot Against Miami
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.
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2009: NBA Championship
In 2009, Bryant led the Lakers to an NBA championship and was named NBA Finals MVP.
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2009: Led Lakers to Championship and Won Finals MVP
In 2009, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to another championship and won the Finals MVP award.
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2010: NBA Championship and Finals MVP
In 2010, Bryant led the Lakers to another NBA championship and was again named NBA Finals MVP.
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2010: Youngest to Reach 25,000 Points
In 2010, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player at 31 years, 151 days old to reach 25,000 career points, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain.
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2010: Led Lakers to Championship and Won Finals MVP
In 2010, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to another championship, winning the Finals MVP award.
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2010: Forbes Ranking
In 2010, Kobe Bryant was ranked third in Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes, with $48 million.
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January 30, 2011: Youngest to Score 27,000 Points
On January 30, 2011, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to score 27,000 points.
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2011: Leading All-Star Vote-Getter
In 2011, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star game.
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January 10, 2012: Kobe Bryant scores 48 points against the Phoenix Suns
On January 10, 2012, Kobe Bryant scored 48 points against the Phoenix Suns, following a preseason ranking that placed him as the seventh-best player in the league.
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November 2, 2012: Bryant passes Magic Johnson as Lakers' career leader in steals
On November 2, 2012, Kobe Bryant scored 40 points with two steals, surpassing Magic Johnson to become the Lakers' career leader in steals. Despite Bryant's achievement, the Lakers lost the game to the Clippers.
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2012: McDonald's All-American
In 2012, Bryant was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans for his high school play as well as his later accomplishments.
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2012: Clutch Player Recognition
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.
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2012: Won Gold Medal at Summer Olympics
In 2012, Kobe Bryant won another gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
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2012: Olympic Gold Medal
In 2012, Kobe Bryant won another gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team.
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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.
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April 10, 2013: Bryant achieves unique stat line
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.
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2013: Forbes Ranking
In 2013, Forbes listed Kobe Bryant as the fifth-highest paid sports star in the world.
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2013: Leading All-Star Vote-Getter
In 2013, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star game.
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November 30, 2014: Bryant records 20th career triple-double
On November 30, 2014, Kobe Bryant recorded his 20th career triple-double, scoring 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.
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2016: ESPN ranks Bryant the second-greatest shooting guard of all time
In 2016, ESPN ranked Bryant the second-greatest shooting guard of all time after Jordan.
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2016: Leading All-Star Vote-Getter
In 2016, Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star game.
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2017: Lakers Retire Bryant's Numbers
In 2017, the Lakers retired both of Kobe Bryant's numbers, 8 and 24, a unique honor in NBA history.
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2018: Academy Award Win
In 2018, Bryant won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for Dear Basketball (2017).
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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 his film Dear Basketball, becoming the first African-American to win in this category. The film also won the Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject and a Sports Emmy Award in 2018.
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2018: Appearance at 92nd Academy Awards
In 2018, after winning an Oscar for Dear Basketball, Kobe Bryant appeared at the start of the In Memoriam segment of the 92nd Academy Awards.
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April 2020: Election 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.
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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.
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2021: NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In 2021, Bryant was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
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2021: Posthumous Induction into Basketball Hall of Fame
In 2021, Kobe Bryant was posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, with his wife Vanessa delivering the acceptance speech on his behalf.
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2022: Named 10th-greatest player of all time by The Athletic
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.
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2024: LeBron Breaks Missed Shot Record
In 2024, Lebron James broke Kobe Bryant's record for the most missed field goal attempts in NBA history.
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