The following day, he surpassed Jerry West to become the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history. After being sidelined for 5 video games from an ankle harm, Bryant made his return and made another clutch three-pointer to give the Lakers a one-point lead with four seconds remaining towards the Memphis Grizzlies. Two weeks later, he made his sixth game-winning shot of the season in opposition to the Toronto Raptors. After the Lakers misplaced the 2004 NBA Finals, O'Neal was traded and Bryant grew to become the cornerstone of the Lakers. He led the NBA in scoring during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons. In 2006, he scored a career-high 81 points; the second most points scored in a single recreation in league historical past, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point sport in 1962.

While taking half in second fiddle to O'Neal within the playoffs, Bryant had some clutch performances, together with a 25-point, 11-rebound, 7-assist, 4-block recreation in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals towards the Portland Trail Blazers. In the 2000 Finals, towards the Indiana Pacers, Bryant injured his ankle in the second quarter of Game 2 after landing on the Pacers' Jalen Rose's foot. In Game 4, Bryant scored 22 factors in the second half and led the team to an OT victory as O'Neal fouled out of the game.

The following day, Bryant declined a six-year, $100 million supply to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers and re-signed with the Lakers on a seven-year, $136.four million contract. Instead, one can look at the memories shared by celebrities and players; on the tributes happening on the Empire State Building, The Staples Center, etc., and the respect proven by fans all round the world. It is safe to say the psychological connection between followers and sports teams/players is stronger than ever and inconceivable to interrupt. Kobe Bryant's time on this world was far too brief, and his Academy Award-winning work on the 2018 animated shortDear Basketball gave a touch that even after he left the court, he nonetheless had so much to offer. He was survived by his spouse Vanessa and their three other daughters — as properly as a legacy as one of the best players in NBA historical past.

Bryant was additionally a 12-time All-Defensive Team selection, trailing solely Duncan's 15, and 9 times he was named to the All-Defensive First Team, tied with Jordan, Garnett, and Gary Payton for essentially the most all time. He was the first guard to play 20 seasons in the NBA. He additionally received the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1997 and was its youngest winner. In his career, Bryant scored 40-plus factors in 121 video games, and 21 times he recorded a triple-double. Bryant playing against Gary Neal of the Washington Wizards after asserting his forthcoming retirement, 2015After recovering to play in the 2015–16 preseason, Bryant suffered a calf damage and missed the final two weeks of exhibition games.

On Thursday, it was introduced the iconic Los Angeles Laker and Hall of Famer could be featured on two totally different variations of the NBA2K24 cover. Bryant’s cowl resume extends beyond “2K.” He was the star of “Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside,” which debuted in 1998 for the Nintendo sixty four. In 2018, Bryant became the primary African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and the first former skilled athlete to be nominated and to win an Academy Award in any category for his filmDear Basketball.

He’s mastered his arsenal to the place he has two counters to every thing. Some individuals do it off the dribble, Kobe’s doing it together with his ft. He’s stepping around you, or putting you in a position where you’re hopping in the air. One of my favourite Kobe moments got here again after I was with the Bulls. It was late within the recreation, and he was out by the three-point line with Eddie Robinson guarding him. He up-faked, took one dribble, then did this pirouette that was just sick before making the jumper.

His career started as Michael Jordan's reign on the court was ending, and his recreation continually drew comparisons to Jordan's. Sony pushed Bryant from his roots of underground hip hop into a more radio-friendly sound. His debut album, Visions, was scheduled to launch in the spring of 2000. The first single, "K.O.B.E'", featured supermodel Tyra Banks singing the hook.

In 2012, Bryant was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans for his high-school play as properly as his later accomplishments. Kobe Bryant's life was reduce short in a helicopter accident in Calabasas, California, on Jan. 26, 2020. The legendary basketball player died alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other folks on board, together with the pilot.