These included being named Naismith High School Player of the Year, Gatorade Men's National Basketball Player of the Year, a McDonald's All-American, a first-team Parade All-American and a USA Today All-USA First Team participant. Bryant's varsity coach, Greg Downer, commented that he was "an entire participant who dominates" and praised his work ethic, even because the staff's top player. In 1996, Bryant took R&B singer Brandy to her Hollywood High senior prom. Ultimately, the 17-year-old Bryant decided to go immediately into the NBA, changing into only the sixth player in NBA history to do so. Bryant's news was met with a lot of publicity at a time when prep-to-pro NBA players were not very common .

Bryant is the second-highest-paid NBA participant ever, with $323 million in profession salary. He trails only Kevin Garnett, but LeBron James is catching up shortly. Both have been named for Bryant, who -- for now -- is the one participant named Kobe to make it to the NBA. LAS VEGAS -- There’s Kobe, sporting the uniform of a group from Los Angeles. There’s Kobe, the final one on the courtroom at apply and getting yelled at as a end result of the buses are ready for him. The NBA 2K franchise initially debuted in 1999 with NBA 2K, that includes another Hall of Famer, Allen Iverson, on the duvet.

His basketball expertise and SAT score of 1080 would have ensured admission to any school he selected, but he didn't formally visit any campuses. In 2012, Bryant was honored as one of many 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans for his high-school play as properly as his later accomplishments. Kobe Bryant's life was minimize short in a helicopter accident in Calabasas, California, on Jan. 26, 2020.

Bryant at the free-throw line, 2005In the first recreation of the 2002–03 season, Bryant recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals in an 87–82 loss to the visiting Spurs. On November 1, Bryant recorded a triple-double of 33 factors, 15 rebounds and 12 assists in a 108–93 win over the LA Clippers. He additionally set an NBA report for three-pointers in a recreation on January 7, 2003, when he made 12 towards the Seattle SuperSonics. Bryant averaged 30 points per game and launched into a historic run, posting forty or extra points in 9 consecutive video games while averaging 40.6 in the complete month of February. In addition, he averaged 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per sport, all career-highs to that time. Bryant was as quickly as once more voted to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive First Teams, and came in third place in voting for the MVP award.

Kobe Bufkin hugs family and associates after being selected fifteenth general by the Atlanta Hawks during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York. "It's by no means affected me an excessive quantity of in relation to enjoying ball," said Bufkin, who was born in 2003. Brown is in Summer League with the Los Angeles Clippers. Bufkin is coming into his rookie year with the Atlanta Hawks. Both have been named for Bryant, who — for now — is the one player named Kobe to make it to the NBA.

When Bryant was 13, he and his family moved again to Philadelphia, the place he enrolled in eighth grade at Bala Cynwyd Middle School. Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, died in a helicopter crash three years in the past today. The two had been flying with seven others—John and Keri Altobelli and their daughter Alyssa; Sarah Chester and her daughter, Payton; Christina Mauser; and pilot Ara Zobayan—to a youth basketball match near Los Angeles. Bryant has become the trendy avatar of winning to a technology of basketball fans and athletes too younger to remember Michael Jordan.

Bryant stated that this was the most satisfying of all of his 5 championships. He was chosen to his eleventh consecutive All-Star Game as a starter, and was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for December and January in addition to being named Western Conference Player of the week 3 times. During the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, Bryant who tallied 27 factors, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and four steals was awarded All-Star Game co-MVP with former teammate Shaquille O'Neal. The Lakers completed the regular season with one of the best report in the west (65–17). Bryant was runner-up in the MVP voting behind LeBron James, and was chosen to the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team for the seventh time in his career.

His internet worth at the time of his dying was an estimated $600 million. Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association to five championships (2000–02 and 2009–10). Javascript is required for the choice of a participant.