Kobe Bryant was a shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) for his entire 20-year career. Selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA draft , Bryant was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac a month later.[1] [2] He and then-teammate Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002 . After O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat following the 2003–04 season , Bryant became the cornerstone of the Lakers franchise.[3] He led the NBA in scoring during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons.[4] In 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors , the second-highest number of points scored in a game in NBA history,[5] [6] behind only Wilt Chamberlain 's 100 point performance , and highest output for a guard, as well as being the most points scored by an individual during a televised performance. Bryant was awarded the regular season's Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in the 2007–08 season and led his team to the 2008 NBA Finals as the first seed in the Western Conference.[7] As a member of the U.S. men's basketball team , Bryant was a two-time Olympic gold medalist starting with the 2008 Summer Olympics ("The Redeem Team"[8] ) and following with the 2012 Summer Olympics team. He led the Lakers to two more championships in 2009 and 2010, winning the Finals MVP award on both occasions.
Kobe Bryant in 2006
Bryant currently ranks fourth both on the league's all-time post-season scoring and all-time regular-season scoring lists . He has been selected to 15 All-NBA Team (eleven times to the All-NBA First Team) and 12 All-Defensive Team (nine times to the All-Defensive First Team). He was selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game on 18 occasions, winning All-Star MVP Awards in 2002, 2007, 2009, and 2011 (he shared the 2009 award with Shaquille O'Neal). The award would be named after him in 2020. He also won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest as well as the Rookie Game scoring title in 1997.[9] He has had 1 eighty-point game, 6 sixty-point games (including his final game), 26 fifty-point games, and 134 forty-point games in his career. Kobe had been also in a three-way tie with Stephen Curry and Donyell Marshall for most three-pointers with 12 in a game until November 8, 2016, when Curry set a new record with 13. In his final game on April 13, 2016, at 37 years old, he became the oldest player to score 60 points in a single game and set the highest point total in the 2015–16 regular season.
†
Denotes seasons in which the Lakers won an NBA Championship
*
Denotes seasons in which the Lakers reached the NBA Finals
^
Denotes seasons in which Bryant led the league
Bold
Denotes career-highs
Regular season
More information Season, Team ...
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Source:[9]
Playoffs
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Source:[9]
Career ranking
Career – season[9]
Points – 4th (33,643)
Field goal attempts – 3rd (26,200)
Field goals made – 5th (11,719)
Field goals missed – 1st (14,481)
Free throws made – 3rd (8,378)
Free throw attempts – 5th (10,011)
Points per game – 12th (25.00)
3-point field goal attempts – 6th (5,546)
Turnovers – 3rd (4,010)
40-point games - 3rd (135)
50-point games - 3rd (26)
60-point games - 2nd (6)
3-point field goals made – 12th (1,827)
Steals – 14th (1,944)
Minutes played – 6th (48,637)
Steals per game – 92nd (1.44)
Minutes per game – 41st (36.13)
Games played – 11th – (1,346)
Assists – 29th (6,306)
Free throw % – 84th (.8369)
Personal fouls – 39th (3,353)
Defensive rebounds – 46th (5,548)
Assists per game – 134th (4.69)
Rebounds – 100th (7,047)
Blocks – 180th (640)
Offensive rebounds – 190th (1,499)
Career – playoffs[10]
3-point field goal attempts – 3rd (882)
3-point field goals made – 6th (292)
Field goal attempts – 3rd (4,499)
Free throws made – 3rd (1,320)
Points – 4th (5,640)
Minutes played – 3rd (8,641)
Turnovers – 3rd (647)
Field goals made – 5th (66,014)
Bryant shooting a free throw
2-time NBA Finals MVP : 2009, 2010
NBA Most Valuable Player : 2008[7] [16] [17]
2-time scoring champion : 2006, 2007[18]
18-time NBA All-Star : 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016[9]
18 consecutive selections, 13 consecutive appearances (No All-Star game in 1999 due to a league-wide lockout )[9] [19]
Missed the 2010, 2014 and 2015 games due to injury[20]
First team : 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013[22] [23]
Second team : 2000, 2001[22] [23]
Third team : 1999, 2005[22] [23]
First team : 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011[24] [25]
Second team : 2001, 2002, 2012[24] [25]
NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion : 1997[28]
17-time Player of the Month : December 2000, November 2001, January 2003, March 2004, January 2006, April 2006, December 2006, March 2007, April 2007, February 2008, April 2008, December 2008, January 2009, December 2009, March 2011, December/January 2012, February 2013[9]
Player of the Month was awarded separately to Eastern and Western Conference starting from the 2001–02 season .[29]
NBA regular season leader :
games played : 1998–99 (50 ), 2007–08 (82 ), 2008–09 (82 )[9]
usage percentage : 2005–06 (38.7 ), 2010–11 (35.1 ), 2011–12 (35.7 )[9]
points : 2002–03 (2,461 ), 2005–06 (2,832 , 7th in NBA history),[30] 2006–07 (2,430 ), 2007–08 (2,323 )[9]
points per game : 2005–06 (35.4 , 8th in NBA history),[31] 2006–07 (31.6 )[9]
field goals attempted : 2005–06 (2,173 ), 2006–07 (1,757 ), 2007–08 (1,690 ), 2010–11 (1,639 ), 2011–12 (1336 )[9]
field goals made : 2002–03 (868 ), 2005–06 (978 ), 2006–07 (813 )[9]
free throws attempted : 2006–07 (768 )[9]
free throws made : 2005–06 (696 ), 2006–07 (667 )[9]
2nd most points in a game : 81 (on January 22, 2006, vs. the Toronto Raptors)[5] [6]
2nd most points in a half : 55 (On January 22, 2006, vs. the Toronto Raptors)
3rd most 40 point games : 135
3rd most 50 point games : 26
2nd most 60 point games : 6
2× Best NBA Player ESPY Award winner : 2008, 2010
NBA playoffs leader :
win shares : 2001 (3.8 )
points : 2004 (539 ), 2008 (633 ), 2009 (695 ), 2010 (671 )
points per game : 2003 (32.1 ), 2007 (32.8 ), 2008 (30.1 )
minutes played : 2002 (833 ), 2004 (973 )
field goals made : 2004 (190 ), 2008 (222 ), 2009 (242 ), 2010 (234 )
field goals attempted : 2002 (431 ), 2004 (460 ), 2008 (463 ), 2009 (530 ), 2010 (511 )
free throws made : 2004 (135 ), 2008 (157 ), 2009 (174 ), 2010 (154 )
free throws attempted : 2008 (194 ), 2010 (183 )
steals : 2000 (32 ), 2009 (38 )
turnovers : 2010 (79 )
personal fouls : 2000 (89 )
Currently holds
Bryant scored 50 points or more in four consecutive games in 2007.
Bryant holds or shares numerous NBA records :
Most All-Star Game MVP awards won, career: 4 (tied with Bob Pettit )
Most offensive rebounds in an All-Star Game: 10
2nd most All-NBA Team honors won, career: 15
2nd most All-NBA First Team honors won, career: 11 (tied with Karl Malone )
Most All-NBA Team honors won by a guard, career: 15
Most All-NBA First Team honors won by a guard, career: 11
2nd most All-Defensive Team honors won, career: 12
Most All-Defensive First Team honors won, career: 9 (tied with Michael Jordan , Gary Payton , and Kevin Garnett )
Most free throws made, four-game playoff series: 51 (second round vs. Sacramento Kings, 2001)[32]
2nd most points scored in a game in NBA history (81 points)
Most points scored in a game in modern era of basketball (81 points)
3rd most points scored as an opponent at Madison Square Garden (61 points)
Most points scored as an opponent at the current Madison Square Garden (61 points)
Most points scored in one arena, career: 16,161 (as of April 14, 2016, at Staples Center , Los Angeles)[33]
Most games played at one arena, career: 599 (as of April 14, 2016, at Staples Center , Los Angeles[33]
Most career points for a guard: 33,643
Highest Score against rest of teams in the league above 40 (share with Bob Pettit )
Youngest player to be named to the NBA All-Rookie Team: (1996–97 )[35]
2nd youngest player to be named to the NBA All-Defensive Team: (1999–2000 season )[35]
Youngest player to be named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team
Youngest player to start a game: (18 years, 158 days )[4]
Youngest player to win the NBA Slam Dunk Championship: (18 years, 169 days )[36]
Youngest player to start an All-Star game: (19 years, 169 days )[35]
Youngest player to score in an All-Star game
Youngest player to score in a Playoff game
Youngest player to score a 3-pointer in a Playoff game
Youngest player to score 30+ points in a game as a reserve
Youngest player to win 3 championships
Youngest player to appear in 1,000 NBA games (31 yrs, 177 days)
Only player in NBA history to score at least 600 points in the postseason for three consecutive years.[37]
633 (2008), 695 (2009), 671 (2010)[37]
Only player in NBA history to retire two jersey numbers in a single franchise team (8 and 24)
Only player to outscore a team in three quarters since the introduction of shot clock
Only player to record a triple-double with at least 30 points at age 36 or older
Only player in NBA history to record 47 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks, and 3 steals in an NBA game
Only player to lead an All-Star game in votes during his final career season
Oldest player to score 60+ points, one game: (37 years, 234 days) [38]
Oldest player to record back-to-back games of 40+ points and 10+ assists (34 yrs, 197 days)
Oldest player to put up a 30-point triple-double (36 yrs, 99 days)
Oldest player to score 30 or more points in 10+ consecutive games (34 yrs)
Most total playoff CP with 3800
Highest CPPG with 20 cppg
Previously held
Most All-NBA Total Selections won, career: 15 (tied with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan ) - Surpassed by LeBron James (16), 2020
Most three-point field goals made, one game: 12 (on January 7, 2003, vs. Seattle SuperSonics; shared with Donyell Marshall and Stephen Curry )[39]
Most three-point field goals made, one half: 8 (on March 28, 2003, vs. Washington Wizards; shared with 5 other players)[39] [42]
Youngest player to score 23,000 points: (30 years, 171 days)
Surpassed by LeBron James (29 years, 95 days) on April 4, 2014
Youngest player to score 22,000 points: (30 years, 99 days )[44]
Youngest player to score 20,000 points: (29 years, 122 days )[46]
Surpassed by LeBron James (28 years, 17 days) on January 16, 2013.[47]
Chamberlain (29 years, 134 days),[46] Jordan (29 years, 326 days),[48] Kevin Durant (29 years, 103 days),[49] Bryant, and James are the only five players to reach the milestone before reaching the age of 30.
Youngest player to score 18,000 points: (28 years, 156 days )
Surpassed by LeBron James (27 years, 35 days) on February 3, 2012.
Youngest player to score 15,000 points: (27 years, 136 days )[50]
Youngest player to score 10,000 points: (24 years, 193 days ) on March 4, 2003[4] [52]
Youngest player to appear in an NBA game: (18 years, 72 days ) on November 3, 1996[35]
Bryant set a record at the modern Madison Square Garden with 61 points.
Bryant holds or shares numerous Lakers franchise records :
Most playoff seasons played
Most All-Star Game Selections
11 (2002 – 2004, 2006 – 2013)
Most All-Defensive First Team
9 (2000, 2003 – 2004, 2006 – 2011)
Most career regular-season games played: 1,346 [54]
Most career playoff games played: 220 [55]
Career: 33,643 [56]
Surpassed Jerry West , the previous holder of the record, on February 1, 2010[57]
Career, playoffs: 5,640 [56]
Surpassed Jerry West, the previous holder of the record, on April 23, 2010)[58]
Season: 2,832 (2005–06 )[9]
Game: 81 (on January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors)[5] [6]
Half: 55 (2nd half, on January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors)[5]
Quarter: 30 (twice, most recently on November 30, 2006 in 3rd quarter vs. Utah Jazz)[5]
Games scoring 60 points or more, career: 6
Games scoring 50 points or more, career: 26 [59]
Games scoring 50 points or more, season: 10 (2006–07)[4]
Games scoring 40 points or more, career: 134 [57]
Games scoring 40 points or more, season: 27 (2005–06)[60]
Bryant goes in for a layup in a 2010 game against the Magic.
Consecutive games of 50 points or more: 4 (March 16–23, 2007)[61]
Behind Wilt Chamberlain (7 consecutive games five times in 1961–62)[61]
Consecutive games of 40 points or more: 9 (February 6–23, 2003)[62]
Tied with Michael Jordan (1986–87) and behind Wilt Chamberlain (14 consecutive games twice in 1961–62 and 10 consecutive games in 1962–63)[62] [63]
Field goals made and attempted
Career attempts: 26,200 [56] [64]
Career: 11,719 [65]
Career, playoffs: 2,014 [66]
Career attempts, playoffs: 4,499 [67]
Half: 18 (2nd half, on January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors)[5] [68]
Half attempts: 28 (tied with Elgin Baylor ; on November 17, 2002 at Boston Celtics)[68]
Half, playoffs: 12 (tied with Elgin Baylor; on April 20, 2003 at Minnesota Timberwolves )[69]
Quarter: 11 (twice, most recently on January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors)[68]
Quarter attempts, playoffs: 13 (tied with 3 players; on May 13, 2003 at San Antonio Spurs )[69]
Free throws made and attempted
Career: 8,378 [56] [65]
Career attempts: 10,011
Career, playoffs: 1,320 [55] [70]
Career attempts, playoffs: 1,617 [55]
Game, playoffs: 21 (on May 4, 2008 vs. Utah Jazz)[69] [71]
Quarter, playoffs: 11 (tied with 3 players; on May 8, 1997 vs. Utah Jazz)[69]
Most free throws in a game without a miss, playoffs: 18 (May 18, 2012)
Consecutive: 62 (January 11–22, 2006)[5] [68]
Three-point field goals made and attempted
Career: 1,827 [4] [68]
Career, playoffs: 292 [72]
Game: 12 (on January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics)[68] [73]
Half: 8 (1st half, on March 28, 2003 vs. Washington Wizards)[68] [74]
Consecutive: 9 (on January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics)[73]
Career attempts: 5,546 [56]
Career attempts, playoffs: 882 [75]
Season attempts: 518 (2005–06)[4] [68]
Game attempts: 18 (on January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics)[68] [73]
Career: 1,944
Half: 6 (tied with 3 players; on February 13, 2006 vs. Utah Jazz)[68]
Quarter, playoffs: 3 (five times, tied with 9 players; most recently on June 15, 2008 vs. Boston Celtics)[69]
Career: 3,353
Career, playoffs: 660
Most points scored in final career game: 60 (on April 13, 2016, vs. Utah Jazz )[79]
Bryant playing at the 2008 Summer Olympics
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