Kobe Bryant Stats, Top, Weight, Place, Draft Status And More

He continued his dominant clutch plays making yet one more game-winning three-pointer in opposition to the Sacramento Kings, and what can be the game-winning subject goal towards the Boston Celtics. The following day, he surpassed West to turn into the all-time main scorer in Lakers franchise history. After being sidelined for five games by 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. On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored a career-high eighty one points in a 122–104 victory against the Toronto Raptors. In addition to breaking the previous franchise document of seventy one set by Elgin Baylor, Bryant's 81-point sport was the second-highest level whole in NBA history, surpassed only by Chamberlain's 100-point recreation in 1962.

Bryant not often drew charges when he played protection, which he believed spared his physique and contributed to his longevity. However, some critics have advised that Bryant's defensive accolades in his later years were primarily based more on his reputation than his actual play. By the end of the season, he averaged 15.5 minutes a game. During the All-Star weekend, Bryant participated within the Rookie Challenge and received the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, turning into the youngest dunk champion on the age of 18.

The Lakers won the next recreation as properly, however dropped Games three and 4, even with Bryant putting up 33.5 points per recreation. The Lakers then gained the next two video games to win the semifinals in 6. This set up a Western Conference Finals berth against the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers defeated the Spurs in 5 games, sending themselves to the NBA Finals towards the Boston Celtics.

In his second game again after resting, he had 23 factors, eleven assists, and eleven rebounds in a 111–103 win over Denver, and have become simply the third participant in league historical past to document a quantity of triple-doubles in a season at age 36 or older. On January 21, 2015, Bryant suffered a rotator cuff tear in his proper shoulder whereas driving baseline for a two-handed dunk against the New Orleans Pelicans. Though he is right-handed, he returned to play within the recreation and ran the offense whereas capturing, dribbling, and passing almost solely with his left hand. Prior to the damage, Bryant had been rested in 8 of sixteen video games. He underwent season-ending surgery for the harm, ending the season averaging 22.3 factors but taking pictures a career-low 37.3 p.c, properly beneath his 45.4 percent profession mark to begin the season. He was anticipated to be sidelined for 9 months with a return targeted towards the beginning of the 2015–16 season.

In a 2012 annual survey of NBA common managers, Bryant was chosen for the 10th consecutive season as the participant common managers would want to take a clutch shot with a recreation on the road. Bryant enjoyed being the villain, and reveled in being booed after which silencing the crowd together with his play. His capacity to make difficult photographs has additionally drawn criticism of his shot selection. Throughout his career, Bryant was disparaged for being a selfish, high-volume shooter; he missed extra field goal makes an attempt in his profession than any other player in NBA historical past.

Bryant additionally exercised his language expertise to trash-talk opponents. He informed France's NBA Extra that he labored on his French particularly to get in the head of Belgium-born Spurs star Tony Parker. As he put it, "I used to love playing the San Antonio Spurs and saying something in French, that I will not repeat right here, to Tony Parker."

The 18-time All-Star led the NBA in scoring 4 seasons and still managed to make the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team nine occasions, making him one of the best two-way players in historical past. Bryant was relentless, and when he matched wits with Shaquille O’Neal in 1996, there got here a renewed sense that playing for the Los Angeles Lakers meant enjoying for the ring. Bryant and O’Neal opened the twenty first Century with three championships in a row.

He shortly proved his benefit with the Lakers and was chosen for the NBA All-Star Game in simply his second season, becoming the youngest All-Star. Metro Bus in Los Angeles with "RIP Kobe" banner, January 2020.On February 7, Bryant and his daughter had been buried in a private funeral in Pacific View Memorial Park within the Corona del Mar neighborhood of Newport Beach, California. A public memorial service was held on February 24 (2/24, marking both Kobe's and Gianna's jersey numbers) at Staples Center with Jimmy Kimmel internet hosting.