What Year Did Kobe Start in the NBA?

Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He started his professional career in 1996 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

1996-97 season

Kobe Bryant was drafted out of high school by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Vlade Divac. Kobe started in the NBA during the 1996-97 season.

Kobe is drafted by the Charlotte Hornets

Kobe is drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft. He is subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

He is then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers

On July 11, 1996, Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the NBA draft. The Hornets then traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac. As a rookie, Bryant quickly became a fan favorite. He appeared in all 82 games and started in 7, averaging 15.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 28.0 minutes per game while shooting 41 percent from three-point range. He was named to the All-Rookie First Team and finished second behind Shane Battier of the Memphis Grizzlies in Rookie of the Year voting.

1997-98 season

Kobe Bryant was drafted into the NBA by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA draft, but was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the start of the season. He made his NBA debut during the 1997-98 season, becoming the youngest player in NBA history at the time.

Kobe becomes the youngest player in NBA history to start a game

On November 3, 1997, then-Los Angeles Lakers coach Del Harris elected to start 18-year-old Kobe Bryant against the Minnesota Timberwolves, making him the youngest player in NBA history to start a game. Asked why he chose the young Bryant over more experienced teammates, Harris said: “We just thought it was time. He’s played very well in exhibition games and in practice.” In his NBA debut, Bryant recorded 10 points, 2 steals, and 4 turnovers in 28 minutes of play as the Lakers won 103-102.

He averages 15.5 points per game

Kobe Bean Bryant (/ˈkoʊbiː/ KOH-bee; born August 23, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships with the Lakers. Bryant is an 18-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team. He led the NBA in scoring during two seasons and ranks third on both the league’s all-time regular season scoring and all-time postseason scoring lists. He holds numerous NBA records, including becoming the youngest player in league history to reach 30,000 career points at 34 years and 104 days old.

Bryant announced his retirement from professional basketball on November 29, 2015. At 34 years and 104 days old, he became the youngest player in league history to reach 30,000 career points.

1998-99 season

Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac on July 1, 1996. Kobe became the youngest player in NBA history when he started in his first game on November 3, 1996 at the age of 18 years, 157 days.

Kobe is named an All-Star for the first time

Kobe Bryant was named as an All-Star for the first time in his career during the 1998-99 season. He joined Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson as the only players in NBA history to be named an All-Star in their first three seasons. Kobe averaged 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game during the regular season and was named to the All-NBA Second Team.

He averages 19.9 points per game

In his second season, Bryant averaged 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.[56] Bryant was selected to the All-Star Team for the first time,[57] and became the youngest All-Star starter in NBA history at the age of 19.[58] He was also the youngest player to ever be named to an All-NBA team when he was selected to the All-NBA Second Team at the end of the season.[59][60] In the playoffs, the Lakers were elimi

1999-00 season

Kobe Bryant was drafted out of high school by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Vlade Divac. Kobe became the youngest player in NBA history at the time, starting in his first game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kobe wins the NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Kobe won the Slam Dunk Contest in 1997, his rookie year. He competed against Jerry Stackhouse, MichaelFinley, and Ray Allen. Kobe’s victory made him the youngest player ever to win the Slam Dunk Contest at 18 years old.

He averages 22.5 points per game

Kobe Bean Bryant (/ˈkoʊbi/ KOH-bee; born August 23, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships with the Lakers. Bryant is an 18-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team. He led the NBA in scoring during two seasons, and ranks fourth on both the league’s all-time regular season scoring and all-time postseason scoring lists. He is also second all time in free throws made and third in free throws attempted.

Bryant was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets, who traded him to the Lakers. As a rookie, he played a significant role on a team that went 56–26 before losing in the Western Conference Semifinals to eventual champion Utah Jazz. Although he received a entrance into the starting lineup towards then end of his rookie season, he struggled with his shot until embarking on an intensive pre-season training regimen prior to his second year that resulted in him becoming one of the league’s most reliable scorers. By his second season, he had become one of just four players to average at least 20 points per game in each of their first two seasons since 1975–76.[12] After leading Los Angeles to playoff appearances in each of his first four years as a starter (no playoff berth for LA since 1991 prior to Bryant’s rookie year), O’Neal and Bryant teamed up to lead them back to championship glory starting with their 2000–01 season. In 2001 and 2002, he was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of The Finals despite not winning Finals MVP either year; this made him one of only three players ever (along with Jerry West and Isiah Thomas) to be awarded regular season MVP honors without also receiving Finals MVP honors either that same year or throughout their careers.[13][14] In what many consider as his finest individual statistical performance, he averaged 35.4 points per game during the 2005–06 season while also adding career highs across multiple statistical categories including 5.3 assists per game and 2.2 steals per game.[15] The 2006–07 season saw him earn his lone regular season MVP award as well as his fourth championship while also leading Los Angeles back to NBA Finals appearance after a one-year absence.[16] At some point during this period between 2005 and 2007 – which spanned 82 games over parts of three seasons – Bryant set an unofficial record for most consecutive games played with at least 30 points scored: 126.[17][18] During his final two seasons in which injury limited him to just 54 games combined (2013–14 & 2014–15), he helped lead Los Angeles back into playoff contention before eventually succumbing to injuries both times.[19][20] For his career playing at small forward or shooting guard, he holds numerous franchise records for both offensive production (points scored, field goals made & attempted, free throws made & attempted) and defensive production (steals).[21][22]

In 2003, Bryant was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year-old hotel employee in Colorado,[23][24][25] but was never charged due to insufficient evidence.[26] A civil suit against him was settled out of court in 2005,[27][28] and later that same year he purchased a $3 million home in Newport Beach, California.[29]

2000-01 season

Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe became the youngest player in NBA history when he started in a game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 3, 1996. He was 18 years and 158 days old.

Kobe is named the NBA Finals MVP

Kobe Bryant was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2000 NBA Finals, becoming the first player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP before the age of 21. The Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers in six games, with Bryant averaging 28.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game.

He averages 28.5 points per game

Kobe Bryant enters the 2000-01 season as a 21-year-old sophomore. He was the youngest player in the NBA when he was drafted 13th overall in the 1996 NBA draft, and he enters this season with lofty expectations. Kobe does not disappoint, averaging 28.5 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, and 5.0 assists per game. He quickly becomes one of the best players in the league, and he leads the Lakers to a 67-15 record. They win their division and are seeded first in the Western Conference playoffs.