What Year Did Kobe Bryant Come Into The Nba?

Kobe Bryant entered the NBA in 1996 and quickly became one of the league’s most talented players. Over his 20-year career, Kobe won five NBA championships and was named an All-Star 18 times. He is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history.

Early Life and Education

Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents are former professional basketball players. When Kobe was just six years old, his family moved to Italy, where his father played basketball for a professional team. Kobe developed a love for the game of basketball while living in Italy and often played against older kids.

Kobe Bryant’s family

Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of former NBA player Joe Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant. Kobe’s parents named him after a type of steak they saw on a menu. His middle name, Bean, is derived from his father’s nickname “Jellybean”. Kobe has an older sister, Sharia, and a younger sister, Shaya.

Kobe’s father was drafted in the 1975 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors, but was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers where he played for eight seasons. He retired from the NBA in 1983. After his playing career ended, he became one of the assistant coaches for the San Antonio Spurs.

Kobe Bryant began his schooling at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. As a freshman, he was recognized as one of the top high school basketball players in the country. He continued to excel at basketball and led his team to four consecutive state championships. In 1996, he was named the High School Player of the Year by USA Today and Parade magazine.

After graduating from high school, Kobe Bryant decided to bypass college and declared himself eligible for the 1996 NBA draft.

Kobe Bryant’s high school career

Bryant’s high school career began when he was just a freshman at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. He started out playing varsity basketball, but quickly proved himself to be one of the best players on the team. By the end of his freshman year, he was already being recruited by colleges.

Bryant continued to excel in high school, and during his senior year he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year, an award given to the nation’s best high school basketball player. He was also named a McDonald’s All-American, and he participated in the Jordan Brand Classic All-Star game.

After high school, Bryant decided to bypass college and declare himself eligible for the NBA draft. He was drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, but he was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

NBA career

Kobe Bryant was drafted into the NBA in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets, but was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He became the youngest player in NBA history at the time, and went on to have one of the most successful NBA careers of all time.

Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets

In 1996, the Charlotte Hornets chose Kobe Bryant with the 13th pick in the NBA draft. As a 17-year-old rookie, he was selected to play in the 1997 All-Star Game, becoming the youngest All-Star in NBA history at the time. He would go on to play for the Hornets until 2003, when he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers

After high school, Bryant was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets, then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Five NBA championships

Kobe Bean Bryant (born August 23, 1978) is an American professional basketball player. A shooting guard, Bryant entered the National Basketball Association (NBA) directly from high school, and played his entire 20-season career in the league with the Los Angeles Lakers. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time.[1][2][3][4]

Bryant spent his entire 20-year playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA championships. He is a 17-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; Bryant is ranked fourth in NBA history for regular season games played (1,346), fifth in shot attempts (32,687), seventh in field goals made (11,719), and tenth in three-point field goals made (2,835).[5] An eight-time winner of the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award (MVP),[6] he was also named the 2006 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated,[7] and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a player in 2010.[8]

In 2018–19, Bryant became one of only four players to average at least 25 points per game while shooting 50 percent or better from both three point range and overall.[9] He also was voted as a starter for that year’s All-Star Game—his final appearance—becoming only one of two players to be voted as starters 19 times or more.[10][11]

2008 MVP

In 2008, Kobe Bryant won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, made his seventh All-Star appearance, and led the Lakers to their 15th NBA Finals appearance. In the Finals, they met the Boston Celtics. The Celtics jumped out to a 2–0 series lead, but the Lakers rallied to win the next four games and secure their 15th championship.

Post-NBA career

Kobe Bryant, who played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, announced his retirement from the NBA on November 29, 2015. After scoring a season-high 60 points in his final game on April 13, 2016, Bryant ended his career as the NBA’s third-leading scorer of all time.

Retirement

Kobe Bryant announced his retirement from the NBA via a poem on The Players’ Tribune website on November 29, 2015. In the poem, he stated that “this season is all I have left to give”, and that he will “always be thankful for the love and support you’ve shown me”.

Bryant ended his career as the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer, having scored 33,643 points. He also won five NBA championships, was selected to 18 NBA All-Star teams, and was named the All-Star MVP four times. He also earned 12 All-NBA First Team selections and nine All-Defensive First Team selections.

Business ventures

In addition to his successful basketball career, Kobe Bryant has also achieved great things in his post-NBA life. He has launched several businesses, including a venture capital firm, an investment partnership, and a production company. He has also written several books, including a children’s book and a memoir. Kobe Bryant is also an active philanthropist, supporting many causes through his foundation.

Philanthropy

Kobe Bryant was an American professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career in the National Basketball Association with the Los Angeles Lakers. He won five NBA championships, was an 18-time All-Star, a 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, a 12-time member of the All-Defensive team, and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Bryant was the first guard in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons.

After his playing career ended, Bryant became an entrepreneur. He invested in several businesses, including BodyArmor, a sports drinkcompany. He also started a production company called Granity Studios, and he won an Academy Award for his animated short film Dear Basketball.

Bryant’s philanthropy included working with Let’s Move!, a movement started byFirst Lady Michelle Obama to end childhood obesity; partnering with After-School All-Stars; and donating over $2 million to The Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Personal life

Kobe Bean Bryant (/ˈkoʊbiː/ KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. A shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships with the Lakers.

Marriage and children

Kobe Bryant married Vanessa Laine on April 18, 2001, when she was only 18 years old. They had been dating for two years at the time of their engagement. The couple have four daughters together: Gianna Maria-Onore, born in 2003; Natalia Diamante, born in 2003; Bianka Bella, born in 2016; and Capri Kobe, born in 2019.

Bryant and his wife filed for divorce in December 2011 but they reconciled later and their divorce was withdrawn in January 2013. However, they again filed for divorce in December 2013 citing irreconcilable differences. The couple’s divorce was finalized on June 30, 2020.

Legal troubles

Kobe Bryant was arrested on July 4, 2003, on charges of sexual assault in Colorado. The case was settled out of court, and the charges were dropped after the accuser declined to testify.