What Year Did Kobe Join the NBA?

Many people are interested in the career of Kobe Bryant, and one of the most common questions is what year did he join the NBA? The answer is 1996.

1996 NBA Draft

The 1996 NBA draft was held on June 26, 1996, at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Kobe Bryant was selected with the 13th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kobe is drafted to the Charlotte Hornets

In the 1996 NBA draft, high school student Kobe Bryant was drafted to the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick in the 1st round. The Charlotte Hornets then traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Trade to the Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant was drafted into the NBA by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA draft, but he was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were looking for a star to replace the recently retired Magic Johnson, and they thought Kobe was their guy.

Kobe is traded to the Lakers on draft night

Kobe was drafted out of high school by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick of the first round in 1996. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Vlade Divac. Kobe became the youngest player in league history at the time, and went on to have one of the most successful careers in NBA history.

NBA Career

Kobe Bean Bryant was an American professional basketball player. A shooting guard, he spent 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.

Kobe plays his first game with the Lakers

Kobe Bryant’s first game with the Los Angeles Lakers was on November 3, 1996. Kobe was drafted out of high school by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick, but he was immediately traded to the Lakers. In his first game, Kobe started at shooting guard and played 28 minutes. He scored 2 points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field and had one steal in a 103-93 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kobe wins his first NBA championship

In his second season, Kobe helped lead the Lakers to a playoff berthfor the first time in eight years. In the playoffs, the Lakers upset the higher-seeded Seattle SuperSonics, then won a hard-fought seven-game series against the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Lakers then lost to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.

Kobe becomes the youngest player to score 30,000 points

On January 22, 2017, Kobe became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points. In doing so, he broke the previous record held by Wilt Chamberlain, who was more than four years Kobe’s senior.

This is an incredible accomplishment, and one that cements Kobe’s legacy as one of the greatest players to ever play the game. It’s also a testament to his longevity and ability to perform at a high level late in his career.

Kobe entered the NBA straight out of high school in 1996, and he quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier players. He won five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, and he was named an All-Star 18 times. In 2006, he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Although he retired in 2016, Kobe continues to be one of the NBA’s most popular players. His accomplishments on the court are legendary, and his impact on the game will continue to be felt for years to come.