When Did Kobe Start Playing In The NBA?

Kobe Bryant is one of the most successful basketball players of all time. But when did he first start playing in the NBA?

Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft.

Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He played high school basketball at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania, where he was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the country. He then attended college at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington for one year before declaring himself eligible for the 1996 NBA Draft. Kobe was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick, but he was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He would go on to spend his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, becoming one of the greatest players in franchise history.

He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night.

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, along with center Vlade Divac, to the Los Angeles Lakers for All-Star guard Divac.

Kobe made his NBA debut on November 3, 1996, against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kobe made his NBA debut on November 3, 1996, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He became the youngest player in NBA history at the time, 18 years and 158 days old. In his first game, Kobe scored 2 points on 1-for-6 shooting from the field.

He scored his first NBA points on November 5, 1996, against the Sacramento Kings.

Kobe was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft but was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored his first NBA points on November 5, 1996, against the Sacramento Kings. Kobe became the youngest player in NBA history at 18 years, 158 days old.

Kobe Bryant won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1997.

Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drafted into the NBA straight out of high school by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick in 1996, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Vlade Divac a month later. In his first season with the Lakers, he averaged 15.5 points per game and led all rookies in scoring. He was named to the All-Rookie Team and named co-Rookie of the Year with then Minnesota Timberwolves’ forward Kevin Garnett.