Kobe Bryant is the only son of former Philadelphia 76ers basketball player Joe Bryant. His parents named their son after a famous dish they saw on a restaurant menu-Japanese Kobe steak[1 ]. According to Kobe's self-report, he learned to play basketball at the age of four; when he was six, his family moved to Italy, where his father began his European professional basketball career. Kobe gradually adapted to the Italian lifestyle and was able to speak fluent Italian and Spanish[2]. He even considered Italy to be his first home.
The Kobe family moved back to the United States in 1991 and spent their high school basketball career at Lower Merion HS in the suburbs of Philadelphia. During this period, they often played in the gymnasium of Temple University. Therefore, he met the star player of Temple University, Eddie Jones, who later became his teammate. At that time, Kobe's skills were already very outstanding. In his last year of high school, he averaged 30.8 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4 steals and 3.8 blocks per game [3], leading the team to win the first state championship in 53 years. , accumulating 2,883 points in the high school season even broke the Southeastern Pennsylvania record held by Hall of Fame star Rhett Chamberlain.
Kobe’s score of 1080 on the American College Entrance Examination could have guaranteed admission to many first-class universities[4], such as basketball scholarships to the University of North Carolina or Duke University, but he ultimately gave up. The original plan was to bypass college basketball and enter the NBA directly. As the first 17-year-old NBA high school player in history, this bold decision also caused widespread controversy at the time.
1996-97 season
Kobe was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, and was immediately traded on July 11 of the same year. to the Los Angeles Lakers. Since Kobe once wore jersey No. 143 in Adidas's ABCD training camp, after joining the professional league, the three numbers were added up, and "8" became his first jersey number.
In his first season after joining the NBA, due to the star-studded team, Kobe could only serve as a substitute for Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones, and his performance was not eye-catching, but later Due to injuries that plagued the team, then coach Del Harris made Kobe the youngest starter in NBA history at the time (visiting the Dallas Mavericks on January 28, 1997, when he was only 18 years, five months and five days old) . In the All-Star Rookie Game in his rookie season, Kobe scored 31 points and won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest with a crotch dunk, becoming the first Lakers player to win this honor. At the end of the season, he was selected to the All-Rookie Second Team and finished the season with 7.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.
[Edit] 1997-98 Season
Kobe’s potential gradually emerged in the 1997-98 season, and he was positioned as the team’s sixth man, performing competently and achieving many successes A career high, he was voted by the fans to start the Western Conference All-Star Game that season, becoming the youngest All-Star Game starter in history. This was Michael Jordan's last All-Star Game before retiring for the second time, and it was also Kobe's first All-Star Game performance. Without playing in the fourth quarter, Kobe still scored 18 points for the Western Conference, ranking second in the All-Star Game. With Jordan's game-high 23 points, the All-Star Game set a new high in ratings. His performance that year allowed Kobe to compete for the Sixth Man of the Year award, but ultimately lost to Danny Manning of the Phoenix Suns.
[edit] 1998-99 season
In the 1998-99 season, Kobe officially became the team's starting guard and played 50 games in the entire season (due to labor disputes that year) Reducing the game to 50 games), *** averaged 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game, making him promoted to the NBA third team for the first time and gradually becoming an important player for the team. . Because his skills stood out among his peers at the time, he was often compared with a number of famous stars at the time, such as Anfernee Hardaway, Michael Jordan, etc.
[edit]Three consecutive championships
Shaquille O'Neal (left) and Kobe Bryant (right) were the Lakers' three consecutive champions in the 1999-00, 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons. The two major contributors to the hegemony.
In three consecutive seasons of 1999-00, 2000-01 and 2001-02, Kobe and another center player Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships.
[edit] 1999-00 season
As Kobe's right hand was fractured at the beginning of the season, he was forced to miss the first 15 games of the season, but after his return, he joined forces with O'Neal and others. Players, including newly joined coach Phil Jackson, newly joined Bulls Ron Harper and shooter Glenn Rice, worked together to achieve the best record in the league that season. Bryant averaged 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game and became a member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In the playoffs that year, his scoring ability was fully utilized, with 21.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists helping the team reach the finals for the first time since 1991. In the first game against the Indiana Pacers in the Finals that year, Kobe used his excellent defense to allow leading shooter Reggie Miller to score only single digits. After six games, the 21-year-old Kobe also won his first championship ring in his career.
[edit] 2000-01 season
The Lakers were tasked with defending the championship, and at the same time recruited Hollis Grant, one of the important members of the former Bulls dynasty, to form the Lakers' triangle offense. More powerful. This year, Kobe and O'Neal were among the best in the league in terms of offensive and defensive statistics. Kobe achieved the first "triple-double" in his career that season (26 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against the Vancouver Grizzlies). . Following the 1999-00 season, Kobe was once again recognized by the league and was selected to the NBA Second Team and the All-Defensive Second Team. The Lakers entered the playoffs with the best record in the Western Conference.
In the playoffs, Kobe averaged 29.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game to help the team dominate the Western Conference with a consecutive 11-0 record and faced Allen Allen in the finals. For the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers led by Allen Iverson, Kobe helped block Iverson and successfully defended their title by winning four games in a row even though they were one game behind. Although the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award that year fell to O'Neal, Kobe's influence on the team has obviously increased.
[edit] 2001-02 season
Kobe played 80 games in this season, averaging 25.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. He was one of the few in the league to reach 20 -One of the 5-5 players. In the All-Star Game, he was selected as the starting shooting guard of the Western Conference with the third highest number of votes. He won the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award with 31 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the game; at the end of the season, he was selected to the NBA All-NBA First Team for the first time. , and became a member of the All-Defensive Second Team. In the playoffs, he helped the team successfully complete three consecutive championships by averaging 26.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
[edit] Low point
[edit] 2002-03 season
In the 2002-03 season, O'Neal insisted on not receiving treatment until the start of the regular season. Toe injury, so other players must share the scoring load. During this period, Kobe set a league record of 12 three-pointers in a single game and the youngest player to reach 10,000 points. He also scored more than 35 points in 13 consecutive games, scored more than 40 points in nine consecutive games, and was the third player in league history in a single month. The average score exceeds 40 points and other records that are difficult to break. That season's average scoring rose to 30.0 points, second only to scoring leader Tracy McGrady. Kobe won the NBA All-NBA Team and All-Defensive First Team honors for the first time this season. However, the team was eliminated by the Spurs in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. It failed to defend its four consecutive championships, and the internal conflicts within the team became increasingly intense. With the goal of regaining the championship, the Lakers added two star players in Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Their luxurious lineup was hailed as the "Four Kings" by fans.
The Grizzlies visited the Lakers at home in 2003. The player second from the left is Kobe Bryant, and the one jumping up for the ball in the center of the court is Pau Gasol.
[edit] 2003-04 season
Before the start of the 2003-04 season, Kobe was suddenly arrested on charges of sexual assault. Because he had to appear in court as scheduled, Kobe was unable to attend full attendance at the beginning of the season, or he would rush to fly to away games after a break in court.
With the halo of the "Four Kings", the Lakers' regular season record ranked first in the Pacific Division that season. The team also successfully entered the finals in the post-season, but was ultimately defeated by the Detroit Pistons 1-4. After the season, Phil Jackson's contract was not renewed and he was replaced as head coach by Rudy Tomjanovich. O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Bryant Grant and Caron Butler. The day after the transaction was completed, Kobe, whose contract expired, declined the invitation of the Los Angeles Clippers and re-signed a seven-year contract extension with the Lakers.
[Edit] 2004-05 Season
Kobe's reputation was severely damaged in the previous season, so he was severely scrutinized and criticized by all walks of life during the 2004-05 season. Phil Jackson's book was also published that year, detailing the Lakers' turmoil and player infighting during the previous season, and repeatedly criticized Kobe's inappropriate attitude, calling him "uncoachable" )"[5]. In the middle of the season, head coach Tomjanovich suddenly resigned due to a recurrence of illness and overwork [6]. At this time, assistant coach Frank Hamblen took charge of the team [7]. Although Kobe's 27.6 points per game ranked second in the league at the time, the Lakers missed the playoffs for the first time in team history in ten years. This season was the lowest point of Kobe's career. Despite his comprehensive personal data and performance, his post-season ranking was demoted from the All-NBA Team that had won three consecutive years to the Third Team of the Year. The relationship with other players off the court was also not harmonious, with Ray Allen and Karl Malone arguing with each other in front of the media [8][9].
[edit]Core of the team
Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center, second only to Rhett Chamberlain's single-game record of 100 points.
Kobe Bryant made a free throw at the free throw line.
[edit] 2005-06 season
The 2005-06 season was an important turning point. Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant put aside their past differences and returned to serve as the head coach of the Lakers. As coach, the two reunited and led the Lakers back to the playoffs. On December 20, 2005, against the Dallas Mavericks, Kobe scored 62 points in just three quarters, while the Mavericks scored only 61 points in the first three quarters. On January 16, 2006, the Lakers visited Miami. Kobe and O'Neal, who was on the Heat, shook hands and hugged each other before the game started, which represented a good change in the relationship between the two [10]. On January 22, 2006, Kobe scored a career-high 81 points at home against the Toronto Raptors[11], breaking Elgin Baylor's single-game record of 71 points, second only to Rhett Chamberlain's 1962 record. A record of 100 points in a single game[12]. In the same month, Kobe became the first player since 1964 to score more than 45 points in four consecutive games. In NBA history, only three players, Baylor, Chamberlain and Kobe, have achieved this achievement [13]. In that month, Kobe's single-month average scoring was 43.4 points per game[14], ranking eighth in NBA history's single-month average scoring list, second only to Chamberlain (the top seven records were all set by Chamberlain). In this season, Kobe set the Lakers' team record for the highest individual score in a single season. He scored more than 40 points in 27 games and totaled 2,832 points in the entire season. Kobe won the regular season scoring title for the first time, averaging 35.4 points per game. The Lakers' season record was 45 wins and 37 losses, 11 more wins than last year, and the team's operations began to get on track[15].
[Edit] Trade Storm
After being eliminated from the 2007 playoffs, Kobe blasted the Lakers' top management for not being sincere in building a championship lineup for him, and once even asked for a trade. Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss personally met with Kobe for detailed discussions, but still failed to change his original intention of switching teams. Later, as the team signed back his old teammate Derek Fisher and Kobe was busy preparing for the American Olympic Games qualifying tournament, the transaction turmoil temporarily subsided. However, during the preseason of the new season, Buss suddenly stated that Kobe was not "not for sale" and that as long as other teams offered a suitable price, Kobe could be traded. Kobe was once again caught in the trade storm.
[edit] Towards the top
Kobe Bryant faced Courtney Lee with the ball
After the start of the 2007-08 season, As the team's performance continues to improve and many starters - especially young center Andrew Bynum - and bench teammates have made significant progress, rumors about Kobe's trade are decreasing day by day, and although Kobe himself has not officially Withdrew his trade demand, but also said he "very much enjoys continuing to play with the Lakers." During the season, Kobe once again set a new record: the youngest player to reach 20,000 points, not only the 31st player in NBA history, but also the third player in history to achieve this result before the age of 30; later he became the third player in history Sixteen players with 21,000 points and 4,000 assists. In February, the Lakers used center Kwame Brown to ask the Memphis Grizzlies for Pau Gasol, responding to Kobe's criticism in the middle of last year. The Lakers received powerful interior aid Paul Gasol. After Gasol, he even expressed his confidence to regain the lost championship. At the end of the season, Kobe led the team to regain first place in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference. With the help of Pau Gasol, Kobe won the first Most Valuable Player Award in his career. In the playoffs of that season, Kobe led the Lakers to defeat the Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs 4:0, 4:2, and 4:1. This was the first time since 2004 that Kobe had won as the leader of the team. Made it to the finals once. Unfortunately, the team lost to the Boston Celtics with a total score of 2-4.
In the 2008-09 season, Kobe led the Lakers to first place in the Western Conference and second place in the league in the regular season, and entered the Finals again, defeating the Orlando Magic with a total score of 4-1. Kobe Bryant got his wish and won the Finals MVP for the first time.
In the 2009-10 season, Kobe led the Lakers to first place in the Western Conference in the regular season, entered the Finals three times in a row, and defeated the Boston Celtics with a total score of 4-3. Ryant won the Finals MVP again. Statistics: 28.6 points, 8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.1 steals.
In July 2010, Kobe underwent endoscopic knee surgery for the third time in his career. He returned in early October 2010 and made his post-operative debut in London.