This set up a Western Conference Finals berth towards the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers defeated the Spurs in 5 games, sending themselves to the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. This marked the fifth time in Bryant's career and the primary time without Shaquille O'Neal to go to the NBA Finals. The Lakers then lost to the Boston Celtics in 6 video games.

He also took home an Oscar in 2018 for Best Animated Short Film. "Dear Basketball" is a five-minute movie in which Bryant narrates his retirement announcement letter. In the documentary "Kobe Bryant's Muse," the basketball legend spoke about his early relationship with basketball, which began around age 3. Overseas, the sport became his refuge from the pressures of regularly transferring during his father's career. Kobe was nicely remembered for being one of many few greats to get drafted straight from high school.

His biggest admiration was reserved for Johnson, who had a sixth sense on the court, anticipating plays as they developed, delivering the ball exactly the place it wanted to be. Lakers star Kobe Bryant stands next to teach Phil Jackson throughout a playoff game towards the Phoenix Suns in April 2006. Los Angeles Lakers Karl Malone, left, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Shaquille O’Neal earlier than their preseason opener with the Los Angeles Clippers.

He led the NBA in scoring within the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons and was named league MVP in 2008. On January 22, 2006, he scored a career-high 81 points; the second most points scored in a single NBA game, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point sport. Bryant led the staff to consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, being named NBA Finals MVP on both occasions. He continued to be among the premier gamers within the league through the 2012–13 season, when he suffered a torn achilles tendon at age 34. His next two seasons were reduce brief by accidents to his knee and shoulder, respectively. In 2017, the Lakers retired each his Nos. 8 and 24, making him the only player in NBA history to have a number of numbers retired by the same franchise.

He went to highschool in the suburbs of Philadelphia, however he grew up in Italy. His father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, performed in the NBA for a quantity of years before moving the household to Italy so he may play within the Italian basketball league. Kobe Bryant was known for his spectacular work ethic and devotion to basketball, but he also found time to get pleasure from life and pursue ventures off of the courtroom in his retirement. This marks the fourth time the Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Lakers icon has been chosen to grace the quilt. The number 24 in the recreation's title holds special significance, because it represents one of the two jersey numbers Bryant wore all through his illustrious 20-year NBA profession.

Returning to America on the end of his father's enjoying profession, Kobe instantly grew to become a sensation due to his legendary feats as a highschool basketball participant. After struggling by way of a brutal 4-20 marketing campaign his freshman yr, he went on a tear, going over the remainder of his career while winning a state title and incomes nationwide honors, including the Naismith High School Player of the Year Award. He was so good he was invited to scrimmage with the Philadelphia 76ers while nonetheless in highschool. The experience convinced him he was already at an NBA level, so he opted to skip college entirely and entered the draft straight out of high school.

Bryant and fellow Lakers meet with President Barack Obama in honor of the 2010 championship.Bryant wished a sixth championship to match Jordan's total. Bryant additionally recorded his first triple-double since January 21, 2009. On February 1, 2011, Bryant grew to become one of seven players with at least 25,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, and 5,000 assists. Bryant was sidelined for six weeks prior to the beginning of the 1999–2000 season due to a hand harm that he had incurred throughout a preseason sport in opposition to the Washington Wizards. When Bryant was again and taking half in over 38 minutes a sport, he had a rise in all statistical classes through the 1999–2000 season. This adopted with O'Neal profitable the MVP and Bryant being named to the All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team for the first time in his profession (the youngest participant to receive All-Defensive honors).

His parents named him after the famous beef of Kobe, Japan, which they saw on a restaurant menu.His center name, Bean, was derived from his father's nickname "Jellybean". Kobe turned accustomed to his new lifestyle and realized to talk fluent Italian.He was especially fond of Reggio Emilia, which he thought of a loving place and the place his best childhood memories had been made. On January 26, 2020, Bryant was onboard a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that crashed within the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas. Nine people, together with Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna "Gigi," died. The helicopter was on its means from Orange County to Thousands Oaks, California where Bryant was scheduled to educate a event game at Mamba Sports Academy. An all-star lineup of Laker icons also paid tribute to Bryant, including O’Neal, Phil Jackson, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom and Magic Johnson.