Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bean Bryant (born August 23, 1978) is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers National Basketball Association (NBA). Bryant had a successful career as a basketball school Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the best player in high school basketball in the country. He decided to declare his eligibility for the NBA Draft after graduating, and was selected with the 13th overall pick in 1996 NBA Draft by Charlotte Hornets, then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. As a rookie, Bryant earned a reputation as a high flyer and a favorite by winning the Slam Dunk Contest-1997.

Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships, 2000-2002. The heated feud between the duo and the defeat of the 2004 NBA Finals was followed by the trade of O'Neal with the Lakers after the 2003-04 season. In 2003, Bryant was accused of sexual assault after having sexual hotel employee in Colorado. In September 2004, prosecutors dropped the case after his agent refused to testify, and Bryant had to rebuild its image to become a cornerstone of the Lakers franchise. He led the NBA in scoring during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, with numerous scoring records in the process. In 2006, Bryant set a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, second most points in a game in NBA history, second only to Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point performance in 1962. In the 2007-08 season won the league Most Valuable Player (MVP).

After losing in the 2008 NBA Finals, Bryant led the Lakers two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010 and was named NBA Finals MVP both times.

Since July 2011, Bryant is the third and the sixth is an all-time scoring championship, and the post-season all-time regular season ranking, respectively. He is also all-time leading scorer in franchise history the Lakers. From his second year in the league, Bryant has started each of the NBA All-Star Game, which is held by three other All-Star appearances, won the All-Star MVP four times (2002, 2007, 2009 and 2011). Bryant is largely tied to the history of Star MVP awards NBA All. Thirteen-time All-NBA team member, and eleven-time All-Defensive Team, and is the youngest player ever to go on the defensive honors. The 2008 Olympics, won gold, a member of the national team of the United States. In 2009, the Sporting News, and TNT Bryant named NBA player of the 2000 decade.