Kobe Bryant Bio | Lifestyle

by DeniseISmithson

Curiously enough, Kobe Bean Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard is named after the Japanese beef. Along with Shaquille O'Neal, this All-Star player led the Lakers to no less than three consecutive NBA Championships (in 2000, 2001 and 2002).

With the departure of O'Neal in 2003, Bryant became the team's star player, leading the league in scoring in the 2005-2006 and 206-2007 seasons. He is an 11 time NBA All-Star, 2008's NBA MVP and 3 time NBA Champion, along with having won a gold medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics as part of the US Olympic Men's Basketball team.

Bryant grew up around basketball; his father played on the Philadelphia 76'ers and was coach of the LA Sparks when he was a young child. However, the young Kobe Bryant developed an interest in soccer when his family moved to Italy.

When they moved back to the States in 1991, he gained recognition during his high school years with his basketball career. He earned a SAT score of 1080, but decided to go directly into the NBA at the age of 17, having his parent co-sign his contract with the Lakers since he could not sign on his own until he turned 18. He became the youngest player to play and start in an NBA game.

In his first year, he earned a spot on the NBA All Rookie second team and gained recognition by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest. By 1998-99, he was a premiere guard in the league and being compared to basketball greats like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. In 1999, with new coach of the Lakers, Phil Jackson, he started his rise to the elite class as one of the best shooting guards in the league.

During the 2002-2003 season, Bryant averaged 30 points per game, posting 40 or more in nine games in a row! He was also voted to the All Defensive 1st Team and the All NBA team in this season. However, his reputation was badly tarnished before the following season due to his arrest for sexual assault.

In the 2003-04 season, his coach would write that Bryant had become uncoachable and he was being scrutinized and criticized. While Kobe was the NBA's second leading scorer, the Lakers missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. Kobe's status dropped with the NBA that year.

Bryant underperformed in the next two seasons until breaking a franchise record of 81 points (!) in a single game and achieving the second highest career point total in NBA history. In the 2006-2007 season, his jersey became the top selling jersey in both the US and in China. In December 2007 when he was only 29, he became the youngest NBA player to score 20,000 points in his career.

The 2008 Olympics made Bryant an international star. It may have been his first game as an Olympic athlete, but he was already far from a rookie when he won his first gold medal. He has set and broken many records in his career and despite his ups and downs, he may yet achieve more in the game.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.

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