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	== Early life ==		== Early life ==
	Kobe Bryant was born the only son of ] and Pam Bryant. According to Bryant's NBA bio<ref>http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kobe_bryant/bio.html</ref>, ~~(according to Dave Rudquist)~~ his parents named him after ]--the famous beef of Kobe,Japan-- that they both saw on a restaurant menu prior to his birth. He has two older sisters: Shaya and Sharia. At the age of six, Kobe, Shaya, and Sharia, and their parents moved to ], where his father began playing professional basketball. While living there, he gradually became accustomed to the lifestyle and subsequently learned to speak ] fluently. At an early age, he learned to play soccer and admitted that if he had stayed in Italy, he would have stuck with soccer and may have even tried to become a pro soccer player. his favourite team was AC Milan. In 1991, the Bryants moved back to the ]. After a spectacular high school career in the Philadelphia suburb of ], at ], Bryant achieved national recognition as a prodigious basketball talent. While his SAT score of 1080<ref>http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3129989/</ref> would have ensured his basketball scholarship to various top-tier colleges, Bryant eventually scrapped his original plans of continuing on to college by making the leap from high school directly to the NBA, a bold but controversial decision made by the then 17-year-old.		Kobe Bryant was born the only son of ] and Pam Bryant. According to Bryant's NBA bio<ref>http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kobe_bryant/bio.html</ref>, his parents named him after ]--the famous beef of Kobe,Japan-- that they both saw on a restaurant menu prior to his birth. He has two older sisters: Shaya and Sharia. At the age of six, Kobe, Shaya, and Sharia, and their parents moved to ], where his father began playing professional basketball. While living there, he gradually became accustomed to the lifestyle and subsequently learned to speak ] fluently. At an early age, he learned to play soccer and admitted that if he had stayed in Italy, he would have stuck with soccer and may have even tried to become a pro soccer player. his favourite team was AC Milan. In 1991, the Bryants moved back to the ]. After a spectacular high school career in the Philadelphia suburb of ], at ], Bryant achieved national recognition as a prodigious basketball talent. While his SAT score of 1080<ref>http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3129989/</ref> would have ensured his basketball scholarship to various top-tier colleges, Bryant eventually scrapped his original plans of continuing on to college by making the leap from high school directly to the NBA, a bold but controversial decision made by the then 17-year-old.

	==Personal ~~life~~==		==Personal Life: Marriage & Children==
	In November 1999, ~~the~~ 21-year-old ~~Bryant~~ met 17-year-old ] while she was working as a background dancer on a Snoop Dogg video~~, Tha Eastsidaz's "''G'd Up''"~~ <ref>http://www.eonline.com/On/Holly/Shows/Bryant/facts.html</ref>. ~~Bryant~~ was in the building working on his album, ~~which~~ was never released.		In November 1999, 21 year old Kobe met 17 year old ] while she was working as a background dancer on ]/ ] music video <ref>http://www.eonline.com/On/Holly/Shows/Bryant/facts.html</ref>] "''G'd Up''" . ( In the video, Vanessa is in a silver bikini and lip sings the chorus/hook). Kobe was in the building working on his album (it was never released).

	The two began dating and were engaged just ~~six~~ months later in May 2000 <ref>http://www.eonline.com/On/Holly/Shows/Bryant/facts.html</ref>.		The two began dating and were engaged just 6 months later in May 2000 <ref>http://www.eonline.com/On/Holly/Shows/Bryant/facts.html</ref>.

	They married on ], ] in ]~~, while Laine was still a senior at Marina High School in ] (due to the media, she finished high school through independent study)~~. There were only about 12 guests at the wedding. Neither Kobe's parents nor teammates attended. Bryant's parents were opposed to the marriage for a number of reasons. Reportedly Kobe's parents had problems with him marrying so young, especially to a woman who ~~was not~~ African-American <ref>http://www.eonline.com/On/Holly/Shows/Bryant/facts.html</ref>. This disagreement resulted in an estrangement period of over two years, during which Kobe Bryant did not have any contact with his parents. Finally in Spring 2003 after Kobe's 1st daughter Natalie was born, Kobe and his parents reconciled.		They married on April 18, 2001 in ]. There were only about 12 guests at the wedding. Neither Kobe's parents (former ] player ] and his wife Pam), nor Kobe's teammates attended. Bryant's parents were opposed to the marriage for a number of reasons. Reportedly Kobe's parents had problems with him marrying so young, especially to a woman who wasn't African-American <ref>http://www.eonline.com/On/Holly/Shows/Bryant/facts.html</ref>. This disagreement resulted in an estrangement period of over two years, during which Kobe Bryant did not have any contact with his parents. Finally in Spring 2003 after Kobe's 1st daughter Natalie was born, Kobe and his parents reconciled.

	According to Vanessa's cousin Laila Laine, there was no ]. <ref>http://allstarz.hollywood.com/kobe/vanessa02.htm</ref>.		According to Vanessa's cousin Laila Laine, there was no prenuptial agreement: "''She just came home one day and said something to the effect that Kobe didn't want a prenup...that he loved her too much for one''", Laila Laine remembered <ref>http://allstarz.hollywood.com/kobe/vanessa02.htm</ref>.

⚫	The Bryants' first child, a daughter named Natalia Diamante Bryant, was born on ], ]. The birth of Natalia influenced Bryant to reconcile his differences with his parents. Vanessa Bryant suffered a ] due to an ] in the spring of 2005. In the fall of that same year, the Bryants announced that they were expecting their second child. ~~Their~~ second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, was born on ], ]. Interestingly, Gianna was born 6 minutes ahead of former teammate and rival ]'s daughter Me'arah Sanaa.

		⚫	The Bryants first child, a daughter named Natalia Diamante Bryant, was born on Sunday January 19th 2003. The birth of Natalia influenced Bryant to reconcile his differences with his parents: Kobe/Vanessa & Joe/Pam were once again on good terms. ] suffered a ] due to an ] in the spring of 2005. In the fall of that same year, the Bryants announced that they were expecting their second child; and their second daughter Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant was born on Monday May 1st 2006. Interestingly, Gianna was born 6 minutes ahead of of former teammate and rival Shaquille O'Neal's daughter Me'arah Sanaa, who was born in FL {{citation needed}}.
	==Early NBA career==		==Early NBA career==
	===1996 Draft===		===1996 Draft===

Revision as of 01:38, 22 August 2006

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Kobe Bryant
Los Angeles Lakers

Position	Guard
Personal information
Born	August 23, 1978 Philadelphia, PA
Nationality	USA
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school	Lower Merion Lower Merion, PA
NBA draft	1996: 13th overall
Selected by the Charlotte Hornets
Playing career	1996–present
Career highlights and awards
3-time NBA Champion 8-time All-Star 8-time All-NBA Selection 6-time All-Defensive Selection 2002 NBA All-Star Game MVP 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Champion 1996 Naismith High School Player of the Year

Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

Kobe Bean Bryant (born August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.) is an All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is the son of former Philadelphia 76ers player and current Los Angeles Sparks head coach Joe "JellyBean" Bryant. He rose to national prominence as he became the first guard to be drafted out of high school in league history. Bryant was ranked #59 on SLAM magazine's Top 75 NBA Players of all time in 2003.

Early life

Kobe Bryant was born the only son of Joe and Pam Bryant. According to Bryant's NBA bio, his parents named him after a kind of steak--the famous beef of Kobe,Japan-- that they both saw on a restaurant menu prior to his birth. He has two older sisters: Shaya and Sharia. At the age of six, Kobe, Shaya, and Sharia, and their parents moved to Italy, where his father began playing professional basketball. While living there, he gradually became accustomed to the lifestyle and subsequently learned to speak Italian fluently. At an early age, he learned to play soccer and admitted that if he had stayed in Italy, he would have stuck with soccer and may have even tried to become a pro soccer player. his favourite team was AC Milan. In 1991, the Bryants moved back to the United States. After a spectacular high school career in the Philadelphia suburb of Lower Merion, at Lower Merion High School, Bryant achieved national recognition as a prodigious basketball talent. While his SAT score of 1080 would have ensured his basketball scholarship to various top-tier colleges, Bryant eventually scrapped his original plans of continuing on to college by making the leap from high school directly to the NBA, a bold but controversial decision made by the then 17-year-old.

Personal Life: Marriage & Children

In November 1999, 21 year old Kobe met 17 year old Vanessa Laine while she was working as a background dancer on Tha Eastsidaz/ Snoop Dogg music video ] "G'd Up" . ( In the video, Vanessa is in a silver bikini and lip sings the chorus/hook). Kobe was in the building working on his album (it was never released).

The two began dating and were engaged just 6 months later in May 2000 .

They married on April 18, 2001 in Dana Point, California. There were only about 12 guests at the wedding. Neither Kobe's parents (former NBA player Joe Bryant and his wife Pam), nor Kobe's teammates attended. Bryant's parents were opposed to the marriage for a number of reasons. Reportedly Kobe's parents had problems with him marrying so young, especially to a woman who wasn't African-American . This disagreement resulted in an estrangement period of over two years, during which Kobe Bryant did not have any contact with his parents. Finally in Spring 2003 after Kobe's 1st daughter Natalie was born, Kobe and his parents reconciled.

According to Vanessa's cousin Laila Laine, there was no prenuptial agreement: "She just came home one day and said something to the effect that Kobe didn't want a prenup...that he loved her too much for one", Laila Laine remembered .

The Bryants first child, a daughter named Natalia Diamante Bryant, was born on Sunday January 19th 2003. The birth of Natalia influenced Bryant to reconcile his differences with his parents: Kobe/Vanessa & Joe/Pam were once again on good terms. Vanessa Bryant suffered a miscarriage due to an ectopic pregnancy in the spring of 2005. In the fall of that same year, the Bryants announced that they were expecting their second child; and their second daughter Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant was born on Monday May 1st 2006. Interestingly, Gianna was born 6 minutes ahead of of former teammate and rival Shaquille O'Neal's daughter Me'arah Sanaa, who was born in FL .

Early NBA career

1996 Draft

Even before he was chosen as the 13th pick overall by the Hornets in 1996, Bryant had made a lasting impression on then-Lakers general manager Jerry West, who immediately foresaw the potential in Bryant's basketball talent during pre-draft workouts. West stated that Bryant's workout was one of the best he had ever witnessed. West continued his quest to return the Lakers to championship status by trading then-starting center Vlade Divac to the Hornets for the 18-year old Bryant.

Growing pains

During his first season with the Lakers, he mostly came off the bench behind guards Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel. Bryant played limited minutes initially but this changed as the season continued. He earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan-favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest.

In Bryant's second season (1997-98), he received more playing time and began showing more of his abilities as a talented young guard. He was the runner-up for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year, and, through fan voting, he also became the youngest NBA All-Star starter.

While his statistics were impressive for his age, he was still a young guard who lacked the experience to complement Shaquille O'Neal and significantly help the team contend for a championship.

Championship years

However, Bryant's fortunes would soon change when Phil Jackson became coach for the Los Angeles Lakers. After years of steady improvement, Bryant had become one of the premier shooting guards in the league, a fact that was evidenced by his annual presence in the league's All-NBA, All-Star, and All-Defensive teams. The Los Angeles Lakers became perennial championship contenders under Bryant and O'Neal, who formed an outstanding center-guard combination. Their success gave the Lakers three consecutive NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

End of a dynasty

In the 2002-03 NBA season, Bryant averaged 30 points per game and embarked on a historic scoring run, posting 40 or more points per game in nine consecutive games while averaging 40.6 in the entire month of February. In addition, he averaged 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, all career highs up to that point. For the first time in his career Bryant was voted on to both--All-NBA and All-Defensive 1st teams. After finishing 50-32 in the regular season, the Lakers floundered in the playoffs and lost in the Western Conference Semifinals to the eventual NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in six games.

In the following 2003-04 NBA season, the Lakers were able to acquire legends Karl Malone and Gary Payton to make another push at the NBA Championship. With a starting lineup of four future hall of fame players, including: Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton, the Lakers were able to reach the NBA Finals. In the Finals, that Laker team was eventually defeated by the Detroit Pistons in 5 games. In that series, Kobe averaged 22.6 points per game and 4.4 assists.

Conflicts and turmoil

During 2003, the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case had tarnished Kobe's image, but before this point Bryant was known to

File:Kobe Bryant - mug shot.jpg

Bryant, following his arrest in 2003

publicly fight with then team-mate Shaquille O'Neal. In addition to his problems with O'Neal, Bryant feuded with other teammates during his career. In an isolated incident, he allegedly punched then teammate Samaki Walker in the face outside of the team bus. In 2004, a dispute between Bryant and former teammate Karl Malone became public prior to Malone's expected re-signing with the Lakers. Bryant claimed Malone had made inappropriate comments to Bryant's wife. Malone claimed the comments were in jest and that Bryant was overreacting. In the subsequent months, rather than re-join Bryant and the Lakers, Malone turned his attention to the possibility of joining another team, but ultimately decided to retire. More recently, there have been rumors of Bryant clashing with teammate Lamar Odom which both have denied and attribute to media rumors.

Bryant also clashed with coach Phil Jackson. While remarkably efficient in Jackson's "triangle offense", Bryant had a personal distaste for Jackson's brand of basketball and subsequently called it "boring." In games, Bryant would often disregard the set offense completely to experiment with his own one-on-one moves, incensing the normally calm Jackson. Bryant managed to test Jackson's patience enough that the "Zen Master" even demanded that Bryant be traded, although Laker management rejected the request.

Unquestioned leader

When O'Neal was traded, Bryant became the Lakers' unquestioned leader of the team going into the 2004-2005 season. As it turned out, however, his first season at the helm of a team would prove to be a very rocky one. With his reputation so badly damaged from all that had happened over the previous year, Bryant was closely scrutinized and criticized during the season.

A particularly damaging salvo came from Phil Jackson in The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul. The book detailed the sordid events of the Lakers' tumultuous 2003-04 season and hurled numerous harsh criticisms of Bryant. Along with other unsavory adjectives, Jackson called Bryant "uncoachable."

Then, midway through the season, Rudy Tomjanovich suddenly resigned as Lakers coach, citing the recurrence of health problems and exhaustion. Without "Rudy T," stewardship of the remainder of the Lakers' season fell to career assistant coach Frank Hamblen. Despite the fact that Bryant was the league's second leading scorer at 27.6 points per game, the Lakers floundered and missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. This year signified a drop in Bryant's overall status in the NBA by not making the NBA All-Defensive Team and being demoted to All-NBA Third Team.

2005-06 season

The 2005-06 NBA season would mark a crossroads in Bryant's basketball career. Despite past differences with Bryant, Phil Jackson returned to coach the Lakers. Bryant endorsed the move, and by all appearances, the two men worked together well the second time around, leading the Lakers back into the NBA Playoffs. The team posted a 45-37 record, a twelve-game improvement over the previous season, and played well enough in the first round of the playoffs to come within a game of eliminating the second-seeded Phoenix Suns before finally falling short. Kobe Bryant was further questioned for his atypical performance in the 2nd half only taking 3 shots in the game 7 in the first round.

Scoring

Accomplishments

In many ways, however, the team's improvement in 2005-06 was often overshadowed by the spectacular individual scoring accomplishments posted by Bryant which resulted in the finest statistical season of his career:

On December 20, Bryant scored 62 points despite playing only three quarters of play against the Dallas Mavericks. Entering the fourth quarter Bryant had, by himself, outscored the entire Mavericks team 62-61, the only time a player has done this through three quarters since the advent of the 24-second shot clock.

On January 22, Bryant scored 81 points in a 122-104 victory against the Toronto Raptors. In addition to breaking the previous franchise record of 71 set by Elgin Baylor, his point total in that game was second in NBA history only to Wilt Chamberlain's legendary 100-point game in 1962.

Also in January, Bryant became the first player since 1964, and the only player aside from Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor to score 45 points or more in four consecutive games.

For the month of January, Bryant averaged 43.4 per game, the eighth highest single month scoring average in NBA history, and highest for any player other than Chamberlain.

By the end of the season, Bryant had also set Lakers single-season franchise records for the most 40-point games (27) and most points scored (2,832), among others.

Bryant won the league's scoring title for the first time, posting the highest scoring average (35.4) since Michael Jordan's 37.1 average in 1986-87.

Bryant finished in fourth-place in the voting for the 2006 NBA Most Valuable Player Award, but also received 22 first place votes — second only to winner Steve Nash, and by far the highest number of first-place votes Bryant had ever received in his career.

Other notable events

When the Lakers faced the Miami Heat on January 16, 2006, Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal made headlines by engaging in handshakes and hugs before the game, an event that is believed to signify the end of the feud that had festered between the two players since O'Neal's acrimonious departure from Los Angeles. A month later, at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, the two could be observed laughing and joking together on several occasions.

Late in the season, it was reported that Bryant would change his jersey number from #8 to #24 at the start of the 2006-07 NBA season. #24 was Bryant's first high school number, before changing to #33. After the Lakers' season ended, Bryant made a television appearance on TNT, where he stated that when he came into the league, he wanted #24, but it was unavailable. He went on to say that he believed the new number signified the start of the second half of his career.

Awards and achievements

Career highlights

3-time NBA Champion: 2000, 2001, 2002
8-time NBA All-Star: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

Has started in each of his appearances
8 consecutive appearances. (No All-Star game in 1999 due to league-wide lock-out)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2002
NBA Scoring Champion: 2006 (35.4)
8-time All-NBA Selection:

First Team: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
Second Team: 2000, 2001
Third Team: 1999, 2005

6-time All-Defensive Selection:

First Team: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006
Second Team: 2001, 2002

2-time NBA regular-season leader, points: 2003 (2,461), 2006 (2,832)
2-time NBA regular-season leader, field goals made: 2003 (868), 2006 (978)
NBA regular-season leader, field goals attempted: 2006 (2,173)
NBA regular-season leader, free throws made: 2006 (696)
NBA All-Rookie Second Team: 1997
NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Champion: 1997
2nd highest single-game point total in NBA history: 81, set on January 22, 2006 vs. the Toronto Raptors. (The record is 100 points set by Wilt Chamberlain on March 2, 1962.)
7th highest single-season point total in NBA history: 2,832, 2005-06 (Top 6 held by Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan)
9th highest single-season scoring average in NBA history: 35.4, 2005-06 (Top 8 held by Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Michael Jordan, and Rick Barry)
Career 40+ Point Games (Regular Season): 67
Career 50+ Point Games (Regular Season): 11
Career triple-doubles (as of 2006): 14
Career statistics (as of 2006): 23.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.5 apg, 0.61 bpg, 1.50 spg, .451 FG%, .336 3FG%, .834 FT%
Career playoff statistics (as of 2006): 22.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 4.5 apg, 0.73 bpg, 1.34 spg, .438 FG%, .329 3FG%, .791 FT%

NBA milestones

Youngest player in NBA history to reach:

10,000 points (24 years, 193 days), set March 5, 2003 vs. the Indiana Pacers.
14,000 points (26 years, 240 days), set April 20, 2005 vs. the Portland Trail Blazers.
15,000 points (27 years, 136 days), set January 6, 2006 vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.
16,000 points (27 years, 192 days), set March 3, 2006 vs. the Golden State Warriors.

Youngest player to start an NBA game (18 years, 158 days), making his first start for the Los Angeles Lakers on January 28, 1997.
Youngest player to start an NBA All-Star Game (19 years, 175 days), making his debut at the 48th annual All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden on February 8, 1998.
Youngest NBA All-Star Slam Dunk champion (18 years, 175 days), after winning the contest at the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend.
Became the first player ever to outscore the opposing team through three quarters since the advent of the 24-second shot clock after scoring 62 points in three quarters of play on December 20, 2005 vs. the Dallas Mavericks.

NBA records

Kobe Bryant holds eight NBA records:

Most three-point field goals made, one game: 12 (January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics; first player to reach this plateau; tied with Donyell Marshall).
Most three-point field goals made, one half: 8 (March 28, 2003 vs. Washington Wizards; tied with 5 players).
Most consecutive three-point field goals made, one game: 9 (January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics; first player to reach this plateau; tied with Latrell Sprewell and Ben Gordon).
Most free throws made, one quarter: 14 (3rd quarter, December 20, 2005 vs. Dallas Mavericks; tied with 5 players).
Most free throws attempted, one quarter: 16 (3rd quarter, December 20, 2005 vs. Dallas Mavericks; tied with 6 players).
Most All-Star Game three-point field goals made, all-time: 11 (1997–present; tied with Tracy McGrady, Ray Allen, and Jason Kidd).
Holds shot-clock era records for:

Greatest percentage of own team's point total (66.4% of the Lakers' 122 points)
Greatest percentage of both teams' combined point total (35.8% of the Lakers' and Raptors' 226 points)
(both set on January 22, 2006 vs. the Toronto Raptors).

Lakers franchise records

Kobe Bryant holds thirty Los Angeles Lakers franchise records:

Points

Season: 2,832 (2005-06; 7th highest NBA single season scoring output of all-time)
Game: 81 (January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors)
Half: 55 (2nd half, January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors).
Quarter: 30 (3rd quarter, December 20, 2005 vs. Dallas Mavericks)
Overtime, playoffs: 12 (May 4, 2006 vs. Phoenix Suns)
Scoring average, month: 43.4 (January 2006)
Games scoring 40 points or more, season: 27 (2005-06)
Consecutive games of 40 points or more: 9 (February 6–February 23, 2003)
Consecutive games of 20 points or more, season: 62 (December 9, 2005–April 19, 2006)

Field goals made

Half: 18 (2nd half, January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors).
Quarter: 11 (February 2, 1999 vs. Seattle SuperSonics).

Field goals attempted

Half: 28 (tied with Elgin Baylor; 2nd half, January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors).

Free throws made

Game: 23 (twice, most recently on January 31, 2006 vs. New York Knicks).
Half: 16 (January 30, 2001 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers)
Quarter: 14 (3rd quarter, December 20, 2005 vs. Dallas Mavericks)
Quarter, playoffs: 11 (tied with 3 players; May 8, 1997 vs. Utah Jazz).
Consecutive: 62 (January 11–22, 2006).

Free throws attempted

Quarter: 16 (3rd quarter, December 20, 2005 vs. Dallas Mavericks).

Three-point field goals made

All-time: 799 (1996–present)
Game: 12 (January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics).
Half: 8 (1st half, March 28, 2003 vs. Washington Wizards).
Quarter: 6 (2nd quarter, January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics).
Without a miss, game: 7 (January 6, 2006 vs. Philadelphia 76ers).
Consecutive: 9 (January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics).

Three-point field goals attempted

All-time: 2,379 (1996–present)
All-time, playoffs: 410 (1996–present)
Season: 518 (2005-06)
Game: 18 (January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics).

Steals

Half: 6 (tied with 3 players; February 13, 2006 vs. Utah Jazz).
Quarter, playoffs: 3 (tied with 6 players; May 17, 1999 vs. San Antonio Spurs).

Personal records

Second-most points scored in a regular season game in NBA history: 81 (January 22, 2006) (the most is 100 by Wilt Chamberlain).
One of only two players in NBA history to score 80-plus points in a single game
One of only two players in NBA history to score 35-plus points per game for 13 consecutive games (the other is Wilt Chamberlain).
One of only three players in NBA history to score 40-plus points per game for 9 consecutive games (the others are Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan).
One of only three players in NBA history to score 45-plus points per game for 4 consecutive games (the others are Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain), and the first to accomplish it since Chamberlain, who did it in November of 1964.
One of only three players in NBA history to average 40-plus points per game for an entire month at least once (the others are Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor)
One of only two players in NBA history to average 40-plus points per game for an entire month on three separate occasions (40.6 ppg in February 2003, 43.4 ppg in January 2006 , 40.1 in April 2006) (the other is Wilt Chamberlain).
Only player in NBA history with at least 2,800 points and 180 three-point field goals made in one season.
One of only four players in NBA history to score 60-plus points in a single game while playing less than 40 minutes (the other three are Jerry West, George Gervin, and Karl Malone).

Other awards and achievements

1996 Naismith High School Player of the Year
1996 Gatorade Circle of Champions High School Player of the Year
1996 McDonald's High School All-American
1996 USA Today All-USA First Team
1995 Adidas ABCD Camp Senior MVP
Named to the USA Today All-Time All-USA First Team in 2003.
USA Today and Parade Magazine's 1996 National High School Player of the Year with a seasonal average of 30.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.9 blocks per game.
Led Lower Merion High School to a 31-3 record, including 27 straight wins, and the PIAA Class AAAA state title as a senior (1996).
The all-time leading scorer in Southeastern Pennsylvania school history with 2,883 points.

Trivia

Bryant's 81-point game was the 666th game of his professional career. It came from 66 shots, 46 from the field and 20 from the free-throw line.
Bryant wore jersey #24 as a Freshman while at Lower Merion High School then changed it to #33.
For several years, he had an exclusive apparel and shoe deal with Adidas but is currently under a four-year, $45 million advertising contract with Nike .
He appeared on the front cover of Nintendo 64 games NBA Courtside and NBA Courtside 2 early in his career. Later, he was on the cover of NBA Courtside 2002, for Nintendo GameCube. He will appear on the cover of NBA 07 for PlayStation 2 and PSP.
Bryant appears in one of Nike's U.S. Joga Bonito TV commercials alongside American male and female players and Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho.

External links

NBA.com Profile at NBA.com
Template:Espn nba
Kobe Bryant - video highlights
Career Statistics at Basketball-Reference.com
Profile at the IMDb.com
Kobe Bryant Fan Blog - News, interviews and articles

Preceded byAllen Iverson	NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player 2002	Succeeded byKevin Garnett
Preceded byAllen Iverson	National Basketball Association Scoring champion 2005-06	Succeeded byN/A

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