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{{Infobox NBA Player
| name = Kobe Bryant
| image = Kobe Bryant Washington.jpg
| width = 233px
| caption = Bryant greeting some fans in February 2007</small>
| position = [[Shooting guard]]
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lb = 205
| team = Los Angeles Lakers
| number = 24
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1978|8|23}}
| birthplace = [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| nationality = [[United States|American]]
| high_school = [[Lower Merion High School|Lower Merion HS]], [[Ardmore, Pennsylvania|Ardmore]], Pennsylvania
| college =
| draft_year = 1996
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 13
| draft_team = [[New Orleans Hornets|Charlotte Hornets]]
| career_start = 1996
| career_end =
| teams = <nowiki></nowiki>
* [[Los Angeles Lakers]] ({{nbay|1996|start}}–present)
| highlights = <nowiki></nowiki>
* 5× [[List of NBA champions|NBA Champion]] <small>([[2000 NBA Finals|2000]], [[2001 NBA Finals|2001]], [[2002 NBA Finals|2002]], [[2009 NBA Finals|2009]], [[2010 NBA Finals|2010]])</small>
* 2× [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP]] <small>([[2009 NBA Finals|2009]]–[[2010 NBA Finals|2010]])</small>
* [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player]] <small>({{nbay|2007|end}})</small>
* 13× [[List of NBA All-Stars|NBA All-Star]] <small>([[1998 NBA All-Star Game|1998]], [[2000 NBA All-Star Game|2000]]–[[2011 NBA All-Star Game|2011]])</small>
* 2× [[List of National Basketball Association season scoring leaders|NBA scoring champion]] <small>({{nbay|2005|end}}–{{nbay|2006|end}})</small>
* 8× [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA First Team]] <small>({{nbay|2001|end}}–{{nbay|2003|end}}, {{nbay|2005|end}}–{{nbay|2009|end}})</small>
* 2× [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA Second Team]] <small>({{nbay|1999|end}}–{{nbay|2000|end}})</small>
* 2× [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA Third Team]] <small>({{nbay|1998|end}}, {{nbay|2004|end}})</small>
* 8× [[NBA All-Defensive Team|All-Defensive First Team]] <small>({{nbay|1999|end}}, {{nbay|2002|end}}–{{nbay|2003|end}}, {{nbay|2005|end}}–{{nbay|2009|end}})</small>
* 2× [[NBA All-Defensive Team|All-Defensive Second Team]] <small>({{nbay|2000|end}}–{{nbay|2001|end}})</small>
* [[NBA All-Rookie Team|NBA All-Rookie Second Team]] <small>({{nbay|1996|end}})</small>
* 4× [[NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award|NBA All-Star Game MVP]] <small>([[2002 NBA All-Star Game|2002]], [[2007 NBA All-Star Game|2007]], [[2009 NBA All-Star Game|2009]], [[2011 NBA All-Star Game|2011]])</small>
* [[NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest|NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion]] <small>([[1997 NBA All-Star Game|1997]])</small>
* [[List of multiple Olympic gold medalists|Olympic Gold Medalist]] <small>([[Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men|2008]])</small>
* [[Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award|Naismith Prep Player of the Year]] <small>(1996)</small>
}}
'''Kobe Bean Bryant''' (born {{Birth date|mf=yes|1978|8|23}}) is an American professional [[basketball]] player who plays [[shooting guard]] for the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA). Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at [[Lower Merion High School]], where he was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the country.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1008078/index.htm | work=CNN | title=Video | date=1996-05-06}}</ref> He decided to declare his eligibility for the [[NBA Draft]] upon graduation, and was selected with the 13th overall pick in the [[1996 NBA Draft]] by the [[New Orleans Hornets|Charlotte Hornets]], then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. As a rookie, Bryant earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan favorite by winning the 1997 [[Slam Dunk Contest]].

Bryant and [[Shaquille O'Neal]] led the Lakers to three consecutive [[NBA Finals|NBA championships]] from [[2000 NBA Finals|2000]] to [[2002 NBA Finals|2002]]. [[Kobe Bryant – Shaquille O'Neal feud|A heated feud]] between the duo and a loss in the [[2004 NBA Finals]] led to O'Neal's departure following the [[2003–04 NBA season|2003–04]] season. In 2003, Bryant was [[Kobe Bryant sexual assault case|accused of sexual assault]] after having sex with a hotel employee in [[Edwards, Colorado]]. In September 2004, prosecutors dropped the case after his accuser refused to testify,<ref>{{cite web |last=NBCSports Staff |title=Rape case against Bryant dismissed (D.A. says accuser didn't want to proceed; experts wonder if civil lawsuit might be near settlement) |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/5861379/ Rape case against Bryant dismissed |last=SI Staff |date=2004-11-02 |accessdate=2008-12-06 |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |work=Article & Video}}</ref> and Bryant had to rebuild his image while becoming the cornerstone of the Lakers. He led the NBA in scoring during the [[2005–06 NBA season|2005–06]] and [[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07]] seasons, setting numerous scoring records in the process.<ref name="bio" /> In 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points against the [[Toronto Raptors]], the second [[List of National Basketball Association players with 60 or more points in a game|most points scored in a single game]] in NBA history,<ref name="81-Point-Game Highlights">Webb, Royce. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-060123 Kobe makes records wilt], sports.espn.go.com, January 23, 2006. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref> second only to [[Wilt Chamberlain]]'s [[Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game|100 point performance]].<ref name="81-Point-Game Highlights"/> In the [[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08]] season, he was awarded the regular season's [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]] (MVP).<ref name="KobeWinsMVPbyNBA">NBA Staff. [http://www.nba.com//news/kobe_mvp_080506.html Kobe Bryant Wins Most Valuable Player Award], nba.com, May 7, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref> After losing in the [[2008 NBA Finals]], Bryant led the Lakers to two consecutive championships in [[2009 NBA Finals|2009]] and [[2010 NBA Finals|2010]] and was named [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP]] on both occasions.<ref>Beacham, Greg. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100618/ap_on_sp_bk_ga_su/bkn_nba_finals Lakers edge Celtics in Game 7, win 16th title], news.yahoo.com, June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2010.</ref>

Bryant currently ranks fourth and seventh on the league's post-season scoring and [[List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders|all-time scoring lists]], respectively. He is also the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history. Since his second year in the league, Bryant has started in every [[NBA All-Star Game]] that has been held with thirteen All-Star appearances, winning the [[NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award|All-Star MVP Award]] four times ([[2002 NBA All-Star Game|2002]], [[2007 NBA All-Star Game|2007]], [[2009 NBA All-Star Game|2009]], and [[2011 NBA All-Star Game|2011]]). He is a twelve-time member of the [[All-NBA]] team and ten-time [[NBA All-Defensive|All-Defensive]] team, and is the youngest player ever to receive defensive honors. At the [[Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Olympics]], he won a [[gold medal]] as a member of the [[United States men's national basketball team|USA national team]].<ref name="RedeemTeambySheridan">Sheridan, Chris. [http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/basketball/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=DreamRedeem-080825 Redeem Team proves worthy of Dream Team comparison], sports.espn.go.com, August 25, 2008. Retrieved December 6, 2008.</ref> In 2009, [[Sporting News]] and [[TNT (TV channel)|TNT]] named Bryant the NBA player of the 2000s [[2000-2009|decade]].<ref>Mitchell, Houston. [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/09/kobe-bryant-is-named-nba-player-of-the-decade.html Kobe Bryant is named NBA player of the decade], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', September 24, 2009. Retrieved June 22, 2010.</ref>

== Early years ==
=== Childhood and youth ===
Kobe Bryant was born in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] as the youngest of three children and the only son of former [[Philadelphia 76ers]] player and former [[Los Angeles Sparks]] head coach [[Joe Bryant|Joe "Jellybean" Bryant]] and Pamela Cox Bryant.<ref name="bio" /> He is also the [[maternal]] nephew of [[Chubby Cox|John "Chubby" Cox]]. His parents named him after the [[Kobe beef|famous beef]] of [[Kobe]], [[Japan]], which they saw on a restaurant menu.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |last=NBA Staff |title=Kobe Bryant Bio |publisher=NBA.com |date=N.D. |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kobe_bryant/bio.html |accessdate=2007-08-05}}</ref> Bryant was raised [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=17003|title=Kobe Bryant: I wouldn't mind being Jewish |publisher=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|work=|date=2006-03-24|quote = If Bryant, a Catholic,...|accessdate=2010-09-11|first=Aaron|last=Kaplowitz}}</ref> When Bryant was six, his father left the NBA and moved his family to Italy to begin playing professional basketball.<ref name="italy">{{cite video |people=Sportitalia Staff |title={{YouTube|id=_L6nVq2jspU|title=Intervista Kobe Bryant in italiano su Sportitalia 1^PARTE}} |date=2007-04-08 |accessdate=2008-06-28 |publisher=[[Sportitalia]]}}</ref> Bryant became accustomed to his new lifestyle and learned to speak Italian and Spanish fluently.<ref name="italy" /><ref>Carr, Janis. [http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2009/03/06/kobe-to-pau-pass-the-ball-por-favor/13129/ Kobe to Pau: Pass the ball, por favor], ''[[The Orange County Register]]'', March 6, 2009. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref> During summers, Bryant would come back to the United States to play in a basketball summer league.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCJ/is_5_28/ai_71187958 |title="I Wish People Would Let Me Just Be Kobe" – basketball player Kobe Bryant – Interview &#124; Basketball Digest &#124; Find Articles at BNET |publisher=Findarticles.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08 | first=Jason | last=Levin | year=2001}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> He started playing basketball when he was 3 years old,<ref>{{cite web|last=Owens |first=Jill |url=http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=9780822598497 |title=Kobe Bryant (Amazing Athletes) by Sylvia B. Bashevkin – Powell's Books |publisher=Powells.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> and his favorite team growing up was the Lakers.<ref name="Greatness">{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/columns/story?columnist=macmullan_jackie&page=kobefilmstudy-100604 |title=2010 NBA playoffs: Kobe Bryant perfected his game by watching film – ESPN |publisher=Sports.espn.go.com |date=2010-06-04 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> Bryant's grandfather would mail him videos of NBA games, which Bryant would study.<ref name="Greatness"/> At an early age he also learned to play [[association football|soccer]]; his favorite team is [[AC Milan]].<ref name="KobeSoccerPlayer">{{cite news |last=Arroyave |first=Luis |title=NBA's Kobe Bryant almost became a soccer player |publisher=Chicago Tribune |year=2006}}</ref> He has said that if he had stayed in Italy, he would have tried to become a professional soccer player;<ref name="KobeSoccerPlayer" /> Bryant is a big fan of former [[FC Barcelona]] manager [[Frank Rijkaard]] and their former player [[Ronaldinho]].<ref name="usatoday">{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2006-08-07-ronaldinho-north-american-tour_x.htm |title=Ronaldinho is a U.S. tour de force |last=D'Hippolito |first=Joseph |date=2006-08-08 |work=(Special for USA TODAY, Soccer > Inside Sports ) |publisher=[[USA Today]] |accessdate=2007-11-28}}</ref> Upon Joe Bryant's retirement from playing basketball in 1991, the Bryant family moved back to the United States.

=== High school ===
[[File:Kobe Bryant retired HS2.jpg|thumb|150px|Bryant's retired #33 jersey and banner at the Lower Merion High School gym.]]
Bryant earned national recognition during a spectacular high school career at [[Lower Merion High School]] located in the Philadelphia suburb of [[Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania|Lower Merion]]. As a freshman, he played for the varsity (junior and senior) basketball team.<ref name="Merion">{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/columns/story?page=beforetheywerestars-kobe-100601 |title=Before they were stars: Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant – ESPN |publisher=Sports.espn.go.com |date=2010-06-01 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> His father coached him his [[sophomore]] year of high school. Although during his first year the team was mediocre, the following three years the Aces compiled a 77–13 record, with Bryant playing all five positions.<ref name="Merion"/> At [[Adidas]] ABCD camp, Bryant earned the 1995 senior MVP award,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reebokabcdcamp.com/mvps.html |title=ABCD Camp |publisher=Reebokabcdcamp.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> while playing alongside future NBA teammate [[Lamar Odom]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1153359/3/index.htm | work=CNN | title=Video | date=2009-03-23 | accessdate=2010-05-07}}</ref> While in high school, then 76ers coach [[John Lucas II|John Lucas]] invited Bryant to work out and scrimmage with the team, where he played one-on-one with [[Jerry Stackhouse]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHjt_-Ec0JQ |title=Kobe Bryant – ESPN SportsCentury [2 of 5&#93; |publisher=YouTube |date=2006-09-25 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> In his senior year of high school, Bryant led the Aces to their first state championship in 53 years. During the run, he averaged 30.8 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.0 steals, and 3.8 blocked shots in leading the Aces to a 31–3 record.<ref name="HighSchool">{{cite news| url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/basketba/2002-05-08-bryant.htm | work=USA Today | title=Bryant continues to hold court | date=2002-05-07 | accessdate=2010-05-07}}</ref> He ended his career as [[Southeastern Pennsylvania]]'s all-time leading scorer at 2,883 points, surpassing both [[Wilt Chamberlain]] and [[Lionel Simmons]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aceshoops.com/?s=history |title=History |publisher=Aces Hoops |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> Bryant received several awards for his performance his senior year including being named [[Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award|Naismith High School Player of the Year]], [[Gatorade]] Men's National Basketball Player of the Year, a [[McDonald's All-American Team|McDonald's All-American]], and a ''[[USA Today]]'' All-USA First Team player.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/lakers/roster/0607_24bryant.html |title=#24 Kobe Bryant |work=NBA.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc |accessdate=2008-08-05}}</ref> Bryant's varsity coach, Greg Downer, commented that Bryant was "a complete player who dominates".<ref name="HighSchool" /> In 1996, Bryant took [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] singer [[Brandy Norwood]] to her [[senior prom]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/b/brandy/news_feature_061404/ |title=Brandy On Growing Up: A Candid Chat |accessdate=2009-01-15 |publisher=MTV NETWORKS |work=[[MTV.com]] |author=Pak, SuChin}}</ref> though the two were, and remain, just friends. His [[SAT]] score of 1080<ref>{{cite web |last=Samuels |first=Allison |date=2003-10-13 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/61773/page/3 |title=Kobe Off The Court |page=7 |publisher=[[NewsWeek]] |accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> would have ensured his basketball scholarship to various top-tier colleges. Ultimately, however, the 17-year-old Bryant made the decision to go [[NBA high school draftees|directly into the NBA]], only the sixth player in NBA history to do so.<ref name="Merion"/> Bryant's news was met with a lot of publicity at a time when [[prep-to-pro]] NBA players was not very common ([[Kevin Garnett]] being the only exception in 20 years).<ref name="Merion"/> Bryant has stated that had he decided to go to college after high school, he would have attended [[Duke University]].<ref>Larry King Live (January 6, 2005). [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0501/06/lkl.01.html Kobe Bryant Interview]. ''CNN''. Accessed May 25, 2007.</ref>

== NBA career ==
=== 1996 NBA Draft ===
The first guard to ever be taken out of high school, Bryant was chosen as the 13th overall [[1996 NBA Draft|draft]] pick by the [[New Orleans Hornets|Charlotte Hornets]] [[1996 NBA Draft|in 1996]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espndb.go.com/nba/finals/profile/_/id/110/type/player/kobe-bryant |title=Kobe Bryant Bio – NBA Finals – ESPNDB |publisher=Espndb.go.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> However, according to [[Arn Tellem]], Bryant's agent at the time, Bryant playing for the Charlotte Hornets was "an impossibility".<ref name="Hornets">{{cite news |last=Robert |first=Selena |url=http://select.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/sports/29roberts.html |title=Destination Portland: A Big Man, a Small Place |publisher=New York Times |work=Sports |date=2007-06-29 |accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> However, Bill Branch, the Hornets' head scout at the time, said that the Hornets agreed to trade their draft selection to the Lakers the day before the draft. The Lakers did not tell the Hornets who to select until five minutes before the pick was made.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/jun/18/lakers-trade-for-bryant-has-been-misconstrued/ |title=Lakers' trade for Bryant has been misconstrued |publisher=JournalNow.com |date= |accessdate=2010-10-30}}</ref> Prior to the draft, Bryant had worked out in [[Los Angeles]], in which he scrimmaged against former Lakers players [[Larry Drew]] and [[Michael Cooper]], and according to then-Laker manager [[Jerry West]] "marched over these people".<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Deals Are What Made The Lakers |url= |work=Long Beach Press-Telegram |publisher= |date=2000-02-25 |accessdate= }}</ref> On July 1, 1996, West traded his starting [[center (basketball)|center]], [[Vlade Divac]], to the Hornets in exchange for Bryant's draft rights.<ref>{{cite news |last=SI Staff |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/05/26/sayitaintso_lakers/ |title=Say It Ain't So (Transactions that broke our hearts) |publisher=CNN/[[Sports Illustrated]] |year=2001 | accessdate=2010-05-07}}</ref> Since he was still 17 at the time of the draft, his parents had to cosign his contract with the Lakers until he was able to sign his own when he turned 18 before the season began.<ref name="complex.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/Kobe-Bryant |title=Kobe Bryant |publisher=Complex.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>

=== First three seasons (1996–99) ===
During [[1996–97 NBA season|his rookie season]], Bryant mostly came off the bench behind guards [[Eddie Jones (basketball)|Eddie Jones]] and [[Nick Van Exel]].<ref name="Contemporary Black Biography">{{cite journal |last=Edited by Ashyia Henderson. |title=Kobe Bryant. |journal=Contemporary Black Biography |year=2008 |publisher=Gale Group, 2001; Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008. |volume= 31 |url=http://0-galenet.galegroup.com.sapl.sat.lib.tx.us/servlet/BioRC?vrsn=149&OP=contains&locID=txshrpub100334&srchtp=name&ca=1&c=1&AI=U13015572&NA=Kobe+Bryant&ste=12&tbst=prp&tab=1&docNum=K1606001949&bConts=59 |accessdate=2008-12-06}} http://0-galenet.galegroup.com.sapl.sat.lib.tx.us:80/servlet/BioRC</ref> At the time he became [[List of oldest and youngest National Basketball Association players#Youngest players|the youngest player ever to play in an NBA game]] (a record since broken by [[Jermaine O'Neal]] and [[Andrew Bynum]]), and also became the youngest NBA starter ever.<ref>[http://basketballdaily.today.com/2009/01/30/the-youngest-nba-basketball-player-records/ The Youngest NBA Basketball Player Records]</ref> Initially, Bryant played limited minutes, but as the season continued, he began to see some more playing time. By the end of the season, he averaged 15.5 minutes a game. During the [[1997 NBA All-Star Game|All-Star weekend]], Bryant was the winner of the 1997 [[Slam Dunk Contest]], becoming the youngest player to be named the slam dunk champion at the age of 18.<ref>{{cite web |last=NBA Staff |url=http://www.nba.com/history/allstar/slamdunk_year_by_year.html#1997 |title=All-Star: Slam Dunk Year-by-Year Results |publisher=[[NBA]]; nba.com/history/allstar |date=N.D. |accessdate=2008-08-25}}</ref> Bryant's performance throughout the year earned him a spot on the [[NBA All-Rookie Team|NBA All Rookie]] second team with fellow bench teammate [[Travis Knight]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/history/awards_allrookieteams.html |title=All-Rookie Teams |publisher=[[NBA]].com |accessdate=2008-01-27}}</ref> His final minutes of the season ended in disaster when he shot 3 [[air ball]]s at crucial times in the game.<ref name="HighSchool"/> He missed the first shot to win the game in the 4th quarter and 2 three-pointers to tie the game in the last minute of overtime. With that the [[Utah Jazz]] ended the [[1997 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]] for the Lakers in the second round. [[Shaquille O'Neal]] commented years later that "[Bryant] was the only guy who had the guts at the time to take shots like that."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?id=4152884 |title=Kobe Bryant's top ten moments – ESPN |publisher=Sports.espn.go.com |date=2009-05-11 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RbLBGZwiR4 |title=Kobe vs Michael Documentary(Part 2) |publisher=YouTube |date=1998-02-01 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>

In Bryant's [[1997–98 NBA season|second season]], he received more playing time and began to show more of his abilities as a talented young guard. As a result Bryant's point averages more than doubled from 7.6 to 15.4 points per game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kobe_bryant/career_stats.html |title=Kobe Bryant Career Stats Page |publisher=NBA.com |date=1978-08-23 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> Bryant would see an increase in minutes when the Lakers "played small", which would feature Bryant playing small forward along side the guards he'd usually back up.<ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/29194361.html?dids=29194361:29194361&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS NBA Playoffs; A Dilemma for Kobe; NBA playoffs: The Lakers can still go small with Bryant in the frontcourt, but it could come at a price against the bigger Schrempf] Los Angeles Times, May 4, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2009.</ref> Bryant was the runner-up for the [[NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award|NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award]],<ref name="6thManVoting1998">{{cite web |url=http://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.html#smoy |title=1997–98 NBA Awards Voting |last=Basketball-References Staff |date=N.D. |publisher=Basketball Reference |accessdate=2008-12-07}}</ref> and through fan voting, he also became the youngest [[National Basketball Association All-Star Game|NBA All-Star]] starter in NBA history.<ref name="AllStarProfile">{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/allstar2008/players/kobe_bryant.html |title=All-Star Player Profile : Kobe Bryant |last=NBA Staff |date=N.D. |publisher=[[NBA]] |accessdate=2008-12-07}}</ref> He was joined by fellow team mates Shaquille O'Neal, [[Nick Van Exel]], and [[Eddie Jones (basketball)|Eddie Jones]], making it the first time since 1983 that four players on the same team were selected to play in the same All-Star Game. Bryant's 15.4 points per game was the highest of any non-starter in the season.<ref name="Contract">{{cite news| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E6D81738F933A05752C0A96F958260 | work=The New York Times | title=BASKETBALL: N.B.A. ROUNDUP – LOS ANGELES; Lakers' Bryant Signs for $71 Million | date=1999-01-30 | accessdate=2010-05-07}}</ref>

The [[1998–99 NBA season|1998–99]] season marked Bryant's emergence as a premiere guard in the league. With starting guards Nick Van Exel and [[Eddie Jones (basketball)|Eddie Jones]] traded, Bryant started every game for the lockout-shortened 50 game season. During the season, Bryant signed a 6-year contract extension worth $70 million.<ref name="Contract" /> This kept him with the Lakers till the end of the 2003–04 season. Even at an early stage of his career sportswriters were comparing his skills to that of [[Michael Jordan]] and [[Magic Johnson]].<ref name="complex.com"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/23936063.html?dids=23936063:23936063&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS |title=KOBE BRYANT: THE AIR APPARENT? |date=January 27, 2009 |publisher=basketball-reference.com |accessdate=2009-01-27 | first=Sam | last=Smith}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1012689/index.htm |title=Showtime! |date=January 27, 2009 |publisher=basketball-reference.com |accessdate=2009-01-27}}</ref> The playoff results, however, were no better, as the Lakers were [[1999 NBA Playoffs|swept]] by the [[San Antonio Spurs]] in the Western Conference semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1999.html |title=1998–99 Los Angeles Lakers Statistics |publisher=basketball-reference.com |accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref>

=== Three-peat (1999–2002) ===
[[File:Lipofsky Kobe .jpg|thumb|left|165px|Bryant was a member of the Lakers teams that won three consecutive NBA Championships from 2000 to 2002.]]
Bryant's fortunes would soon change when [[Phil Jackson]] became coach for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2000.html |title=1999–00 Los Angeles Lakers Statistics |publisher=basketball-reference.com |accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref> After years of steady improvement, Bryant became one of the premier [[shooting guard]]s in the league, earning appearances in the league's All-NBA,<ref name="BryantAllNBA">{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/news/all_nba_team_020501.html |title=Bryant, McGrady Highlight All-NBA Selections |last=NBA Staff |date=2002-05-01 |publisher=[[NBA]] |accessdate=2008-12-07}}</ref> All-Star, and All-Defensive teams.<ref name="BryantAllDefensive">{{cite web |url=http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Garnett_Bryant_top_NBA_All_Defensiv_05122008.html |title=Garnett, Bryant top NBA All-Defensive selections |last=Raw Story Staff |date=2008-05-12 |publisher=[[The Raw Story]];[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] |accessdate=2008-12-07}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The Los Angeles Lakers became premier championship contenders under Bryant and [[Shaquille O'Neal]], who formed an outstanding center-guard combination. Jackson utilized the [[triangle offense]] he used to win six championships with the [[Chicago Bulls]], which would help both Bryant and O'Neal rise to the elite class of the NBA. The three resulting championships won consecutively in [[2000 NBA Finals|2000]], [[2001 NBA Finals|2001]], and [[2002 NBA Finals|2002]] further proved such a fact.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/lakers/history/lakers_history_new.html |title=LAKERS: Los Angeles Lakers History |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref>

Bryant started the [[1999–2000 NBA season|1999–2000]] season sidelined for six weeks due to an injury to his hand in a preseason game against the [[Washington Wizards]].<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950CE7DB1130F936A25753C1A96F958260 N.B.A. : NOTEBOOK – LOS ANGELES LAKERS; Bryant Out Six Weeks With a Broken Hand] October 15, 1999, The New York Times</ref> With Bryant back and playing over 38 minutes a game, he saw an increase in all statistical categories in the 1999–2000 season. This included leading the team in assists per game and steals per game. The duo of O'Neal and Bryant backed with a strong bench led to the Lakers winning 67 games, tied for fifth-most in NBA history. This followed with O'Neal winning the MVP and Bryant being named to the [[All-NBA|All-NBA Team]] Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team for the first time in his career (the youngest player ever to receive defensive honors).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/lakers/history/lakers_history_new.html#35 |title=LAKERS: Los Angeles Lakers History |publisher=Nba.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> While playing second fiddle to O'Neal in the playoffs, Bryant had some [[clutch (sports)|clutch]] performances including a 25 point, 11 rebound, 7 assist, 4 block game in game 7 of the Western Conference finals against the [[Portland Trail Blazers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200006040LAL.html |title=Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, June 4, 2000 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |date=2000-06-04 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> He also threw an alley-oop pass to O'Neal to clinch the game and the series. In the [[2000 NBA Finals]] against the [[Indiana Pacers]], Bryant injured his ankle in the second quarter of game 2 and missed the rest of the game and game 3. In game 4, Bryant scored 22 points in the second half, and led the team to an overtime victory as O'Neal fouled out of the game. Bryant scored the winning shot to put the Lakers ahead 120–118.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/sports/basketball/indiana_pacers/2000/pacers2000.html |title=NBA Finals: Pacers vs. Lakers |publisher=.indystar.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> With a game 6 victory, the Lakers won their first championship since [[1988 NBA Finals|1988]].<ref>Plaschke, Bill . [http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jun/15/sports/sp-41173 That Was No Dream, That Was Kobe], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', June 15, 2000. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref>

Statistically, the [[2000–01 NBA season|2000–01]] season saw Bryant perform similarly to the previous year except Bryant was averaging 6 more points a game (28.5). It was also the year when disagreements between Bryant and O'Neal began to surface.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8847419_ITM |title=Article: No doubt: It's Bryant's team.(Chicago Tribune) &#124; AccessMyLibrary – Promoting library advocacy |publisher=AccessMyLibrary |date=2002-05-22 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> Once again he led the team in assists with 5 per game. The Lakers however, only won 56 games, an 11 game drop off from last year. The Lakers would respond by going 15–1 in the playoffs. They easily swept the Portland Trail Blazers, [[Sacramento Kings]], and [[San Antonio Spurs]], before losing their first game against the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] in overtime. They would go on to win the next 4 games and bring their second championship to Los Angeles in as many seasons. During the playoffs Bryant played heavy minutes which brought his stats up to 29.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. In the playoffs teammate O'Neal declared Bryant the best player in the league.<ref name="HighSchool" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyfR2pDOt3k |title=Kobe Bryant greatest games (2001 playoffs): 36pts 9rbds 8asts in game 3 vs Spurs |publisher=YouTube |date=2008-09-03 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> Bryant ended up making the All NBA Second team and All NBA Defensive Team for the second year in a row. In addition, he was also voted to start in the NBA All-Star Game for the 3rd year in a row (no game in 1999).

In the [[2001–02 NBA season|2001–02 season]], Bryant played 80 games for the first time in his career. He continued his all-round play by averaging 25.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. He also had a career high 46.9% shooting and once again led his team in assists. While making the All-Star team and All-NBA Defensive team again, he was also promoted to the All-NBA First Team for the first time in his career. The Lakers won 58 games that year and finished second place in the [[Pacific Division (NBA)|Pacific Division]] behind in-state rival [[Sacramento Kings]]. The road to the Finals would prove a lot tougher than the record run the Lakers had the previous year. While the Lakers swept the Trail Blazers and defeated the Spurs 4–1, the Lakers did not have home court advantage against the Sacramento Kings. The series would stretch to 7 games, the first time this happened to the Lakers since the Western Conference Finals in the 2000 NBA Playoffs. However, the Lakers were able to beat their division rivals and make their third consecutive [[NBA Finals]] appearance. In the [[2002 NBA Finals|2002 Finals]], Bryant averaged 26.8 points, 51.4% shooting, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists per game, which included scoring a quarter of the teams points.<ref name="Finals">{{cite news| url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nba/02playoffs/2002-06-14-kobe.htm | work=USA Today | title=Bryant's heroics, deference pay off for Lakers | date=2002-06-14 | accessdate=2010-05-07}}</ref> At age 23, Bryant became the youngest player to win three championships.<ref name="Finals" /> Bryant's play was notable and praised for his performance in the 4th quarter of games, specifically the last 2 rounds of the playoffs.<ref name="Finals" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20020512/LALSAS/recap.html |title=PLAYOFFS 2002 |publisher=NBA.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> This cemented Bryant's reputation as a [[clutch (sports)|clutch]] player.

=== Coming up short (2002–04) ===
[[File:Kobe Bryant 8.jpg|thumb|180px|Bryant prepares to shoot a free throw in 2005.]]
In the [[2002–03 NBA season|2002–03]] season, Bryant averaged 30 points per game and embarked on a historic run, posting 40 or more points in nine consecutive games while averaging 40.6 in the entire month of February. In addition, he averaged 6.9 [[rebound (basketball)|rebounds]], 5.9 [[assist (basketball)|assists]], and 2.2 [[steal (basketball)|steals]] per game, all career highs up to that point. Bryant was once again voted on to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive 1st teams,<ref name="bio" /> and came in third place in voting for the MVP award. After finishing 50–32 in the regular season, the Lakers foundered [[2003 NBA Playoffs|in the playoffs]] and lost in the Western Conference semi-finals to the eventual NBA champions [[San Antonio Spurs]] in six games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2003/series?series=lalsas |title=NBA Playoffs 2003 – Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs |publisher=[[ESPN]].com |accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref>

In the following [[2003–04 NBA season|2003–04]] season, the Lakers were able to acquire NBA All-Stars [[Karl Malone]], and [[Gary Payton]] to make another push at the NBA Championship.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/payton_malone_030716.html Lakers Sign Free Agents Gary Payton and Karl Malone], nba.com, July 16, 2003. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref> Before the season began, Bryant was arrested for sexual assault.<ref>Associated Press. [http://www.thedenverchannel.com/sports/2314127/detail.html Kobe Bryant Arrested For Alleged Sexual Assault], [[KMGH-TV]], July 6, 2003. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref> This caused Bryant to miss some games due to court appearances or attend court earlier in the day and travel to play games later in same day.<ref>Saraceno, Jon. [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/saraceno/2004-04-21-saraceno-bryant_x.htm Bryant's, Lakers' survival go hand in hand], ''[[USA Today]]'', April 21, 2004. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref> In the final game of the regular season the Lakers played the Portland Trail Blazers. Bryant made two buzzer beaters to win the game and the [[Pacific Division (NBA)|Pacific Division]] title. At the end of the fourth quarter, Bryant made a three-pointer as time ran out to tie the game and send it into over time.<ref name="Portland">Associated Press. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=240414022 Kobe sends game to OT, wins it in 2OT], sports.espn.go.com, April 14, 2004. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref> The game eventually went to a second over time and Bryant made another three pointer as time expired to lift the Lakers past the Trail Blazers 105–104.<ref name="Portland"/>

With a starting lineup of four future [[Basketball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famers]], O'Neal, Malone, Payton, and Bryant, the Lakers were able to reach [[2004 NBA Finals|the NBA Finals]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playoffs2004/series_minlal.html |title=Minnesota Timberwolves (1) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (2) |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref> In the Finals, they were defeated in five games by the [[Detroit Pistons]], who won their first championship since 1990.<ref>Bucher, Ric. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2004/columns/story?columnist=bucher_ric&id=1822275 Lakers' wrongs making things right], sports.espn.go.com, June 15, 2004. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref> In that series, Bryant averaged 22.6 points per game and 4.4 assists. He shot a mere 35.1% from the field.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/finals2004/ |title=Finals 2004 |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref> Phil Jackson's contract as coach was not renewed, and [[Rudy Tomjanovich]] took over.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/coachfile/rudy_tomjanovich/ |title=Rudy Tomjanovich Coach Info |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref> Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat for [[Lamar Odom]], [[Caron Butler]], and [[Brian Grant]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2004-07-14-shaq-trade_x.htm |title=It's Official: Shaq traded to Heat for three players, draft pick |publisher=[[USAToday]] |accessdate=2008-06-23 | first1=David | last1=DuPree | date=2004-07-14}}</ref> The following day, Bryant declined an offer to sign with the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] and re-signed with the Lakers on a seven-year contract.<ref>Associated Press. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1840336 Kobe remains with Lakers], sports.espn.go.com, July 16, 2004. Retrieved July 16, 2008.</ref>

=== Playoffs disappointments (2004–07) ===
[[File:Kobe Bryant dunk.jpg|thumb|left|160px|Bryant dunks against [[Golden State Warriors]] in October 2005]]
Bryant was closely scrutinized and criticized during the 2004–05 season with his reputation badly damaged from all that had happened over the previous year. A particularly damaging salvo came when Phil Jackson wrote ''[[The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul]]''. The book detailed the events of the Lakers' tumultuous [[2003–04 NBA season|2003–04 season]] and has a number of criticisms of Bryant. In the book Jackson called Bryant "uncoachable".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/06/sports/basketball/06lakers.html |title=Coach and Star Savor Success in Collaboration |date=2006-05-06 |publisher=nytimes.com |accessdate=2008-08-05 | first=Howard | last=Beck}}</ref> Midway through the season, [[Rudy Tomjanovich]] suddenly resigned as Lakers coach, citing the recurrence of health problems and exhaustion.<ref>Associated Press. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1982487 Decision was made Monday], sports.espn.go.com, February 3, 2005. Retrieved June 23, 2010.</ref> Without Tomjanovich, stewardship of the remainder of the Lakers' season fell to career assistant coach [[Frank Hamblen]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/coaching_change_050202.html |title=Lakers Announce Coaching Change |date=2005-02-02 |publisher=nba.com/lakers |accessdate=2008-08-05}}</ref> 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. The year signified a drop in Bryant's overall status in the NBA, as he did not make the NBA All-Defensive Team and was also demoted to the All-NBA Third Team.<ref name="KobeBryantStatistics">{{cite web |url=http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanko01.html |title=Kobe Bryant Statistics |publisher=basketball-reference.com |accessdate=2008-08-05}}</ref> During the season, Bryant also engaged in public feuds with [[Ray Allen]] and [[Karl Malone]].<ref>Hughes, Frank. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=hughes_frank&id=1945983 Allen primed for Kobe showdown], sports.espn.go.com, December 14, 2004. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref><ref>Associated Press. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1944994 Kobe 'upset' about Malone's comments to wife], sports.espn.go.com, December 15, 2004. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/coachfile/phil_jackson/ |title=Phil Jackson |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> Bryant endorsed the move, and by all appearances, the two men worked together well the second time around, leading the Lakers [[2006 NBA Playoffs|back into the playoffs]]. Bryant's individual scoring accomplishments posted resulted in the finest statistical season of his career. On December 20, 2005, Bryant scored 62 points in three quarters against the [[Dallas Mavericks]]. Entering the fourth quarter, Bryant had 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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.authenticbasketball.com/top_players/kobe_bryant.htm |title=Basketball: Kobe Bryant Profile and Information |publisher=authenticbasketball.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> 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, signifying a change in [[Shaq–Kobe feud|the feud]] that had festered between the two players.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/17/AR2006011701377_pf.html|title=O'Neal Squashes Feud With Bryant|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 18, 2006|accessdate=January 17, 2009}}</ref> A month later, at the [[2006 NBA All-Star Game]], the two were seen laughing together.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wurst |first=Matthew D. |url=http://www.nba.com/allstar2006/allstar_game/55things_as06.html |title=55 Things About the 55th All-Star Game |publisher=Nba.com |date=19 February 2006|accessdate=28 July 2010 |quote=What happened after Shaq and Kobe got entangled in the lane during the first quarter? Nothing but laughter all around.}}</ref>

[[File:Kobe 81 scoreboard.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Bryant scored a career high of 81-points against the [[Toronto Raptors]] in [[Staples Center]], second highest single scoring performance in NBA history, surpassed only by [[Wilt Chamberlain]]'s [[Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game|100-point game]] in 1962.]]
On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a victory against the [[Toronto Raptors]].<ref name="81-Point-Game Highlights" /><ref>basketball-reference.com, [http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2006.html 2005–06 NBA Season Summary], accessed, December 8, 2007.</ref> In addition to breaking the previous franchise record of 71 set by [[Elgin Baylor]], Bryant's 81-point game was the second highest point total in NBA history, surpassed only by Wilt Chamberlain's [[Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game|100-point game]] in 1962.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/games/20060122/TORLAL/recap.html |title=Eighty-One! Bryant Erupts as Lakers Roll |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref>
In that same month, Bryant also became the first player since 1964 to score 45 points or more in four consecutive games, joining Chamberlain and Baylor as the only players ever to do so.<ref>NBA.com (February 1, 2006). [http://www.nba.com/news/pom_060201.html Billups, Bryant Named Players of the Month]. Accessed May 25, 2007</ref> For the month of January, Bryant averaged 43.4 points per game,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/11123899/site/21683474/ |title=Kobe's big month sets high expectations |publisher=msnbc.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> the eighth highest single month scoring average in NBA history and highest for any player other than Chamberlain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.authenticbasketball.com/top_players/kobe_bryant.htm |title=Basketball: Kobe Bryant Profile and Information |publisher=Authenticbasketball.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> By the end of the 2005–06 season, Bryant set Lakers single-season franchise records for most 40-point games (27) and most points scored (2,832).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/lakers/roster/0607_24bryant.html |title=LAKERS: #24 Kobe Bryant |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> He won the league's scoring title for the first time, posting a scoring average of ([[List of National Basketball Association top individual scoring season averages|35.4]]). Bryant finished in fourth place in the voting for the 2006 [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award]], but received 22 first place votes—second only to winner [[Steve Nash]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/news/nash_mvp_05-06.html |title=Suns' Steve Nash Wins Second Consecutive MVP Award |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> The Los Angeles Lakers posted a 45–37 record, an eleven-game improvement over the previous season, and the entire squad seemed to be clicking.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/standings?season=2006 |title=NBA Standings – 2005–2006 |publisher=[[ESPN]].com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref>

Later 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]]. Bryant's first high school number was 24 before he switched to 33.<ref name="HangUpOldJersey">{{cite web |last=Rovell |first=Darren |date=2006-04-26 |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2421874 |title=Bryant will hang up his No. 8 jersey, sources say. |accessdate=2007-05-25 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> After the Lakers' season ended, Bryant said on [[Turner Network Television|TNT]] that he wanted 24 as a rookie, but it was unavailable, as was 33, retired with [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]]. Bryant wore 143 at the [[Adidas|Adidas ABCD camp]], and chose 8 by adding those numbers.<ref name="HangUpOldJersey" /> In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers played well enough to reach a 3–1 series lead over the [[Phoenix Suns]], culminating with Bryant's OT-forcing and game-winning shots in Game 4. They came within six seconds of eliminating the second-seeded Suns in Game 6, however, they lost that game 126 to 118 in overtime.<ref name="phxlal">{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playoffs2006/series_phxlal.html |title=Phoenix Suns (2) vs. Los Angeles lakers (7) |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> Despite Bryant's 27.9 points per game in the series, the Lakers broke down, and ultimately fell to the Suns in seven games.<ref name="phxlal" /> Bryant received criticism for only taking three shots in the second half of the 90–121 loss to Phoenix in Game 7.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/columns/story?id=5195953 |title=Unfounded stigma still following Bryant |first=Dave |last=McMenamin |work=ESPN.com |accessdate=19 July 2010}}</ref> In the 2006 off-season, Bryant had knee surgery, preventing him from participating in the [[2006 FIBA World Championship]] tournament.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2520373 |title=Kobe won't play for USA after knee surgery |date=2006-07-16 |publisher=ESPN.com |accessdate=2008-08-05}}</ref>

[[File:Kobe Bryant Drives2.jpg|thumb|162px|Bryant scored 50 points or more in four consecutive games. Ten total in the 2006–07 season.]]
During the [[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07 season]], Bryant was selected to his 9th All-Star Game appearance, and on February 18, he logged 31 points, 6 assists, and 6 steals, earning his second career All-Star Game MVP trophy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/allstar2007/allstar_game/index.html |title=NBA All-Star Game |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> Over the course of the season, Bryant became involved in a number of on court incidents. On January 28 while attempting to draw contact on a potential game winning jumpshot, he flailed his arm striking [[San Antonio Spurs]] guard [[Manu Ginóbili]] in the face with his elbow.<ref name="flailed">{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2795315 |title=Bryant assessed flagrant foul for elbow in Philly |publisher=[[ESPN]].com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> Following a league review, Bryant was suspended for the subsequent game at [[Madison Square Garden]] against the [[New York Knicks]]. The basis given for the suspension was that Bryant had performed an "unnatural motion" in swinging his arm backwards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2748084 |title=Kobe serves suspension against Knicks |publisher=[[ESPN]].com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> Later, on March 6, he seemed to repeat the motion, this time striking [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] guard [[Marko Jarić]].<ref name="flailed" /> On March 7, the NBA handed Bryant his second one-game suspension.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2790534 |title=Kobe serves one-game suspension against Bucks |publisher=[[ESPN]].com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> In his first game back on March 9, he elbowed [[Kyle Korver]] in the face which was retroactively re-classified as a Type 1 [[flagrant foul]].<ref name="flailed" />

On March 16, Bryant scored a season-high 65 points in a home game against the [[Portland Trail Blazers]], which helped end the Lakers 7-game losing streak. This was the second best scoring performance of his 11-year career.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/games/20070316/PORLAL/recap.html |title=Bryant Scores NBA Season-Best 65 in Lakers Win |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> The following game, Bryant recorded 50 points against the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/games/20070318/MINLAL/recap.html |title=Kobe Scores 50 to Lead Lakers Past Wolves |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> after which he scored 60 points in a road win against the [[Memphis Grizzlies]]—becoming the second Laker to score three straight 50-plus point games, a feat not seen since [[Michael Jordan]] last did it in 1987.<ref name="Scoring">{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/games/20070322/LALMEM/recap.html |title=Bryant Scores 60 as Lakers Defeat Grizzlies |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> The only other Laker to do so was [[Elgin Baylor]], who also scored 50+ in three consecutive contests in December [[1962–63 NBA season|1962]].<ref name="Scoring" /> In the following day, in a game against the New Orleans Hornets, Bryant scored 50 points, making him the second player in NBA history to have 4 straight 50 point games behind [[Wilt Chamberlain]], who is the all-time leader with seven consecutive 50 point games twice.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/ian_thomsen/03/24/kobe.50/index.html |title=Kobe's 50-point run more important because of wins |publisher=Ian Thomsen - Sports Illustrated.com |accessdate=2008-06-25 | date=2007-03-24}}</ref> Bryant finished the year with a total of ten 50-plus point games,<ref>Lakers Universe. [http://www.lakersuniverse.com/kobe/top_scoring_games.htm Kobe Bryant Stats]. Accessed May 25, 2007</ref> becoming the only player beside [[Wilt Chamberlain]] in 1961–62 and 1962–63 to do so in one season. He also won his second straight scoring title that season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Scoring.jsp?league=00&season=22006&conf=OVERALL&position=0&splitType=9&splitScope=GAME&qualified=N&yearsExp=-1&splitDD= |title=Statistics |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> Throughout the 2006–07 season, Bryant's jersey became the top selling NBA jersey in the United States and China.<ref name="top-sellchina">NBA.com. [http://www.nba.com/news/chinajerseys.html Kobe Bryant has Top-Selling Jersey in China], nba.com, March 20, 2007, accessed May 25, 2007.</ref> A number of journalists have attributed the improved sales to Bryant's new number, as well as his continuing All-Star performance on the court.<ref>Oller, Rob (February 12, 2007). [http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/02/12/20070212-E1-01.html A star is reborn: Bryant's stats, dunks have made him marketable again]. ''The Columbus Dispatch''. Accessed May 25, 2007.</ref><ref>Denver Post (March 15, 2007). [http://www.bonham.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NID=279 For Kobe, turnaround is flair play]. ''The Bonham Group''. Accessed May 25, 2007.</ref> In the [[2007 NBA Playoffs]], the Lakers were once again eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns, 4–1.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playoffs2007/series/series_w1s2.html |title=Suns Top Lakers, Move On to Second Round |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref>

=== MVP year (2007–08) ===
On May 27, 2007, [[ESPN]] reported that Bryant stated that he wanted to be traded if [[Jerry West]] did not return to the team with full authority.<ref name="espn_kobe_west">{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2884339 |title=Kobe wants West to return to Lakers with full authority |accessdate=2007-10-16 |date=2007-05-28}}</ref> Bryant later confirmed his desire for West's return to the franchise, but denied stating that he would want to be traded if that does not occur.<ref name="espn_kobe_west_2">{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2884792 |title=Kobe says he's just suggesting West's return, not demanding it |accessdate=2007-10-16 |date=2007-05-30}}</ref> However, three days later, on [[Stephen A. Smith]]'s radio program, Bryant expressed anger over a Lakers "insider" who claimed that Bryant was responsible for [[Shaquille O'Neal]]'s departure from the team, and publicly stated, "I want to be traded."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2886927 |title=Bryant asks for trade, then backtracks slightly |work = ESPN.com |accessdate=2010-07-18 |date=31 July 2007|quote=...as a Lakers insider notes, it was Bryant's insistence on getting away from Shaquille O'Neal that got them in this mess.}}</ref> Three hours after making that statement, Bryant stated in another interview that after having a conversation with head coach [[Phil Jackson]], he has reconsidered his decision and backed off his trade request.<ref name="gazette_retracts_trade">{{cite web |url=http://www.gazette.com/sports/bryant_23036___article.html/don_phil.html |title=NBA: Kobe retracts his trade request |accessdate=2007-10-16 |date=2007-05-31}}</ref> Bryant would later be shown on an infamous amateur video saying that center [[Andrew Bynum]] should have been traded for All-Star [[Jason Kidd]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/arash_markazi/06/19/kobe/ |title=Playing the video game: Underground Kobe film ain't all it's cracked up to be |first=Arash |last=Markazi |authorlink = Arash Markazi |work = SI.com |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2010-07-18 |date=19 July 2007|quote=Are you kidding me? Andrew Bynum? F—ing ship his ass out.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/17/sports/basketball/17lakers.html |title=Suns Can Still Bring Out Snarl in Bryant and Lakers |first=Billy |last=Witz |newspaper = The New York Times |accessdate=1 August 2010 |date=17 May 2010|quote=There was the infamous video by the self-described Kobe Video Guys, when Bryant profanely vented to a couple of men at a Newport Beach shopping mall, who happened to be recording it, about the Lakers holding on to Andrew Bynum when they could have dealt him for Jason Kidd.}}</ref>

[[File:Lakers Finals 08.jpg|thumb|left|155px|Bryant's Lakers lost to the [[Boston Celtics]] in 6 games during the [[2008 NBA Finals]].]]
On December 23, 2007, Bryant became the youngest player (29 years, 122 days) to reach 20,000 points, in a game against the [[New York Knicks]], in [[Madison Square Garden]].<ref>sportsillustrated.com, [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/12/23/bc.bkn.bryant.20.ap/index.html Bryant youngest to 20,000 points]. Retrieved January 1, 2007.</ref> Despite an injury to his shooting hand's small finger, described as "a complete tear of the [[Radial collateral ligament (thumb)|radial collateral ligament]], an [[avulsion fracture]], and a volar plate injury at the MCP joint" that occurred in a game on February 5, 2008, Bryant played all 82 games of the regular season instead of opting for surgery. Regarding his injury, he stated, "I would prefer to delay any surgical procedure until after our Lakers season, and this summer's Olympic Games. But, this is an injury that {{sic|myself}} and the Lakers' medical staff will just have to continue to monitor on a day-to-day basis."<ref name="injuryupdate">{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/080214kobeinjury.html?rss=true |title=KOBE BRYANT INJURY UPDATE |accessdate=2008-05-09 |date=2008-02-14}}</ref> In early September 2008, Bryant decided not to have surgery to repair the injury.<ref>[http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-kobebryant Bryant: No surgery on pinkie finger], September 9, 2008</ref>

Leading his team to a West best 57–25 record, they swept the Nuggets in the first round and on May 6, 2008, Bryant was officially announced as the [[National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player award]], his first for his career.<ref name="KobeWinsMVPbyNBA" /> He said, "It's been a long ride. I'm very proud to represent this organization, to represent this city."<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers7-2008may07,0,4349778,full.story Jerry West attends Bryant's MVP press conference], ''Los Angeles Times'', accessed May 7, 2008</ref> [[Jerry West]], who was responsible for bringing Bryant to the Lakers, was on hand at the press conference to observe Bryant receive his MVP trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern. He stated, "Kobe deserved it. He's had just another great season. Doesn't surprise me one bit."<ref>[http://www.presstelegram.com/moresports/ci_9200340 Kobe's MVP award not a surprise to West], accessed May 9, 2008</ref> In addition to winning his MVP award, Bryant was the only unanimous selection to the All-NBA team on May 8, 2008 for the third straight season and sixth time in his career.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3387097 Bryant unanimous pick for All-NBA team], ESPN, accessed May 10, 2008</ref> He would then headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team with [[Kevin Garnett]], receiving 52 points overall including 24 first-place nods, earning his eighth selection.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/news/defensive_team_080512.html?rss=true Kobe, Garnett Headline All-Defensive Team], [[NBA]]. Retrieved January 17, 2009.</ref>

The Lakers concluded the 2007–08 regular season with a 57–25 record, finishing first in the Western Conference and setting up themselves for a first-round contest against the Nuggets. In Game 1, Bryant, who said he made himself a decoy through most of the game, scored 18 of his 32 points in the final 8 minutes to keep Los Angeles safely ahead.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/games/20080420/DENLAL/recap.html |title=NBA.com: Gasol Powers Lakers Past Nuggets |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-18}}</ref> That made Denver the first 50-win team to be swept out of the first round of the playoffs since the Memphis Grizzlies fell in four to the San Antonio Spurs in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playoffs2008/series/series_w1s1.html |title=Nuggets Put Up a Fight, but Lakers Get Sweep |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-18}}</ref> In the first game of the next round against the Jazz, Bryant scored 38 points as the Lakers beat the Jazz in Game 1.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/games/20080504/UTALAL/recap.html |title=NBA.com: Bryant Scores 38 as Lakers Beat Jazz in Game 1 |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-18}}</ref> The Lakers won the next game as well, but dropped Games 3 and 4, even with Bryant putting up 33.5 points per game.<ref name="LALUTA">{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playoffs2008/series/series_w2s1.html |title=NBA.com: Bryant Lifts Lakers Into Conference Finals |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-18}}</ref> The Lakers then won the next two games to win the semifinals in 6.<ref name="LALUTA" /> This set up a [[NBA Conference Finals#Conference Finals 2|Western Conference Finals]] berth against 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 first time without [[Shaquille O'Neal]] to go to the NBA Finals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/games/20080529/SASLAL/gameinfo.html |title=NBA.com: Finals 2008 Spurs at Lakers Game Info |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-18}}</ref> The Lakers then lost to the Boston Celtics in [[2008 NBA Finals|6 games]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/games/20080617/LALBOS/recap.html |title=Celtics Capture 17th NBA Title With Record Win Over Lakers |publisher=NBA.com Kobe Bryant now holds four NBA titles.|accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref>

=== Repeat (2008–10) ===
[[File:Kobe Bryant 61 NYK4.jpg|thumb|160px|Bryant set a [[Madison Square Garden]] record with 61 points]]

In the [[2008–09 NBA season|2008–09]] season, the Lakers opened the campaign by winning their first seven games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/lal/schedule?v=cal&m=11&y=2008 |title=Los Angeles Lakers – Schedule – NBA – Yahoo! Sports |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> Bryant led the team to tie the franchise record for most wins to start the season going 17–2,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gamecenter/recap/NBA_20081207_MIL@LAL |title=Lakers equal best 19-game start in franchise history |accessdate=2009-01-25 |date=8 December 2008 |publisher=[[CBSSports.com]]}}</ref> and by the middle of December they compiled a 21–3 record. He was selected to his eleventh consecutive [[NBA All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] as a starter,<ref>[http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/rob_peterson/02/27/kobe_tops.mvp.20090227/index.html Kobe's steady pace lands him top spot in rankings] By Rob Peterson, NBA.com – March 2, 2009</ref> and was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for December and January in addition to being named Western Conference Player of the week three times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/2009/news/01/12/players.week/ |title=Lakers' Bryant, Magic's Howard named Players of the Week |publisher=NBA.com |date=2009-01-12 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> In a game against the Knicks on February 2, 2009, Bryant scored 61 points, setting a record for the most points scored at [[Madison Square Garden]].<ref>Mahoney, Brian. [http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2009020218 Garden party: Kobe’s 61 sets MSG record], sports.yahoo.com, February 2, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2009.</ref> During the [[2009 NBA All-Star Game]], Bryant who tallied 27 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals was awarded All-Star Game co-MVP with former teammate [[Shaquille O'Neal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/2009/allstar2009/02/16/main.20090215/index.html |title=Shaq, Kobe lead freestyling West All-Stars past East |publisher=NBA.com |date=2009-02-16 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> The Lakers finished the regular season with the best record in the west with a 65–17 record. Bryant was runner-up in the MVP voting behind [[LeBron James]],<ref>Official Release. [http://www.nba.com/2009/news/05/04/mvp.release.20090504/index.html James outdistances Bryant in winning Kia MVP award], nba.com, May 4, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2010.</ref> and was selected to the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team for the seventh time in his career.

[[File:Kobe Trophy Parade.jpg|thumb|left|157px|Bryant at the championship parade of the [[2009 NBA Finals|2009]] [[List of NBA champions|NBA Champions]] [[Los Angeles Lakers]]]]
In [[2009 NBA Playoffs|the playoffs]], the Lakers defeated the [[Utah Jazz]] in five games and the [[Houston Rockets]] in seven games in the opening two rounds. After finishing off the [[Denver Nuggets]] in the Conference Finals in six games, the Lakers earned their second straight trip to the [[2009 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]] where they defeated the [[Orlando Magic]] in five games. Bryant was awarded his first [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP]] trophy upon winning his fourth championship,<ref>Adande, J.A. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-090615 Daily Dime: Kobe named MVP as Lakers win NBA title – NBA – ESPN], sports.espn.go.com, June 15, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2010.</ref> achieving series averages: 32.4 points, 7.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks.<ref>http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanko01/gamelog/2009/</ref> He became the first player since [[Jerry West]] in the [[1969 NBA Finals]] to average at least 32.4 points and 7.4 assists for a finals series<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2009-06-15-bryant-finals-mvp_N.htm|title= Man on a mission: Bryant revels in victory, Finals MVP|date=2009-06-14|work=USA Today|accessdate=2009-06-15 | first=Jeff | last=Zillgitt}}</ref> and the first since [[Michael Jordan]] to average 30 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for a title-winning team in the finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espndb.go.com/nba/research/profile/_/id/110/type/player/kobe-bryant |title=Kobe Bryant Bio – NBA Finals – ESPNDB |publisher=Espndb.go.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>

During the [[2009–10 NBA season|2009–10 season]], Bryant made six game-winning shots including a [[buzzer beater|buzzer-beating]], one-legged three point shot against the [[Miami Heat]] on December 4, 2009.<ref name="Miami">{{cite web |url=http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/11256/kobe-bryant-making-the-best-of-bad-situations |title=Kobe Bryant, making the best of bad situations |publisher=[[ESPN]].go.com |accessdate=2009-12-09}}</ref> Bryant considered the shot one of the luckiest he has made.<ref name="Miami"/> A week later, Bryant suffered an avulsion fracture in his right [[index finger]] in a game against the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]].<ref name="sports.yahoo.com">Beacham, Greg. [http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2009121113 Lakers win 11th straight, Bryant injures finger], sports.yahoo.com, December 12, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2010.</ref> Despite the injury, Bryant elected to continue playing with it, rather than take any time off to rest the injury.<ref name="sports.yahoo.com"/> Five days after his finger injury, he made another game winning shot, after missing on an opportunity in regulation, this time against the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] in an overtime game.<ref>Fly, Colin. [http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap;_ylt=AgS.y6ONBr1GQesWKE3tvGy8vLYF?gid=2009121615 Kobe’s jumper at OT buzzer lifts Lakers over Bucks], sports.yahoo.com, December 17, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2010.</ref> Bryant also became the youngest player (31 years, 151 days) to reach 25,000 points during the season, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain.<ref>Associated Press. [http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=4847254 Bryant joins 14 others with 25,000 points], sports.espn.go.com, January 22, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2010.</ref> He continued his dominant clutch plays making yet another game winning three-pointer against the Sacramento Kings,<ref>{{cite web|author=Jan 2, 2:28 am EST |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap;_ylt=AlPw372uPqShjYE24OAV48G8vLYF?gid=2010010113 |title=Kobe's 3-pointer at buzzer gives Lakers win – NBA – Yahoo! Sports |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> and what would be the game-winning field goal against the [[Boston Celtics]].<ref>Golen, Jimmy. [http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap;_ylt=Aiz4y0_CZDBjwr0jykuwGeq8vLYF?gid=2010013102 Beat LA? Not this time for Celtics], sports.yahoo.com, December 17, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2010.</ref> The following day, he surpassed Jerry West to become the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history.<ref>Associated Press, [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=300201029 Kobe passes West as Lakers' scoring leader in loss to Grizzlies], sports.espn.go.com, February 1, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010.</ref> After being sidelined for five games from an ankle injury, Bryant made his return and made another clutch three-pointer to give the Lakers a one point lead with four seconds remaining against the [[Memphis Grizzlies]].<ref>Medina, Mark. [http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2010/02/kobe-bryants-game-winner-in-9998-victory-over-memphis-grizzlies-shows-clutchness-cant-be-duplicated.html Kobe Bryant's game winner in 99–98 victory over Memphis Grizzlies shows clutchness can't be duplicated], sports.yahoo.com, February 23, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2010.</ref> Two weeks later, he made his sixth game-winning shot of the season against the Toronto Raptors.<ref>Beacham, Greg. [http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap;_ylt=AlE2BVZ0w4mrHxy_lzrfziy8vLYF?gid=2010030913 Lakers snap 3-game skid on Bryant’s late jumper], sports.yahoo.com, March 10, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2010.</ref>

[[File:Kobe Bryant left floater.jpg|thumb|150px|Bryant shoots a left-handed floater over [[Dwight Howard]] of the Orlando Magic on January 18, 2010]]
[[File:Lakers White House 2010.jpg|thumb|220px|left|[[Derek Fisher]] (left) and Bryant (center) with [[Barack Obama]] (right) on January 25, 2010]]On April 2, 2010, Bryant signed a three-year contract extension worth $87 million.<ref>Markazi, Arash. [http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5050933 Lakers sign Bryant to an extension], espn.go.com, April 3, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref> Bryant finished the regular season missing four of the final five games, due to injuries to his knee and finger. Bryant suffered multiple injuries throughout the season and as a result, missed nine games. The Lakers began the [[2010 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]] as the number one seed in the Western Conference against the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]],<ref>Helin, Kurt. [http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/Lakers-will-face-Thunder-in-the-first-round-90767524.html Lakers to Face Thunder in the First Round], ''[[NBC Los Angeles]]'', April 13, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref> eventually defeating them in six games.<ref>Bresnahan, Mike. [http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/01/sports/la-sp-lakers-thunder-20100501 Follow Classic – Los Angeles Times], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', May 1, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.</ref> The Lakers swept the [[Utah Jazz]] in the second round<ref>Hughes, Frank. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/frank_hughes/05/11/lakers.jazz.game4/index.html Fast Breaks: Lakers-Jazz, Game 4], sportsillustrated.cnn.com, May 11, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref> and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where they faced [[Phoenix Suns]]. In Game 2, Bryant finished the game with 13 assists, setting a new playoff career high; it was the most assists by a Laker in the playoffs since [[Magic Johnson]] had 13 in [[1996 NBA Playoffs|1996]].<ref>McMenamin, Dave. [http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5203784 Gasol plays closer with monster finish], sports.espn.go.com, May 20, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2010.</ref> The Lakers went on to win the series in six games capturing the Western Conference Championship and advancing to the NBA Finals for a third straight season.<ref>Associated Press. [http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/article/2010-05-29/lakers-beat-suns-set-rematch-boston Lakers beat Suns to set up rematch with Boston], ''[[Sporting News]]'', May 11, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2010.</ref> In a rematch against the 2008 Champions [[Boston Celtics]], Bryant, despite shooting 6 for 24 from the field, led the Lakers back from a thirteen-point third quarter deficit in Game 7 to win [[2010 NBA Finals|the championship]]; he scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter, and finished the game with 15 rebounds. Bryant won his fifth championship and earned his second consecutive [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP]] award.<ref>Smith, Sekou. [http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2010/06/18/no-doubt-about-the-mvp/?ls=iref:nbahpt1 No Doubt About The MVP], nba.com, June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.</ref> This marked the first time the Lakers won a Game 7 against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.<ref>Adande, J.A. [http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-100618/daily-dime 1. Lakers Capture Franchise Title No. 16], espn.go.com, June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.</ref> Bryant said that this was the most satisfying of all of his five championships.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5731600&campaign=rss&source=NBAHeadlines Lakers receive championship rings], By Dave McMenamin ESPN. October 27, 2010</ref>

===2010–11 season===
The Lakers started the [[2010–11 NBA season|2010–11 season]] by winning their first eight games.<ref>Beacham, Greg. [http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/40102216/ns/sports-nba/ Lakers hold off Timberwolves, improve to 8–0], nbcsports.msnbc.com, November 10, 2010, accessed 12 November 2010.</ref> In his ninth game of the season, playing against the [[Denver Nuggets]], Bryant became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 26,000 career points.<ref>Markazi, Arash. [http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/kobe/index?postId=5794855 Youngest To 26K], espn.go.com, November 12, 2010, accessed 12 November 2010.</ref> Bryant also recorded his first triple double since January 21, 2009.<ref>http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/40001300/ns/sports-nba/</ref> On January 30 against the Celtics, he become the youngest player to score 27,000 points.<ref>{{cite news|title=Celtics win Finals rematch despite Kobe Bryant's 41 points |agency=Associated Press |date=January 30, 2011 |work=ESPN.com |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=310130013 |accessdate=January 30, 2011 |quote=Bryant became the youngest player to reach 27,000 points on a 3-pointer late in the third quarter, but he frequently was a one-man show on offense.}}</ref> On February 1, 2011, Bryant became one of seven players with at least 25,000 points, 5,000 rebounds and 5,000 assists.<ref>ESPN Stats & Info. [http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/24423/kobe-in-the-giving-mood-on-tuesday Kobe in the giving mood on Tuesday], espn.go.com, February 2, 2011, accessed 2 February 2011.</ref> In Boston on February 10, Bryant scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half as the Lakers rallied from an early 15-point deficit for a 92&ndash;86 win over the Celtics.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kobe Bryant has big second half to help Lakers rally by Celtics |date=February 10, 2011 |work=ESPN.com |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=310210002 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5wR7Uz5ce |archivedate=February 12, 2011}}</ref> It was the Lakers' first victory of the season against one the the league's top four teams, as they entered the game 0&ndash;5 in previous matchups and had been outscored by an average of 11 points.<ref>{{cite news |last=Plaschke |first=Bill |authorlink=Bill Plaschke |title=Lakers win is something to yell about |date=February 11, 2011 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-plaschke-20110211,0,2972210.column |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5wR7zIzDj |archivedate=February 12, 2011}}</ref> Bryant, selected to his 13th straight All-Star game after becoming the leading vote-getter, had 37&nbsp;points, 14&nbsp;rebounds, and three steals in the [[2011 NBA All-Star Game|2011 All-Star Game]] and won his fourth All-Star MVP, tying Hall of Famer [[Bob Petit]] for the most All-Star MVP awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/2011/allstar/2011/01/27/starters-release/index.html |title=NBA.com: Kobe is top vote-getter in 2011 All-Star balloting |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2011-02-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bresnahan |first=Mike |title=Bryant feeds off energy as West beats East in All-Star game, 148-143 |date=February 20, 2011| newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-nba-all-stars-20110221,0,6056869.story |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5wfnxKqXE |archivedate=February 21, 2011}}</ref>

== Player profile ==
[[File:Kobe Bryant Shane Battier.jpg|thumb|150px|Bryant shoots over [[Shane Battier]].]]
Bryant is a [[shooting guard]] who is capable of playing the [[small forward]] position. He is considered one of the most complete players in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]],<ref name="hh">HoopsHype.com. [http://hoopshype.com/players/kobe_bryant.htm NBA Players – Kobe Bryant]. Accessed May 8, 2007</ref><ref name="ESPN">{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-GreatestSGs |title=Special Dime: Greatest shooting guards of all time – NBA – ESPN |publisher=Sports.espn.go.com |date=2008-03-11 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> has been selected to every All-NBA Team since 1999, and has been featured in the last twelve NBA All-Star games.<ref name="bio" /> Sports writers and sports casters have frequently compared Bryant to [[Michael Jordan]], a comparison Bryant dislikes.<ref>{{cite web|author=By Marc SteinSpecial to ESPN.com |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1270487&type=columnist |title=ESPN.com – Kobe, Hill deal with being the next Michael |publisher=Sports.espn.go.com |date=2001-10-29 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> In 2007, an [[ESPN]] poll of sportswriters voted him as the second best shooting guard in NBA history behind Jordan.<ref name="ESPN"/>

He is a prolific scorer, averaging 25.3 points per game for his career, along with 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.5 steals (as of the end of the 2009–2010 regular season).<ref>{{cite web |last=NBA Staff |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kobe_bryant/career_stats.html |title=Kobe Bryant Career Stats Page |publisher=NBA.com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> He is known for his ability to create shots for himself and is a standout [[Three-point field goal|three-point]] shooter, sharing the single-game NBA record for three pointers made with twelve.<ref>{{cite web |last=NBA Staff |url=http://www.nba.com/history/records/regular_3ptfg.html |title=Regular Season Records: Three-Point Field Goals |publisher=nba.com/history |accessdate=2008-08-05}}</ref> Bryant is often cited as one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2006-01-23-100-points_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=Anyone up for 100? | first1=David | last1=DuPree | date=2006-01-24 | accessdate=2010-05-07}}</ref> though his 45.5% career field goal average is considered moderate. He utilizes his wide array of moves and shots to elude defenders and score from virtually anywhere on the floor. Some of Bryant's best moves are his [[turnaround jump shot]], and his ability to [[post up]] his defenders and score with a [[fadeaway]] [[jump shot (basketball)|jumpshot]]. Chris Ballard, a ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' NBA writer, describes a "jab step-and-pause" as a move Bryant uses where he jabs his non-pivot foot forward to let the defender relax and instead of bringing the jab foot back, he pushes off it and drive around his opponent to get to the basket.<ref>Ballard, Chris. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/chris_ballard/05/27/kobe0602/1.html Kobe's Killer Instinct (cont.)], sportsillustrated.cnn.com, May 28, 2008, accessed 20 November 2010.</ref>

Aside from his scoring ability, he has established himself as a standout defender, having made the All-Defensive first or second team ten of the last eleven seasons.<ref name="bio" /> Bryant has also been noted being one of the premier clutch performers in the NBA.<ref>McMenamin, Dave. [http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/columns/story?id=4983889 Shots heard 'round the world], sports.espn.go.com, March 11, 2010, accessed 14 November 2010.</ref> For nine consecutive seasons, Bryant has been selected by an NBA GM survey as the player they most want taking the shot with the game on the line.<ref>Abbott, Henry. [http://espn.go.com/blog/TrueHoop/post/_/id/20224/gms-picking-against-lebron-james GMs picking against LeBron James], espn.go.com, October 6, 2010, accessed 14 November 2010.</ref> Both [[Sporting News]] and [[TNT (TV channel)|TNT]] named Bryant the NBA player of the 2000s [[2000-2009|decade]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sports/kobe-bryant-elected-as-the-nba-player-of-the-decade_100320608.html |title=Kobe Bryant Elected As The NBA Player Of The Decade |publisher=Thaindian.com |date=2010-02-15 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/article/2009-09-24/sporting-news-nba-athlete-decade-kobe-bryant-sg-lakers |title=Sporting News' NBA Athlete of the Decade: Kobe Bryant, SG, Lakers – Sporting News – NBA |publisher=Sporting News |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>

== NBA career statistics ==
{{NBA player statistics legend}}

=== Regular season ===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1996}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Los Angeles Lakers|L.A. Lakers]]
| 71 || 6 || 15.5 || .417 || .375 || .819 || 1.9 || 1.3 || .7 || .3 || 7.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1997}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 79 || 1 || 26.0 || .428 || .341 || .794 || 3.1 || 2.5 || .9 || .5 || 15.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1998}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 50 || 50 || 37.9 || .465 || .267 || .839 || 5.3 || 3.8 || 1.4 || '''1.0''' || 19.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1999|trunc=y}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 66 || 62 || 38.2 || .468 || .319 || .821 || 6.3 || 4.9 || 1.6 || .9 || 22.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2000}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 68 || 68 || 40.9 || .464 || .305 || .853 || 5.9 || 5.0 || 1.7 || .6 || 28.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2001}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 80 || 80 || 38.3 || '''.469''' || .250 || .829 || 5.5 || 5.5 || 1.5 || .4 || 25.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2002}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| '''82''' || '''82''' || '''41.5''' || .451 || '''.383''' || .843 || '''6.9''' || 5.9 || '''2.2''' || .8 || 30.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2003}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 65 || 64 || 37.6 || .438 || .327 || .852 || 5.5 || 5.1 || 1.7 || .4 || 24.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2004}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 66 || 66 || 40.7 || .433 || .339 || .816 || 5.9 || '''6.0''' || 1.3 || .8 || 27.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2005}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 80 || 80 || 41.0 || .450 || .347 || .850 || 5.3 || 4.5 || 1.8 || .4 || '''35.4'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2006}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 77 || 77 || 40.8 || .463 || .344 || '''.868''' || 5.7 || 5.4 || 1.4 || .5 || 31.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2007}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| '''82''' || '''82''' || 38.9 || .459 || .361 || .840 || 6.3 || 5.4 || 1.8 || .5 || 28.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2008}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| '''82''' || '''82''' || 36.1 || .467 || .351 || .856 || 5.2 || 4.9 || 1.5 || .4 || 26.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2009}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 73 || 73 || 38.8 || .456 || .329 || .811 || 5.4 || 5.0 || 1.6 || .3 || 27.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 1021 || 873 || 36.4 || .455 || .340 || .838 || 5.3 || 4.7 || 1.5 || .6 || 25.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| All-Star
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 11 || 11 || 27.1 || .503 || .354 || .778 || 4.5 || 4.6 || 2.7 || .4 || 18.8
{{S-end}}

=== Playoffs ===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1997 NBA Playoffs|1996–97]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Los Angeles Lakers|L.A. Lakers]]
| 9 || 0 || 14.8 || .382 || .261 || .867 || 1.2 || 1.2 || .3 || .2 || 8.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1998 NBA Playoffs|1997–98]]
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 11 || 0 || 20.0 || .408 || .214 || .689 || 1.9 || 1.5 || .3 || .7 || 8.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1999 NBA Playoffs|1998–99]]
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 8 || 8 || 39.4 || .430 || .348 || .800 || 6.9 || 4.6 || '''1.9''' || 1.2 || 19.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2000 NBA Playoffs|1999–00]]
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 22 || 22 || 39.0 || .442 || .344 || .754 || 4.5 || 4.4 || 1.5 || '''1.5''' || 21.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2001 NBA Playoffs|2000–01]]
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 16 || 16 || 43.4 || .469 || .324 || .821 || '''7.3''' || '''6.1''' || 1.6 || .8 || 29.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2002 NBA Playoffs|2001–02]]
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 19 || 19 || 43.8 || .434 || .379 || .759 || 5.8 || 4.6 || 1.4 || .9 || 26.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2003 NBA Playoffs|2002–03]]
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 12 || 12 || 44.3 || .432 || '''.403''' || .827 || 5.1 || 5.2 || 1.2 || .1 || 32.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2004 NBA Playoffs|2003–04]]
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 22 || 22 || 44.2 || .413 || .247 || .813 || 4.7 || 5.5 || '''1.9''' || .3 || 24.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2006 NBA Playoffs|2005–06]]
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 7 || 7 || '''44.9''' || '''.497''' || .400 || .771 || 6.3 || 5.1 || 1.1 || .4 || 27.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2007 NBA Playoffs|2006–07]]
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 5 || 5 || 43.0 || .462 || .357 || '''.919''' || 5.2 || 4.4 || 1.0 || .4 || '''32.8'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2008 NBA Playoffs|2007–08]]
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 21 || 21 || 41.1 || .479 || .302 || .809 || 5.7 || 5.6 || 1.7 || .4 || 30.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2009 NBA Playoffs|2008–09]]
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| '''23''' || '''23''' || 40.8 || .457 || .349 || .883 || 5.3 || 5.5 || 1.7 || .9 || 30.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2010 NBA Playoffs|2009–10]]
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| '''23''' || '''23''' || 40.1 || .458 || .374 || .842 || 6.0 || 5.5 || 1.4 || .7 || 29.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 198 || 178 || 39.4 || .448 || .337 || .815 || 5.2 || 4.8 || 1.4 || .7 || 25.5
{{S-end}}

== Accomplishments and records ==
{{Main|List of career achievements by Kobe Bryant}}
Bryant [[List of National Basketball Association season scoring leaders|led the NBA in scoring]] during the {{nbay|2005}} and {{nbay|2006}} seasons.<ref name="bio" /> In 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points against the [[Toronto Raptors]], the second-highest number of points scored in a game in NBA history,<ref name="tor">{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=260122013|title=Kobe's 81-point game second only to Wilt|date=January 12, 2006|work=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}</ref><ref name="81-Point-Game Highlights">{{cite video| title =[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeXZY4eVLlo Watch All of Kobe's 81 Points in 3 Minutes]| publisher =NBA via [[YouTube]]|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}</ref> behind only [[Wilt Chamberlain]]'s [[Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game|100 point performance]]. Bryant was awarded the regular season's [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]] (MVP) in the [[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08 season]] and led his team to the [[2008 NBA Finals]] as the first seed in the Western Conference.<ref name="Kobe MVP">{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com//news/kobe_mvp_080506.html|title=Kobe Bryant Wins Most Valuable Player Award|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|date=May 6, 2008|accessdate=May 6, 2008}}</ref> In the [[2008 Summer Olympics]], he won a [[gold medal]] as a member of the [[United States men's national basketball team|U.S. men's basketball team]], occasionally referred to as "The Redeem Team".<ref name="RedeemTeambySheridan">{{cite web|last=Sheridan|first=Chris|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/basketball/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=DreamRedeem-080825|title=Redeem Team proves worthy of Dream Team comparison|work=ESPN.com|date=August 25, 2008|accessdate=December 6, 2008}}</ref> He led the Lakers to two more championships in 2009 and 2010, winning the [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|Finals MVP award]] on both occasions.

Bryant has been selected to 12 [[All-NBA Team]] (eight times to the All-NBA First Team) and 10 [[NBA All-Defensive Team|All-Defensive Team]] (eight times to the All-Defensive First Team). He was selected to play in the [[NBA All-Star Game]] on 13 occasions, winning [[NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award|All-Star MVP Awards]] in 2002, 2007, 2009 and 2011 (he shared the 2009 award with Shaquille O'Neal). He also won the [[NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest|NBA Slam Dunk Contest]] in 1997.<ref name="bryanko01">{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanko01.html|title=Kobe Bryant|work=basketball-reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=September 19, 2008}}</ref> As of December 2009, he has had 5 sixty-point games, 24 fifty-point games, and 104 forty-point games.

== International career ==
[[File:Kobe Bryant Beijing Olympics 20080810 d-1024-627v.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Bryant in a game against [[China men's national basketball team|China]] at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]]]]
{{MedalTableTop}}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[basketball]]}}
{{MedalCountry|the {{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]] | [[Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men|Team competition]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Americas Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[FIBA Americas Championship 2007|2007 Las Vegas]] | [[FIBA Americas Championship 2007|Team competition]]}}
{{MedalBottom}}

Bryant's senior international career with the [[USA men's national basketball team|United States national team]] began in 2006. He was a member of the 2007 USA Men's Senior National Team and USA FIBA Americas Championship Team that finished 10–0, won gold and qualified the United States men for the 2008 Olympics. He started in all 10 of the USA's FIBA Americas Championship games. He is ranked third on the team for made and attempted free throws, ranked fourth for made field goals, made 3-pointers. Among all FIBA Americas Championship competitors, Bryant is ranked 15th in scoring, 14th in assists, and eighth in steals. Bryant scored double-digits in eight of the 10 games played. Bryant also made the game winning {{convert|14|ft|m}} jumper above the foul line with seconds left in the game. He currently averages a .530 shooting percentage, with 16.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usabasketball.com/men_team.php?bios=bryant_kobe |title=USA Basketball |publisher=USABasketball.com |accessdate=2008-06-18}}</ref>

As a part of his international expansion, he is also featured in a Chinese reality TV show, called the ''Kobe Mentu'' show, which documents Chinese basketball players on different teams going through drills, preparing to play each other while Bryant gives advice and words of encouragement to the players while they practice.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kb24.com/news/article/687.html |title=Kobe Mentu |publisher=kb24.com |accessdate=2008-07-07}}</ref>

On June 23, 2008, he was named to the USA Men's Senior National Team for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=3457017 |title=James, Bryant to lead US team |publisher=[[ESPN]].com |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> This was his first time going to the Olympics. Bryant scored 20 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, along with six assists, as Team USA defeated Spain 118–107 in the [[Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men#Finals|gold medal game]] of the 2008 Summer Olympics on August 24, 2008, for its first gold medal in a worldwide international competition since the [[2000 Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Mahoney |first=Brian |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/basketball/news;_ylt=AuGHmuNqSb9u8mF3f8TKyce8vLYF?slug=ap-bko-spain-us&prov=ap&type=lgns |title=US hoops back on top, beats Spain for gold medal |publisher=[[Yahoo Sports]] |date=2008-08-24 |accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> He averaged 15.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting .462 from the field in eight Olympic contests.

Bryant has committed to playing for the national team at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kobe commits to Team USA |url=http://www.foxsportswest.com/11/02/10/Kobe-commits-to-Team-USA/landing_lakers.html?blockID=344392&feedID=3657 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Fox News |date=November 2, 2010 |accessdate=November 5, 2010}}</ref>

== Off the court ==
=== Personal life ===
In November 1999, 21-year-old Bryant met 17-year-old Vanessa Laine while she was working as a background dancer on the [[Tha Eastsidaz]] music video "G'd Up".<ref name="rap">{{cite web |url=http://www.eonline.com/On/Holly/Shows/Bryant/facts.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060219203516/http://www.eonline.com/On/Holly/Shows/Bryant/facts.html |archivedate=2006-02-19 |title=Everything You Need to Know About Kobe Bryant |accessdate=2007-10-16}} – Wayback Machine cache from 2006-02-19</ref> Bryant was in the building working on his debut musical album, which was never released. The two began dating and became engaged just six months later in May 2000,<ref name="rap" /> while Laine was still a senior at [[Marina High School]] in [[Huntington Beach, California]]. To avoid media scrutiny, she finished high school through independent study.<ref name="rap" /> According to Vanessa's cousin Laila Laine, there was no [[prenuptial agreement]]. Vanessa said Bryant "''loved her too much for one''".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://allstarz.hollywood.com/kobe/vanessa02.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070406105500/http://allstarz.hollywood.com/kobe/vanessa02.htm |archivedate=2007-04-06 |author=Shawn Hubler |title=Kobe's costar Vanessa Laine was just another sheltered teenager in Orange County. Then she fell in love with a phenomenon. |accessdate=2007-10-16}} – Wayback Machine cache from 2007-04-06</ref>

They married on April 18, 2001, at St. Edward Roman Catholic Church in [[Dana Point, California]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Stritof|first=Sheri & Bob|url=http://marriage.about.com/cs/celebritymarriages/a/kobebryant.htm|title=Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Laine Marriage Profile|work=[[About.com]]|quote =|date=|accessdate=2010-09-11}}</ref> Neither Bryant's parents, his two sisters, longtime advisor and agent Arn Tellem, nor Bryant's Laker teammates attended. Bryant's parents were opposed to the marriage for a number of reasons. Reportedly Bryant's parents had problems with him marrying so young, especially to a woman who was not African-American.<ref name="rap" /> This disagreement resulted in an estrangement period of over two years, which ended when Bryant had his first daughter.

The Bryants' first child, a daughter named Natalia Diamante Bryant, was born on January 19, 2003. The birth of Natalia influenced Bryant to reconcile his differences with his parents. Vanessa Bryant suffered a [[miscarriage]] due to an [[ectopic pregnancy]] in the spring of 2005. Their second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, was born on May 1, 2006. Gianna was born six minutes ahead of former teammate [[Shaquille O'Neal]]'s daughter Me'arah Sanaa, who was born in [[Florida]].<ref>Contact Music.
[http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/shaq%20is%20a%20dad%20six%20minutes%20after%20kobe_02_05_2006 Shaq is a Dad Six Minutes After Kobe]. Accessed May 25, 2007.</ref> In an early 2007 interview, it was revealed that Bryant still speaks Italian fluently.<ref name="italy" />

Bryant assigned himself the nickname of "Black Mamba", citing a desire for his basketball skills to mimic the [[Black mamba|snake of that name]]'s ability to "strike with 99% accuracy at maximum speed, in rapid succession."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/23/sports/sp-crowe23 |title=Text messages from press row . . . |last=Crowe |first=Jerry |newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date=23 May 2008 |accessdate=2 August 2010}}</ref>

=== Sexual assault allegation ===
{{Main|Kobe Bryant sexual assault case}}

In the summer of 2003, the sheriff's office of [[Eagle, Colorado|Eagle]], [[Colorado]] arrested Bryant in connection with an investigation of a [[sexual assault]] complaint filed by 19-year old hotel employee [[Kobe Bryant sexual assault case|Katelyn Faber]]. Bryant had checked into The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera hotel in Eagle in advance of undergoing knee surgery nearby. Faber accused Bryant of raping her in his hotel room the night before Bryant was to have the procedure. Bryant admitted an adulterous sexual encounter with his accuser, but denied her sexual assault allegation.<ref>{{cite news |last=SI Staff |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/basketball/nba/12/26/kobe.interview.ap/index.html?cnn-yes |date=2003-12-23 |title=Bryant distracted, scared amid sex assault case |agency=Associated Press |publisher=[[Sports Illustrated]] |accessdate=2007-02-25 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/2004-02-12-shaq-kobe_x.htm |title=Shaq, Kobe still main keys to Lakers' fortunes |first=David Leon |last=Moore |date=2004-02-12 |work=[[USA Today]] |accessdate=2007-02-25 }}</ref>

The accusation tarnished Bryant's reputation, as the public's perception of Bryant plummeted, and his endorsement contracts with [[McDonald's]] and [[Nutella]] were terminated. Sales for Bryant's replica jersey fell significantly from their previous highs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,143646,00.html |title=Fans Shunning Kobe Bryant's Jersey – Celebrity Gossip &#124; Entertainment News &#124; Arts And Entertainment |publisher=FOXNews.com |date=2005-01-07 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> However, in September 2004, the assault case was dropped by prosecutors after Faber refused to testify in the trial. Afterward, Bryant agreed to apologize to Faber for the incident, including his public [[mea culpa]]: "Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did."<ref name="sfgate_dismissal">{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/09/02/MNG6E8IB861.DTL |title=Bryant rape case ends in dismissal |author=T.R. Reid |date=2004-09-02 |accessdate=2007-10-16 | work=The San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> Faber filed a separate civil lawsuit against Bryant, which the two sides ultimately settled with the specific terms of the settlement being undisclosed to the public.

=== Endorsements ===
[[File:KobeBryantHK.jpg|thumb|152px|Bryant in Hong Kong for his 2009 Nike Asian Tour]]
Before starting the [[1996–97 NBA season]], Bryant signed a 6-year contract with [[Adidas]] worth approximately $48 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7226901_ITM |title=Article: Basketball Star Leaps into Global Ventures. &#124; AccessMyLibrary – Promoting library advocacy |publisher=AccessMyLibrary |date=2000-06-16 |accessdate=2010-06-08 | first=Mike | last=Jensen}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8828547_ITM |title=Information and results for 'Adidas, Basketball Star Kobe Bryant Part Ways.' &#124; AccessMyLibrary – Promoting library advocacy |publisher=AccessMyLibrary |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> His first signature shoe was the Equipment KB 8.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/35398 |title=Adidas Airs Out New Kobe Bryant Shoe, Ad Campaign |publisher=Sportsbusinessdaily.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> Bryant's other earlier endorsements included deals with [[The Coca-Cola Company]] to endorse their [[Sprite (soft drink)|Sprite]] soft drink, appearing in advertisements for [[McDonald's]], promoting [[Spalding (sports equipment)|Spalding]]'s new NBA Infusion Ball, [[Upper Deck Company|Upper Deck]], Italian chocolate company [[Ferrero SpA]]'s brand [[Nutella]], [[Russell Corporation]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Badenhausen |first=Kurt |url=http://www.forbes.com/2004/09/03/cz_kb_0903kobe.html |title=Kobe Bryant's Sponsorship Will Rebound |publisher=[[Forbes]] |date=2004-03-09 |accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> and appearing on his own series of video games by [[Nintendo]]. Many companies like McDonald's and Ferrero SpA terminated his contracts when rape allegations against him became public.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/22/sports/sp-kobe22 | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Bryant will lose out again to Big Three | first=Greg | last=Johnson | date=2008-06-22 | accessdate=2010-05-07}}</ref> A notable exception was [[Nike, Inc.]], who had signed him to a 5-year, $40–45 million contract just before the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://advertising.about.com/od/kobebryant/a/bryantsendorse.htm |title=Kobe Bryant's Endorsement Deals |publisher=Advertising.about.com |date=2010-04-15 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref><ref name="Nike">{{cite news| url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-07-10-kobe-bryant_x.htm |work=USA Today}}</ref> However, they refused to use his image or market a new shoe of his for the year, but eventually did start promoting Bryant once his image recovered 2 years later.<ref name="Nike" /> He has since resumed endorsement deals with [[The Coca-Cola Company]], through their subsidiary [[Energy Brands]] to promote their Vitamin Water brand of drinks.<ref>{{cite web|last=Salazar |first=Quibian |url=http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2008/05/12/endorsements-coming-back-to-kobe-bryant/ |title=Endorsements Coming Back to Kobe Bryant – BV on Sports |publisher=Blackvoices.com |date=2008-05-12 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> Bryant was also the cover athlete for [[NBA 07|NBA '07: Featuring the Life Vol. 2]] and appeared in commercials for the video games [[Guitar Hero World Tour]] (with [[Tony Hawk]], [[Michael Phelps]], and [[Alex Rodriguez]]) in 2008 and [[Call of Duty: Black Ops]] (alongside [[Jimmy Kimmel]]) in 2010.<ref name="COD">[http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Kobe-Bryant-shoots-em-up-in-new-Call-of-Duty-?urn=nba-282854 Kobe Bryant shoots 'em up in new 'Call of Duty' ad] By Dan Devine. Yahoo Sports. November 5, 2010</ref>

In 2008 Bryant completed a pair of [[viral video]]s showing him doing dangerous stunts to promote Nike's Hyper Dunk shoes. The first showed Bryant jumping over a speeding [[Aston Martin]] and the second one showed Bryant with the crew of ''[[Jackass (TV series)|Jackass]]'' jumping over a pool of snakes. Both videos received over 4.5 million views each on [[YouTube]]. Bryant later hinted that the stunts were fake, as actually doing them would violate his contract with the Lakers by participating in dangerous activities. After promoting Nike's Hyperdunk shoes, Bryant came out with the fourth edition of his signature line by Nike, the Zoom Kobe IV. In 2010 Nike launched another shoe, Nike Zoom Kobe V.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2711325/ |title=Nike launches Nike Zoom Kobe V with Kobe Bryant |publisher=TradingMarkets.com |date=2009-12-09 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> In 2009, Bryant signed a deal with Nubeo to market the "Black Mamba collection", a line of sports/luxury watches that range from $25,000 to $285,000.<ref>{{cite web|author=3 Comments |url=http://www.upscalehype.com/2009/10/kobe-bryant-wearing-nubeo-black-mamba-mvp-watch/ |title=Kobe Bryant Wearing Nubeo Black Mamba MVP Watch « UpscaleHype |publisher=Upscalehype.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref> On February 9, 2009, Bryant was featured on the cover of [[ESPN The Magazine]]. However, it was not for anything basketball related, rather it was about Bryant being a big fan of [[FC Barcelona]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/fanIssue |title=Kobe Bryant ESPN The Magazine Fan Issue|accessdate=2009-05-15 | publisher=ESPN The Magazine}}</ref> [[CNN]] estimated Bryant's endorsement deals in 2007 to be worth $16 million a year.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fortune/0711/gallery.endorsements.fortune/6.html | title=Top 10 endorsement superstars | work=CNN | accessdate=2010-05-07 | date=2008-12-31}}</ref> In 2010, Bryant was ranked third behind Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan in ''[[Forbes]]''{{'}} list of the world's highest-paid athletes with $48 million.<ref>Kritchever, Patrick. [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/53/celeb-100-10_Kobe-Bryant_OKPF.html The Forbes Celebrity 100], ''[[Forbes]]'', June 28, 2010, Retrieved July 13th, 2010.</ref>

On 13 December 2010, Bryant signed a two-year endorsement deal with [[Turkish Airlines]] airline company. The deal involved Bryant being in a promotional film to be aired in over 80 countries in addition to him being used in digital, print and billboard advertising.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rovell |first=Darren |url=http://www.cnbc.com/id/40641746/Kobe_Bryant_To_Endorse_Turkish_Airlines |title=Kobe Bryant To Endorse Turkish Airlines |accessdate=February 23, 2011 | work=CNBC.com |quote=It’s a two-year deal that will involve Bryant starring in a promotional film that will be aired on international television channels and in movie theatres in more than 80 countries next year.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Li |first=Shan |title=Kobe Bryant's Turkish Airlines deal outrages Armenian Americans |date=December 16, 2010 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/16/local/la-me-kobe-bryant-armenian-20101216 |accessdate=February 23, 2011}}</ref>

Bryant has appeared as the cover athlete for the following video games:
* [[Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/kobe-bryant-in-nba-courtside |title=Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside for Nintendo 64 |publisher=MobyGames |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>
* [[NBA Courtside 2: Featuring Kobe Bryant]]<ref>{{cite news| url=http://archives.cnn.com/1999/TECH/computing/12/08/courtside2/index.html | work=CNN | title=NBA Courtside 2 Featuring Kobe Bryant | accessdate=2010-05-07}}</ref>
* [[NBA Courtside 2002]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/cube/nbacourtside2002#critics |title=NBA Courtside 2002 (cube) reviews at |publisher=Metacritic.com |date=2002-01-14 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>
* NBA 3 On 3 Featuring Kobe Bryant<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gbc/sports/nba3on3featuringkb/index.html |title=NBA 3 on 3 Featuring Kobe Bryant for GBC |publisher=Gamespot.Com |date=1999-12-07 |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>
* [[NBA 07|NBA '07: Featuring the Life Vol. 2]]<ref>[http://www.us.playstation.com/Content/OGS/UCUS-98644/Site/ ]{{Dead link|date=June 2010}}</ref>
* [[NBA '09: The Inside]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailygame.net/news/archives/008110.php |title=Sony Debuts SIX Cover Athletes for NBA 09: The Inside |publisher=DailyGame |date= |accessdate=2010-06-08}}</ref>
* [[NBA 2K10]]

=== Philanthropy ===
Bryant is the official ambassador for [[After-School All-Stars]] (ASAS), an American non-profit organization that provides comprehensive [[After-school activity|after-school programs]] to children in 13 US cities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/840-kobe-bryant|title=Kobe Bryant's Charity Work, Events and Causes|publisher=looktothestars.org|accessdate=2010-04-01}}</ref> Bryant also started the Kobe Bryant China Fund which will partner with the Soong Ching Ling Foundation, a charity backed by the Chinese government.<ref name=nextconquest>{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204556804574258222289862830.html|title=Kobe Bryant Conquers China - WSJ.com|last=Paul|first=Alan|date=2009-07-16|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|work=[[WSJ.com]]|accessdate=October 21, 2009}}</ref> The Kobe Bryant China Fund will raise money within China earmarked for education and health programs.<ref name=nextconquest/> On November 4, 2010, Bryant appeared alongside [[Zach Braff]] at the [[Call of Duty: Black Ops]] launch event at the [[Santa Monica Airport]], where they presented a $1 million check to the Call of Duty Endowment, an Activision-founded nonprofit organization that helps veterans transition to civilian careers after their military service has ended.<ref name="COD"/>

== See also ==
* [[Kobe Bryant (song)]]
* [[Kobe Bryant – Shaquille O'Neal feud]]
* [[Kobe Doin' Work]]
* [[List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise]]
* [[List of 40-plus point games by Kobe Bryant]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association players with 1000 games played]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association career free throw scoring leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association career playoff 3-point scoring leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association players with 50 or more points in a playoff game]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association players with most championship rings]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association players with most points in a game]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association season scoring leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association top individual scoring season averages]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|author=yes|wikt=no|v=no|b=no|s=no}}
* [http://kb24.com Official Site]
* [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kobe_bryant/index.html Kobe Bryant] at NBA.com
* {{espn nba|id=3118}}
* {{imdb name|id=1101483}}
* [http://www.nba.com/news/kobe_ultimate.html NBA.com – The Ultimate Kobe Page]
* [http://videos.espn.com/basketball/la-lakers/kobe-bryant.htm Kobe Bryant Video on ESPN Video Archive]
* [http://multimedia.foxsports.com/basketball/la-lakers/kobe-bryant.htm Kobe Bryant Video on FoxSports Video Archive]
* {{basketball-reference | id = b/bryanko01 | name = Kobe Bryant}}

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| NAME=Bryant, Kobe Bean
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
| SHORT DESCRIPTION=Professional basketball player
| DATE OF BIRTH=August 23, 1978
| PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States
| DATE OF DEATH=
| PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bryant, Kobe}}
[[Category:Kobe Bryant]]
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:African American basketball players]]
[[Category:American basketball players]]
[[Category:American expatriates in Italy]]
[[Category:African-American Catholics]]
[[Category:Basketball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Charlotte Hornets draft picks]]
[[Category:Gatorade National Basketball Player of the Year]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Lakers players]]
[[Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans]]
[[Category:National Basketball Association high school draftees]]
[[Category:NBA Slam Dunk Contest champions]]
[[Category:NBA Finals MVP Award winners]]
[[Category:Olympic basketball players of the United States]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States]]
[[Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)]]
[[Category:People from Newport Beach, California]]
[[Category:People from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Shooting guards]]
[[Category:United States men's national basketball team members]]

{{Link GA|es}}
{{Link FA|hr}}

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[[zh-yue:高比拜仁]]
[[zh:科比·布莱恩特]]

Revision as of 23:08, 3 March 2011

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