20 photos that celebrate Kobe Bryant's legacy as one of the greatest basketball players in history
When he entered the league in 1996, 18-year-old Bryant was the youngest man to ever play in an NBA game. He also became the youngest winner of the Slam Dunk Contest that same season.
Alongside his teammate Shaquille O'Neal, Bryant won his first NBA championship in 2000.
Bryant battled it out with Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers in the following year's NBA Finals, but the Lakers once again emerged victorious to win their second consecutive title in 2001.
The Lakers completed their three-peat by winning the NBA Finals again in 2002.
From 2000 to 2002, the Lakers were unstoppable. Bryant played a big part in that.
Bryant continued to shine, but the Lakers weren't able to continue their championship winning streak for a while.
During this time, however, Bryant broke more and more records. In 2005, he scored 62 points in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks. As a result, entering the fourth quarter, Bryant had outscored the entire Mavericks team 62–61. This is the only time a player has ever achieved this feat.
In a 2006 game against the Toronto Raptors, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points, second in history only to Wilt Chamberlin's famous 100-point game in 1962.
Bryant was awarded the NBA MVP Award for the 2007/2008 season. Here, he's given the trophy before Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Western Conference Semifinals.
The United States National Team defeated Spain in the men's basketball finals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Here, along with teammate Dwight Howard, Bryant playfully bites into his gold medal.
Bryant raised his arms during an event in China that was part of a Nike-sponsored six-city summer tour in 2009. He had an endorsement deal with Adidas early on in his career, but he eventually landed a deal with Nike.
After the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic to win the NBA championship in 2009, Bryant celebrated by holding up both the Finals MVP Award and the championship trophy.
Bryant dives for a loose ball while playing the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals. The Lakers would go on to win the series, and Bryant was once again awarded the Finals MVP trophy.
During the parade celebrating the Lakers' 2010 NBA Championship, Bryant holds his daughter, Gianna, while his wife, Vanessa, and other daughter, Natalia, stand by his side.
I played through the sweat and hurt — not because challenge called me, but because YOU called me," Bryant said of basketball in his retirement letter. "I did everything for YOU because that’s what you do when someone makes you feel as alive as you’ve made me feel.
Source: The Players' Tribune
However, after winning back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010, the Lakers began to lose their momentum.
First Lady Michelle Obama hugs Bryant at the end of the men's preliminary round match at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The National Team would go on to win the Olympic Basketball Finals, once again defeating Spain.
Many have speculated that Bryant would retire soon, especially given the series of injuries he has been facing.
The rumors were finally put to rest on November 30, when Bryant announced that the 2015-2016 season would be his last.
You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream and I’ll always love you for it. But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer," Bryant said in his retirement letter. "This season is all I have left to give.
Source: The Players' Tribune
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