The staff's quest for an additional three-peat was ended once they were swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs. The Mavericks would go on to win the 2011 NBA Finals. On May 27, 2007, ESPN reported that Bryant stated that he wanted to be traded if Jerry West didn't return to the group with full authority. Bryant later confirmed his desire for West's return to the franchise, however denied stating that he would want to be traded if that doesn't happen. Bryant would later be shown on an notorious novice video saying that middle Andrew Bynum should have been traded for All-Star Jason Kidd.

Kobe scored eighty one factors in an NBA game, which is the second most points scored in a single recreation. Giannis Antetokounmpo drew slightly backlash for his edited use of a Kobe Bryant video clip during which the late famous person discussed the idea of failure. Former teammates Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant are unquestionably two of the most important names in Lakers franchise historical past. But unlike Kobe, it appears that Shaq finds himself on the surface wanting in when it got here to a listing of the all-time most necessary Lakers, which was created by current owner and president Jeanie Buss.

Several months later Bryant was accused of raping a younger woman in Colorado. He maintained his innocence, and all charges were eventually dropped when the lady refused to testify after a monthslong campaign of harassment by fans of Bryant and some members of the media. (Bryant later apologized, admitting that he realized his accuser did not consider their sexual encounter was consensual, and a civil go nicely with was settled in 2005.) The incident significantly tarnished his image. Led by Bryant, the Lakers returned to the finals in 2004, but they have been upset by the Detroit Pistons.

” We’re watching a man climb the ladder and tinker with the rim. I’d never actually heard about maintenance points with a rim earlier than a recreation. A quarter of an inch.” After the buzzer sounded, I was strolling off the court and I saw one of many upkeep guys — one of the guys who was carrying the ladder onto the courtroom throughout warm-ups. ” “Oh, someone notified us that it was slightly decrease than regulation.” Then he advised me how much it was off by. I might let you know his answer, but I assume you already know what he said.

Kobe spent his 20-year profession with the Lakers the place he received 5 NBA championships. His different accomplishments embody surpassing Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA all-time scoring list in December 2014 and profitable an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for Dear Basketball in 2018. On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter have been among a group traveling to a girls basketball game in a helicopter when it crashed, killing all nine people aboard. Bryant rejoined the nationwide staff for the 2012 Summer Olympics. After successful one other gold medal, Bryant decided to retire from the team. He finished his national group career with a record of 26–0 across three tournaments, winning a gold medal every time.

When the elder Bryant and his spouse, Pam, had a son on Aug. 23, 1978, they named him after the town in Japan. Kobe Bryant shares a laugh with his daughter Gianna whereas attending a women’s basketball recreation between Long Beach State and Oregon on Dec. 14, 2019. Kobe Bryant is congratulated by teammates after passing Michael Jordan on the NBA’s all-time scoring listing during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 14, 2014. Kobe Bryant walks off the court docket along with his wife, Vanessa, and daughter Natalia after scoring a career-high eighty one factors in a Lakers win over the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center on Jan. 22, 2006. Despite Jason Kidd’s hand in his face, Kobe Bryant puts up the successful shot in the Lakers’ victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Arena. Kobe Bryant drives past Chris Webber in Game four of the first spherical of the 2000 Western Conference playoffs at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

On February 15, NBA commissioner Adam Silver introduced that the All-Star Game MVP Award could be renamed to the NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player in Bryant's honor. In May 2020, the Mamba Sports Academy was renamed to Sports Academy out of respect for Bryant. Bryant established a reputation for taking photographs within the closing moments of tight video games, even amid double or triple groups, and has been famous as being one of many premier closers within the NBA. In an annual survey of NBA general managers, he was selected in 2012 for the tenth consecutive season because the participant they most wished taking the shot with the game on the line. Bryant enjoys being the villain, and revels in being booed and silencing the gang together with his play. Throughout his profession, he has been disparaged for being a egocentric high-volume shooter; he has missed more field goal attempts in his profession than another participant in NBA historical past.

Bryant, in his final Cleveland sport, defending LeBron JamesBryant requested that opposing teams on the road not maintain any on-court ceremonies in his honor or present him any items in public. Prior to announcing his retirement, he had been steadfast about not wanting the fuss of a staged farewell tour, preferring to hear to boos as an alternative of cheers. Previously, Bryant was respected however not beloved, and he was astonished at the cheers he was now receiving. Bryant later confirmed his want for West's return to the franchise but denied stating that he would wish to be traded if that didn't take place. Bryant was later shown in an notorious newbie video saying that center Andrew Bynum should have been traded for All-Star Jason Kidd.