Kobe Bryant facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Kobe Bryant Free Throw
Kobe Bryant with the Lakers

Kobe Bryant (born (1978-08-23)August 23, 1978) is a American former professional basketball player. He most recently played for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Bryant played as a shooting guard. During the 2005-2006 season, he scored 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors. He is considered as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Bryant retired on April 13, 2016 after scoring 60 points in a Lakers win against the Utah Jazz.

Championships and awards

Bryant won five championship rings from 2000-2002 and again in 2009-2010. He was awarded the Most Valuable Player in the 2007-08 NBA season after the Los Angeles Lakers went to the 2008 NBA Playoffs as the first seed in the Western Conference.

In 2008, Bryant won a gold medal with the United States national team at the Olympics in Beijing.

Bryant earned 14 selections for All-NBA teams and 12 for All-Defensive teams. He led the league in scoring twice. He received 4 all-star game MVPs in 14 appearances. He also won 2 finals MVP awards. He was also the youngest player to reach 30,000 points, passing Shaquille O Neal and Michael Jordan and becoming third on the all-time scoring list. Bryant is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history.

Images for kids

  • Kobe Bryant retired HS2

    Bryant's retired No.33 jersey and banner at the Lower Merion High School gym.

  • Lipofsky Kobe

    Bryant was a member of the Lakers teams that won three consecutive NBA Championships from 2000 to 2002.

  • Kobe Bryant 8

    Bryant prepares to shoot a free throw in 2005.

  • Kobe 81 scoreboard cropped

    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 100-point game in 1962.

  • Kobe Bryant Drives2

    Bryant scored fifty points or more in four consecutive games and ten total in the 2006–07 season.

  • Lakers Finals 08

    Bryant's Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics in 6 games during the 2008 NBA Finals.

  • Lakers White House 2010

    Derek Fisher (left) and Bryant (center) with President Barack Obama during White House visit honoring their Lakers' 2009 championship

  • 2010 NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers with President Obama

    Bryant and Lakers meet with President Barack Obama in honor of 2010 championship.

  • Masked mamba

    Bryant wearing mask in 2012 after suffering broken nose.

  • Kobe Bryant dunking 2013

    Bryant dunking against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013.

  • Kobe Bryant vs Marcin Gortat

    Bryant shooting against Marcin Gortat in 2014

  • Kobe Bryant vs Gary Neal

    Bryant against Washington after his retirement announcement

  • LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant (24848589252)

    Bryant defending LeBron James in his final Cleveland game

  • Kobe Bryant Beijing Olympics 20080810 d-1024-627v

    Bryant in a game against China at the 2008 Summer Olympics

  • Kobe Bryant Shane Battier

    Bryant shoots a fadeaway over Shane Battier in 2009.

  • Kobe Bryant 2014

    Bryant handling the ball in 2014, when he came the first NBA player with over 30,000 points and 6,000 assists

  • Kobe Bryant at Pirates 3 premiere

    Bryant at premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End in 2007

  • NikeTaipeiFlagshipStoreLaunch Main

    Bryant at Nike store launch ceremony in Taipei in 2007

  • Kobe Bryant Sprite

    Bryant at Sprite commercial event in Shanghai in 2011.


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