Kobe Bryant Biography Timeline

Biography Timeline Of Kobe Bryant

August 23, 1978 - Born

Bryant was born in Philadelphia, the youngest of three children.

1996 - NBA Draft

Bryant was the first guard drafted directly out of high school.

1997 - Dunk Contest

He won the Slam Dunk Contest, becoming the youngest dunk champion at the age of 18.4

1999–2002 - Three-peat

Three championships were won consecutively in 2000, 2001 and 2002 further cementing this view.

2002–2004 - Coming up short

The Lakers lost in the Western Conference semi-finals to NBA champions San Antonio Spurs.

Mid-2000s - Black Mamba

He gave himself the nickname "Black Mamba" and the epithet became widely adopted by the general public

January 22, 2006 - Scoring Records

Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a 122–104 victory against the Toronto Raptors.

December 23, 2007 - Youngest Player

Bryant became the youngest player (29 years) to reach 20,000 points

2008 - Rematch Boston Celtics

Bryant won his fifth championship and earned his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP award.

April 13, 2011 - The Fine

NBA fined Bryant $100,000 for directing a gay slur at referee Bennie Adams in frustration in the previous day's game.

2013–2015 - Injury-plagued years

He underwent season-ending surgery for the injury, finishing the season (about 22.3 points) well below his 45.4 percent career mark to start the season

November 29, 2015 - Final Season

Bryant announced via The Players' Tribune that he would be retiring at the end of the season

January 26, 2020 - Death

A fatal helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others.