Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to a few consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002. A heated feud between the duo and a loss within the 2004 NBA Finals was adopted by O'Neal's commerce from the Lakers after the 2003–04 season. Following O'Neal's departure Bryant turned the cornerstone of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise. He led the NBA in scoring through the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, setting numerous scoring records within the course of. In 2006, Bryant scored a career-high eighty one points in opposition to the Toronto Raptors, the second most factors scored in a single recreation in NBA history, second solely to Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point recreation in 1962. He was awarded the regular season's Most Valuable Player Award in 2008.

This followed with O'Neal profitable the MVP and Bryant being named to the All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team for the primary time in his career (the youngest player to obtain All-Defensive honors). While enjoying second fiddle to O'Neal in the playoffs, Bryant had some clutch performances, together with a 25-point, 11-rebound, 7-assist, 4-block sport in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals in opposition to the Portland Trail Blazers. In the 2000 Finals, in opposition to the Indiana Pacers, Bryant injured his ankle in the second quarter of Game 2 after landing on the Pacers' Jalen Rose's foot. In Game four, Bryant scored 22 factors in the second half and led the team to an OT victory as O'Neal fouled out of the game. With a 116–111 victory in Game 6, the Lakers gained their first championship since 1988.

Kobe Bryant, together with his spouse, Vanessa, at his facet, holds a information convention at Staples Center in 2003 to debate accusations by a 19-year-old Colorado girl that he sexually assaulted her. He conceded he was guilty of adultery, but he declared he was innocent of costs of felonious sexual assault. Kobe Bryant is swarmed by teammates Derek Fisher, Rick Fox and Shaquille O’Neal as he heads to the foul line in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Bryant scored forty five points as the Lakers beat the Spurs, , on their way to a sweep of the collection.

I run out the restaurant quick as a result of it’s so loud in the 112. ’ And so I’m sitting there, and I’m giving Kobe Bryant some of my tips of what I do. I was like, ‘Man, Kobe just reached out to me for recommendation.

In 2013, Bryant launched a manufacturing company referred to as Granity Studios, which developed totally different media, ranging from films to tv exhibits and novels. Bryant was the subject of Spike Lee's 2009 documentary film Kobe Doin' Work, which chronicled Bryant during the 2007–08 NBA season. In 2009, American rapper Lil Wayne launched a song called "Kobe Bryant". Similarly, in 2010, American rapper Sho Baraka released a song referred to as "Kobe Bryant On'em", which was featured on his album Lions and Liars. In 2012, American rapper Chief Keef released a track paying tribute to Bryant referred to as "Kobe".

During summers, Bryant would come back to the United States to play in a basketball summer time league. When Bryant was 13, he and his household moved back to Philadelphia, the place he enrolled in eighth grade at Bala Cynwyd Middle School. Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, died in a helicopter crash three years in the past right now. The two had been flying with seven others—John and Keri Altobelli and their daughter Alyssa; Sarah Chester and her daughter, Payton; Christina Mauser; and pilot Ara Zobayan—to a youth basketball event near Los Angeles. Bryant has turn out to be the modern avatar of winning to a generation of basketball followers and athletes too younger to recollect Michael Jordan. Championships, Olympic gold medals, Oscars, it didn’t matter.

The determination for Kobe to be on the duvet speaks to his character and the popularity he has earned all via his basketball career. Coach Phil Jackson put Bryant on Iverson through the second half of the game. Kobe held AI to 0-11 subject aim taking pictures whereas blocking three of his pictures within the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Bryant scored 8 of his 18 factors in the fourth quarter and sparked a 9-0 fourth-quarter run that helped them decide up the win over the Sixers.

He was essentially the most savage competitor in sports a minimal of since Michael Jordan retired. Nike sponsored her, similar as him, which is how both arrived in the same place, on the identical set. Eventually, she mustered the courage to method him, this basketball deity, beloved throughout the world. She asked for a photograph, starstruck; her favorite picture, even now. And yet, whereas her hero understood what he meant to other individuals, he didn’t act like he knew that his presence stuffed hearts and weakened knees.