Despite Bryant's 27.9 points per game within the collection, the Lakers broke down and ultimately fell to the Suns in seven video games. After scoring 50 points on 20 of 35 shooting within the Game 6 loss, Bryant was criticized for only taking three shots within the second half of the 121–90 Game 7 loss to Phoenix. Bryant acquired several awards for his outstanding efficiency during his senior 12 months at Lower Merion. These included being named Naismith High School Player of the Year, Gatorade Men's National Basketball Player of the Year, a McDonald's All-American, a first-team Parade All-American and a USA Today All-USA First Team player. Bryant's varsity coach, Greg Downer, commented that he was "a whole player who dominates" and praised his work ethic, even because the team's high participant. In 1996, Bryant took R&B singer Brandy to her Hollywood High senior prom.

Bryant finished the 12 months with a total of ten 50-plus point video games, matched only by Chamberlain. Bryant additionally gained his second straight scoring title that season. Throughout the 2006–07 season, his jersey became the highest selling NBA jersey within the United States and China.

On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter were among a group touring to a ladies basketball recreation in a helicopter when it crashed, killing all nine people aboard. Bryant rejoined the national staff for the 2012 Summer Olympics. After successful another gold medal, Bryant determined to retire from the staff. He completed his national team profession with a report of 26–0 throughout three tournaments, profitable a gold medal each time. Bryant, in his final Cleveland sport, defending LeBron JamesBryant requested that opposing groups on the street not hold any on-court ceremonies in his honor or current him any items in public.

His legacy is suffering from the corpses of slackers who could not match his dedication, significantly underachievers of bizarre size . It has become in style to counsel that his ego—and his two-year, $48.5 million contract—are now actively hurting the franchise. The notion has turn out to be so universal that ESPN The Magazine published a narrative suggesting the Lakers can not signal top-flight free agents as long as Bryant controls the system. Most of the story’s sources had been anonymous and Bryant claims he didn’t read the article. But he additionally mentioned he has been asked about it enough to “grasp what it was conceptually,” and he certainly doesn’t dispute the takeaway. Bryant was drafted because the thirteenth pick by the Charlotte Hornets at age 17.

He continued to be among the many prime gamers in the league by way of 2013, when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon at age 34. He subsequently suffered season-ending accidents to his knee and shoulder, respectively, within the following two seasons. Citing physical decline, Bryant retired after the 2015–16 season. On January 10, 2012, Bryant scored forty eight points in opposition to the Suns.

Tragedy struck the world of basketball and sport in general on 26 January 2020 when Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in California at the age of 41. All nine individuals on board, together with Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, died within the crash. National and worldwide tributes got here flooding in from sports activities stars, followers and celebrities. Bryant really made his mark on the historical past of basketball, and his demise leaves an immense void.

However, the Lakers had been in a place to beat their division rivals and make their third consecutive NBA Finals look. In the 2002 Finals, in opposition to the New Jersey Nets, Bryant averaged 26.eight points, 51.4% shooting, 5.8 rebounds, 5.three assists per sport, which included scoring 1 / 4 of the group's points. At age 23, Bryant turned the youngest player to win three championships. Bryant's play was notable and praised for his performance within the fourth quarter of video games, specifically the last two rounds of the playoffs. This cemented Bryant's reputation as a "clutch participant". Bryant began taking half in basketball when he was three, and the Lakers have been his favorite team when he was rising up.

James additionally delivered a speech to the gang before the game, and each player within the Lakers starting lineup was introduced with Bryant's name. The game was the second-most-watched in ESPN historical past, averaging 4.forty one million viewers. Through his first 16 seasons, his physique was resilient, and he exhibited a high ache threshold while typically taking part in by way of injuries. A fierce competitor, opponents and teammates alike have been the thing of his scorn.