TIMELINE
Let's look back at the life of our dear Kobe
August 23rd, 1978
Kobe Bryant was born in Philadelphia, the youngest child of NBA Player Joe Bryant.
1981
Kobe Bryant first picked up a basketball back when he was just 3 years old.
1984
Joe Bryant retires from the NBA and gets an offer to play in Italy. Kobe and his family moved to Italy in 1984.
1991
After 7 years in Italy, The Bryant family moves back to Philadelphia.
1996
Kobe Bryant finishes his high school basketball career as the all-time leading scorer in the history of southeastern Pennsylvania basketball.
June 26th, 1996
Kobe Bryant, at just 17 years old, is selected by the Charlotte Hornets as the 13th pick in the first round of the NBA draft. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
November 3rd, 1996
Kobe becomes the youngest player to ever appear in an NBA game at 18 years and 72 days old.
January 28th, 1997
Kobe becomes the youngest player to ever start in an NBA Game.
February 8th, 1997
Kobe Bryant's first appearance in the All Star Weekend where he won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
February 2nd, 1998
Kobe's 1st All Star Game Appearance. He was the youngest All Star in the history.
June 19th, 2000
The beginning of Lakers Dynasty as Kobe wins his first championship!
April 18th, 2001
Kobe Bryant marries his girlfriend Vanessa Laine. Kobe met Vanessa during a music video shoot in 1999 while she was still in high school and he was just 20 years old.
June 15th, 2001
Kobe and the Los Angeles Lakers win their 2nd championship as the go back to back!
February 10th, 2002
Kobe Bryant wins the All Star Game MVP, an award that would later be named after him.
June 12th, 2002
The Lakers 3 peat as Kobe and Shaq win their third championship together!
January 19th, 2003
Kobe and Vanessa’s first daughter, Natalia Bryant, is born.
July 18th, 2003
Bryant is charged with one count of sexual assault in Colorado, the charge was later dropped.
December 20th, 2005
Kobe scores 62 points in 3 quarters. He outscored the whole Dallas Maverick Team by himself.
January 22nd, 2006
Bryant drops 81 on the Toronto Raptors. Greatest single game scoring performance after Wilt Chamberlain’s 100.
January, 2006
Kobe Bryant ends up average 43.4 points per game through the month of January.
May 1st, 2006
Kobe's second daughter, Gianna "Gigi" Bryant, is born.
March 23rd, 2007
Kobe scores 50+ points in 4 straight games. A feat never achieved before by any other player but Wilt Chamberlain. He scored only 43 in the 5th game.
May 6th, 2008
Kobe wins the NBA MVP award for the 2007-2008 season.
August 24th, 2008
Kobe leads team USA to the Gold Medal in the Beijing Olympics
June 14th, 2009
Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are the NBA champions once again! Kobe wins his fourth NBA ring and his first Finals MVP.
Feb 1st, 2010
Kobe Bryant becomes the all time leading scorer of the Los Angeles Lakers, surpassing Jerry West.
June 17th, 2010
Kobe wins his fifth NBA title and is once again named the Finals MVP as the Lakers beat the Celtics in seven games.
August 12th, 2012
Bryant wins his second Olympics Gold Medal as a member of Team USA.
April 12th, 2013
Kobe tears his achilles against the Golden State Warriors. At 34, Kobe was giving it all to get Los Angeles Lakers into the playoffs. Even though the team made it to playoffs, Kobe's season ended due to the injury.
2013
Kobe launches Granity Studios
March 23rd, 2014
Bryant launches Kobe Inc. He also announces the company’s first investment is a 10% stake in the sports drink BodyArmor.
December 14th, 2014
Kobe Bryant surpasses Michael Jordan and climbs to the third spot on NBA’s All Time Scoring List.
November 19th, 2015
Kobe announces the decision to retire at the end of 2015-16 NBA Season with the poem titled 'Dear Basketball'.
April 13th, 2016
In his last NBA game, Kobe Bryant scores 60 points. Highest point total by any player in their last game. Also becomes the oldest player to score 60. Post game, Kobe drops the mic with the legendary "Mamba Out".
August 23rd, 2016
City of LA declares August 24 as Kobe Bryant Day.
December 5th, 2016
Kobe and Vanessa welcome their third child, Bianka Bella Bryant.
December 18th, 2017
The LA Lakers retire #8 and #24 to honour Kobe Bryant.
March 4th, 2018
Kobe wins an Oscar for best animated short film for “Dear Basketball.”
December 3rd, 2018
Kobe Bryant announces the establishment of Mamba Sports Academy, a joint venture with Sports Academy
June 20th, 2019
Kobe’s fourth daughter, Capri Kobe Bryant, is born.
January 26th, 2020
Kobe Bryant lost his life in a helicopter crash along with his daughter, Gianna Bryant, and 7 others. The helicopter was enroute to Mamba Sports Academy for Gianna’s Basketball Game.
February 24th, 2020
A public memorial was held at Staples Center to celebrate the lives of Kobe and Gigi Bryant.
August 23rd, 2020
Our beloved Kobe would've turned 42. Rest in power, Mamba.