Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
KOBE BRYANT TIMELINE
July 1, 1996: Selected in NBA draft.
March 4, 1998: Signs six-year contract. March 4, 2000: Bryant wins his first NBA championship with the Lakers, defeating the Indiana Pacers in six games.
March 4, 2001: Bryant wins second NBA championship, the Lakers defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in five games. April 7 2001: Bryant marries Vanessa Cornejo Urbieta Laine. March 4, 2002: Bryant wins third NBA championship, the Lakers defeating the New Jersey Nets 4-0. June 30, 2003: Bryant allegedly sexually assaults a 19-year-old concierge at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera in Edwards, Colorado. July 2003: Bryant is arrested in connection with investigations of sexual assault. Dec. 12, 2003: Bryant is charged with sexual assault. Sept. 1, 2004: Case is dismissed after his accuser is unwilling to testify.
Jan. 26, 2006: Bryant scores 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second most points in a single game in the NBA, second to Wilt Chamberlain, who had 100 points.
June 5, 2008: He wins his first gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. March 2009: He wins fourth NBA championship, the Lakers defeating the Orlando Magic in five games. March, 2010: He wins fifth NBA championship, the Lakers defeating the Boston Celtics in seven games.
March 5, 2012: Bryant becomes the youngest player to reach 30,000 points.
Nov. 26, 2013: Bryant becomes the highest paid player in the NBA when he signs a two-year contract worth an estimated $48.5 million.
April 13, 2016: In his final NBA game against the Utah Jazz, Bryant scores 60 points.
March 3, 2018: Bryant wins an Academy Award for an animated short.
Jan. 26, 2020: Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, die in a helicopter crash.