HIS LIFE AND CAREER: A TIMELINE
Aug. 23, 1978:
Bryant is born in Philadelphia. His father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, played for the 76ers.
1992-1996:
Plays four years of varsity at Lower Merion High in Ardmore, Pa., a Philadelphia suburb. He starts as a freshman when the Aces go 4-20. Lower Merion is 77-13 over the next three seasons with Bryant averaging more than 30 points and 10 rebounds as a junior, when he was the state player of the year, and a senior, when he was an All-American and the Aces won a state title.
July 1996:
Lakers trade Vlade Divac to Charlottefor the rights to 17-year-old Bryant, the 13th pick in the NBA draft.
1996-97:
Named to the NBA’s All-Rookie second team. Averages 7.6 points coming off the bench. Becomes the NBA’s youngest slam dunk champion at 18.
1999-00:
With Phil Jackson as coach, and alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant wins his first NBA title as Lakers beat Pacers.
2000-01:
Scores 51 points against Warriors, Bryant’s first 50-plus game. Averages 28.5 points a game. Lakers repeat as NBA champs by beating 76ers in five.
2001-02:
All-Star game MVP. Lakers three-peat, sweeping Nets in Finals.
July 2003:
Bryant is arrested and accused of sexual assault in Colorado. He leads the Lakers in scoring in 2003-04, on occasion flying back to Los Angeles for games after court appearances in Colorado on the same day. The case is dropped in September 2004.
2003-04:
The last Kobe-Shaq squad loses in the Finals to Detroit. That summer O’Neal is traded and Bryant, a free agent, almost signs with the Clippers but returns to the Lakers after agreeing to a sevenyear, $136-million deal.
2004-05:
Lakers have a miserable season, finishing 34-48, with new coach Rudy Tomjanovich quitting in midseason because of health problems. Bryant misses 16 games because of injuries.
2005-06:
Scores 81 points against Toronto on Jan. 22, 2006, the second-highest total in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point effort. Bryant leads the league in scoring (35.4) as Jackson returns to coach the team. Lakers lose to Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs.
2006-07:
Bryant wins another scoring title (31.6), but Lakers are ousted again in the first round by the Suns. Soon after Bryant, frustrated by management, says he wants to be traded. Owner Jerry Buss considers trading Bryant, but doesn’t.
2007-08:
Midseason trade for Pau Gasol makes Lakers a title contender. Bryant wins MVP award. Lakers reach Finals and lose to Boston in six games. He becomes an Olympic champion in Beijing.
2008-09:
Bryant wins fourth NBA title and is named Finals MVP as Lakers beat Orlando in five games.
2009-10:
Bryant collects his fifth ring as Lakers beat the Celtics in seven games; he’s also named Finals MVP. Signs a threeyear, $84-million extension, staying under contract through the 2013-14 season.
2012:
Bryant wins his second gold medal with Team USA at the London Games.
2012-13:
Makes 15th All-Star team. Passes Chamberlain for fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Averages 27.3 points in 38.6 minutes a game for the season before rupturing his left Achilles tendon on April 12, 2013.
2013-14:
Bryant returns from his Achilles injury on Dec. 8, 2013, against Toronto and finishes with nine points, eight rebounds and four assists. Bryant plays five more games before missing the rest of the season because of a left knee injury.
2014-15:
Bryant passes Michael Jordan for third on the all-time scoring list on Dec. 14, 2014, in a win. LeBron James would pass Bryant on Jan. 25, 2020, the day before Bryant’s death in a helicopter crash.
2015-16:
Bryant announces before the season he will be retiring in a poem, “Dear Basketball,” published in the Players’ Tribune. He is chosen an All-Star for the 18th time, and scores 60 points in his final game, a narrow win over the Utah Jazz on April 13, 2016.
Dec. 18, 2017:
The Lakers retire Bryant’s jersey Nos. 8 and 24 in a ceremony at Staples Center, during which he gives a memorable speech for his daughters.
March 4, 2018:
Bryant wins an Oscar for the animated short film “Dear Basketball,” which was based on the poem he wrote when he announced his retirement. He was the first Black person to win in that category.