While the Lakers swept the Blazers and defeated the Spurs 4–1, the Lakers didn't have home court docket advantage against the Sacramento Kings. The collection would stretch to 7 games, the primary time this occurred to the Lakers since the 2000 Western Conference Finals. In the 2002 Finals, Bryant averaged 26.eight points, fifty one.4% shooting, 5.eight rebounds, 5.3 assists per sport, which included scoring a quarter of the groups points. Bryant's play was notable and praised for his performance within the 4th quarter of video games, specifically the last 2 rounds of the playoffs. This cemented Bryant's status as a "clutch player." Statistically, the 2000–01 season saw Bryant carry out equally to the previous 12 months, but he averaged 6 more factors a game (28.5).

Bryant and his daughter had been laid to rest in a private funeral on February 7, 2020. Among his philanthropic endeavors, the basketball nice partnered with the non-profit After-School All-Stars as part of the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation. He also ran an annual summer time camp called the Kobe Basketball Academy. In July 2003, Bryant was charged with one count of sexual assault on a 19-year-old female resort worker in Colorado. Bryant said he was guilty of adultery but innocent of the rape charge. The case in opposition to Bryant was dismissed in 2004, and he settled the civil lawsuit filed by the hotel worker against him out of court docket.

Still, there was skepticism when the 17-year-old made himself obtainable for the 1996 NBA draft. He idolized Elgin Baylor — “the footwork king” — and admired the best way West could fireplace a quick bounce shot or smoothly cut to the basket. His biggest admiration was reserved for Johnson, who had a sixth sense on the courtroom, anticipating performs as they developed, delivering the ball exactly the place it wanted to be.

At the identical time, the Hornets needed a middle, so West saw that as an ideal opportunity to unload Vlade Divac’s wage in exchange for the thirteenth pick, which was the primary outside of the lottery, saving much more money to signal O’Neal. Greg Thomas, the president of Visual Concepts, which developed the game, said in an announcement that the decision was made to honor Bryant's "impression" on the game of basketball. The Kobe Bryant Edition will characteristic the Lakers legend leaping via the air in his No. eight jersey. The Black Mamba Edition will function Bryant in his No. 24 uniform.

Later in February, the NBA redesigned the All-Star Game MVP trophy as a half of the most important redesign of the All-Star Weekend trophies in celebration of the league's 75th anniversary season. Bryant shoots a fadeaway over Shane Battier in 2009.Bryant primarily played as a capturing guard. He was listed at 6 toes 6 inches (1.ninety eight m) and 212 kilos , He was usually cited as one of the most harmful scorers within the NBA.

I’m in a restaurant, I see my cellphone ring, and I see it’s Kobe. I run out the restaurant fast as a outcome of it’s so loud in the 112. ’ And so I’m sitting there, and I’m giving Kobe Bryant some of my suggestions of what I do. I was like, ‘Man, Kobe just reached out to me for recommendation. What I did regulate, though, was how I diversified my strategy from participant to player. I nonetheless challenged everyone and made them uncomfortable, I simply did it in a method that was tailored to them.

A number of journalists have attributed the improved sales to Bryant's new number, in addition to his persevering with All-Star efficiency on the court. In the 2007 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers were once once more eradicated within the first spherical by the Phoenix Suns, 4–1. The 2005–06 NBA season would mark a crossroads in Bryant's basketball profession. Despite previous differences with Bryant, Phil Jackson returned to coach the Lakers.

In 2006, he scored a career-high 81 factors; the second most points scored in a single game in league historical past, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962. Bryant led the staff to two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, and was named NBA Finals MVP on both occasions. He continued to be among the many high players within the league via 2013, when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon at age 34. He subsequently suffered season-ending injuries 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 towards the Suns.