I’d never really heard about upkeep points with a rim before a game. A quarter of an inch.” After the buzzer sounded, I was walking off the court and I saw one of many upkeep guys — one of the guys who was carrying the ladder onto the court during warm-ups. ” “Oh, somebody notified us that it was somewhat decrease than regulation.” Then he informed me how much it was off by.

He remained the league's highest-paid player, although he accepted a reduced deal; he had been eligible to receive an extension starting at $32 million per 12 months. Bryant resumed playing on December eight after missing the season's first 19 games. On December 17, Bryant matched his season excessive of 21 factors in a 96–92 win over Memphis, however he suffered a lateral tibial plateau fracture in his left knee that was expected to sideline him for six weeks. He had played six games since getting back from his Achilles harm, which included time at point guard after injuries to Nash, Steve Blake, and Jordan Farmar. Bryant was averaging 13.eight factors, 6.three assists, and four.three rebounds.

Bryant additionally had a career-high forty six.9% shooting and once once more led his group in assists. While making the All-NBA Defensive Team once more, Bryant was additionally named to the All-NBA First Team for the first time in his profession. The Lakers received 58 video games that year and completed second in the Pacific Division behind in-state rival Sacramento Kings. Bryant was suspended one sport after he punched Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers after the Lakers' March 1, 2002 victory over the Pacers. Bryant debuted in the Summer Pro League in Long Beach, California, scoring 25 factors in entrance of a standing-room-only crowd. Defenders struggled to get in entrance of him, and his efficiency excited West and Lakers coach Del Harris.

Kobe Bean Bryant(August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. In 2008 and once more in 2016, ESPN ranked him the second-greatest shooting guard of all time after Jordan. In 2022, to commemorate the NBA's seventy fifth Anniversary The Athletic ranked their prime 75 players of all time, and named Bryant because the tenth best player in NBA historical past, the second highest capturing guard on the listing, behind only Jordan. Players including Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, and Derrick Rose known as Bryant their technology's version of Jordan. The Press-Enterprise described Bryant as "possibly the greatest Laker in the organization's historical past".

In the fourth quarter, as Bryant made shot after shot in opposition to the Utah Jazz, on his approach to 60 factors, the sector was filled with a gradual, deafening cheer. Bryant picked up a microphone afterward to deal with the gang. Flying back to L.A., he called a news conference at Staples Center and, with tears in his eyes and voice quavering, acknowledged having intercourse with the girl however insisted it was consensual. Bryant took refuge in his relationship with Vanessa, as bodyguards accompanied them to Disneyland and got them seats at the local Cineplex after the lights went down. The couple bought a house in the Newport Beach community of Newport Coast, where they put in his “Star Wars” memorabilia and her Disney collectibles.

With career averages of 25.zero points, 5.2 rebounds, four.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per sport, Bryant was considered one of the complete players in NBA historical past. He is the fourth-leading scorer in league history with 33,643 factors. He was the primary player in NBA historical past to have no much less than 30,000 profession points and 6,000 profession assists, and was one of solely 4 players with 25,000 factors, 6,000 rebounds, and 6,000 assists. Bryant led the NBA in scoring through the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons. His 81-point efficiency against Toronto in 2006 was the second-highest in NBA historical past, behind solely Chamberlain's a hundred. He scored at least 50 factors 24 times in his profession, which is third in league history behind Jordan and Chamberlain ; six occasions Bryant scored at least 60.

He was additionally the primary guard in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons. His 18 All-Star designations are the second most all time, while it is the report for many consecutive appearances as a starter. Bryant's four All-Star Game MVP Awards are tied with Bob Pettit for the most in NBA history. He gave himself the nickname "Black Mamba" within the mid-2000s, and the epithet turned widely adopted by most of the people. At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, he won two gold medals as a member of the united states national staff. In 2018, he gained the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for his 2017 film Dear Basketball.

Among his philanthropic endeavors, the basketball great partnered with the non-profit After-School All-Stars as a part of the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation. He additionally ran an annual summer season camp referred to as the Kobe Basketball Academy. In July 2003, Bryant was charged with one rely of sexual assault on a 19-year-old female resort employee in Colorado.