Bryant made two buzzer-beaters to win the game and the Pacific Division title. At the end of the fourth quarter, Bryant made a three-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to send it into extra time. The recreation finally went to a second overtime, by which Bryant made one other three-pointer as time expired to carry the Lakers past the Blazers, 105–104.

After graduating in 1996, Bryant decided to enter the National Basketball Association and was selected by the Charlotte Hornets within the 1996 NBA draft. Thirty minutes later, the helicopter was within the air, traveling from John Wayne-Orange County Airport to Camarillo, California, the place the passengers would then be driven to a youth basketball game in close by Thousand Oaks. Bryant was joined on the flight by his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna; John and Keri Altobelli and their daughter, Alyssa; Sarah Chester and her daughter, Payton; and Christina Mauser, an assistant coach. On January 26, 2022, coinciding with the 2nd anniversary of his dying and the helicopter crash, a statue of Bryant and his daughter Gianna was placed at the web site the place the crash occurred.

He quickly proved his merit with the Lakers and was chosen for the NBA All-Star Game in simply his second season, changing into the youngest All-Star. Metro Bus in Los Angeles with "RIP Kobe" banner, January 2020.On February 7, Bryant and his daughter had been buried in a non-public funeral in Pacific View Memorial Park within the Corona del Mar neighborhood of Newport Beach, California. A public memorial service was held on February 24 (2/24, marking each Kobe's and Gianna's jersey numbers) at Staples Center with Jimmy Kimmel hosting. Speakers at the service included Vanessa, Jordan, and O'Neal, along with Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi and Geno Auriemma, Taurasi's coach at Connecticut, where Gianna had been aspiring to play. The Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, and the FBI launched investigations into the crash.

I was like a wild horse that had the potential to become Secretariat, but who was simply too fucking wild. He’s also very clever, and he understood the dynamic he needed to deal with between me and Shaq. So he would take photographs at me within the press, and I understood he was doing that in order to ingratiate himself to Shaq. And since I knew what he was doing, I felt like that was an insult to my intelligence.

Kobe manifested his future, main the Los Angeles Lakers to a brand new period of domination as their taking pictures guard and bringing a unique strategy to the sport. He was nothing short of sensible to look at, an enigmatic determine with a legendary work ethic and unquenchable thirst and dedication for the game. It can be secure to say that fans are usually socialized to sports early and consider it not just as a recreation, however as a nostalgic or emotional experience. Fabolous has lately shared a heartwarming, however humorous, story concerning the late Kobe Bryant, and the time he pulled up to Fab’s “Trade It All” video shoot. The two gamers were good pals and it’s clear Durant had earned Bryant’s respect on the hardwood—something he nonetheless appreciates to this day. In that game, Iverson also outrebounded Shaquille O'Neal with 5 rebounds towards Shaq's four.

Some of Bryant’s accolades embody five NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, 18 All-Star game appearances, and two Finals MVP awards. In November 1999, 21-year-old Bryant met 17-year-old Vanessa Laine whereas she was working as a background dancer on the Tha Eastsidaz music video "G'd Up". Bryant was in the building engaged on his debut musical album. The two began relationship and have become engaged just six months later in May 2000, whereas Laine was still a senior at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California. To keep away from media scrutiny, she finished high school through impartial research. According to Vanessa's cousin Laila Laine, there was no prenuptial agreement.

Lakers followers mourn the demise of Kobe Bryant at a makeshift memorial. Kinzo Beachem writes on the cement next to a makeshift memorial for former Lakers participant Kobe Bryant at L.A. Fans Alex Fultz, Eddy Rivas and Rene Alfaro collect with others close to a makeshift memorial for Kobe Bryant outdoors Staples Center on Sunday after learning of his death. Returning to the U.S. as a teenager, Bryant stood out amongst his classmates at Lower Merion High in Ardmore, Pa., talking fluent Italian and incomes a high score on his SAT.

Bryant finished in fourth place within the voting for the 2006 NBA Most Valuable Player Award but acquired 22 first place votes—second solely to winner Steve Nash. Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 till 2016, winning five NBA Championships and the 2008 Most Valuable Player award while making the All-Star team in 18 of his 20 seasons. By his mid-career, Bryant had established himself as one of many greatest gamers in NBA historical past, known for his clutch capturing, succesful defending, work ethic, and longevity.