Nba superstars biography kobe bryant retiring

He ranks fourth in league all-time regular season and postseason scoring. Recognized as the top American high-school basketball player while at Philadelphia suburb Lower Merion , Bryant declared for the NBA draft and was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick; he was then traded to the Lakers. As a rookie, Bryant earned a reputation as a high-flyer by winning the Slam Dunk Contest and was named an All-Star by his second season.

Despite his contentious relationship with teammate Shaquille O'Neal , the pair led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from to In , Bryant was charged with sexual assault. Charges were dropped after the accuser refused to testify, and a lawsuit was settled out of court, with Bryant issuing an apology and admitting to a sexual encounter he maintained was consensual.

Where was kobe bryant born

He led the NBA in scoring in the —06 and —07 seasons. On January 22, , Bryant scored a career-high 81 points, the second most scored in a single NBA game behind Wilt Chamberlain's point game. He continued to be among the league's premier players through the —13 season when he suffered a torn achilles tendon. The last years of his playing career were hampered by injuries and limited playing time.

Bryant retired after the —16 season. In , the Lakers retired both his Nos. The all-time leading scorer in Lakers history, Bryant was the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. His 18 All-Star designations are the third most. Bryant gave himself the nickname Black Mamba in the mids, and the epithet became widely adopted by the public. He won gold medals on the and U.