Kobe Bryant Through the Ages : A look at the Career of Legendary Kobe Bryant on his 36th Birthday. This is the legacy of Kobe Bryant as he turns 36 this year. He is never old too play the game of basketball.
Kobe Bryant Timeline
Born August 23, 1978 (36 years old as of August 23rd, 2014) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Kobe Bean Bryant is the only son and youngest of three children of former Philadelphia 76ers player and former Los Angeles Sparks head coach Joe “Jellybean” Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant.
Bryant started playing basketball when he was 3 years old and his favorite team when growing up was the Lakers.
Bryant earned national recognition during a spectacular high school career at Lower Merion High School. Kobe Bryant at Lower Merion High School.
K. Bryant was chosen as the 13th overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 at the age of just 17. Kobe Bryant in 1996 NBA Draft as a Hornet.
On July 1, 1996, Lakers’ Manager Jerry West traded his starting center, Vlade Divac, to the Hornets in exchange for Bryant. Kobe Bryant #8 in Lakers
At the age of 18 years and 72 days, he played his first NBA game and at 18 years-158 days, the youngest starter.
Bryant was the winner of the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest. Kobe Bryant in 1997 Slam Dunk Contest.
During the 1998-99 season, Bryant signed a 6-year contract extension worth $70 million which kept him with the Lakers until the end of the 2003–04 season.
Lakers won consecutively three championships with Bryant and Phil Jackson as coach in 2000, 2001, and 2002, i.e. a 3-peat. Lakers won their first championship since 1988. Kobe at 2002 NBA Championship
On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a victory against the Toronto Raptors. Bryant’s 81-point game was the second-highest point total in NBA history, surpassed only by Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962. Kobe Bryant 81 point game
Later in the 2005-06 season, it was reported that Bryant would change his jersey number from 8 to 24 at the start of the 2006–07 NBA season. Bryant’s first high school number was 24 before he switched to 33. Kobe Bryant from #8 to #24.
Bryant led the NBA in scoring during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons.
On December 23, 2007, Bryant became the youngest player (29 years, 122 days) to reach 20,000 points.
May 6, 2008, Bryant was officially announced as the NBA Most Valuable Player award, his first for his career. Kobe Bryant 2008 MVP
In 2008, it was his first time going to the Olympics. Bryant scored 20 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, along with six assists, as Team USA defeated Spain 118–107 in the gold medal game of the 2008 Summer Olympics on August 24, 2008. He averaged 15.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting .462 from the field in eight Olympic contests. Kobe Bryant 2008 Olympics
In 2009-10 season, Bryant also became the youngest player (31 years, 151 days) to reach 25,000 points during the season, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain.
Lakers again won 2 consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010 with Kobe. Kobe Bryant 2009 Championship as Laker Kobe Bryant 2010 Championship as Laker
Kobe Bryant was chosen as the cover for NBA 2k10. Kobe Bryant NBA 2k10 Cover .
Bryant rejoined the national team for the 2012 Summer Olympics. He retired from the team after winning another gold medal. Kobe Bryant 2012 Olympics
In the 2012-13 regular season, Bryant torn his Achilles, due to which he couldn’t play the whole remaining season and the playoffs.Kobe Bryant torn Achilles
In 2014, Kobe Bryant will Return…
Bryant has been selected to 15 All-NBA Teams (11 times to the All-NBA First Team) and 12 All-Defensive Teams (nine times to the All-Defensive First Team). He was selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game on 15 occasions, winning All-Star MVP Awards in 2002, 2007, 2009 and 2011 (he shared the 2009 award with Shaquille O’Neal).
There is a lot about Kobe Bryant to know, but this was just a short summary.