A heated feud between the duo and a loss within the 2004 NBA Finals was adopted by O'Neal's commerce from the Lakers after the 2003–04 season. Following O'Neal's departure Bryant turned the cornerstone of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise. He led the NBA in scoring through the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, setting numerous scoring data in the process. In 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second most points scored in a single game in NBA history, second solely to Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point sport in 1962. He was awarded the common season's Most Valuable Player Award in 2008. After dropping in the 2008 NBA Finals, Bryant led the Lakers to 2 consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, incomes the NBA Finals MVP Award on both occasions.

But watching the “Free Lesson” today is still instructive. It’s another reminder that Bryant, who died at 41, was really just beginning the off-court chapter of his life. The post-NBA profession was already exhibiting nice promise—Bryant gained an Oscar in 2018 for Best Animated Short Film, for example—and the video displays his smarts and curiosity.

"Not bad for the seventh-best player within the league," mentioned Bryant, referring to a preseason ESPN rating of the NBA's prime players. He went on to score 40, forty two, and forty two in his subsequent three video games. It was the sixth time in his profession he scored forty or more points in four straight video games, a feat exceeded solely by Wilt Chamberlain . At the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, Bryant scored 27 factors to move Michael Jordan as the profession scoring chief in the All-Star Game. He additionally suffered a damaged nose and a concussion in the third quarter of the All-Star Game after a tough foul from Dwyane Wade. In April, Bryant missed seven games with a bruised left shin.

While in highschool, then 76ers coach John Lucas invited Bryant to work out and scrimmage with the team, the place he played one-on-one with Jerry Stackhouse. In his senior yr of excessive school, Bryant led the Aces to their first state championship in 53 years. During the run, he averaged 30.eight points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, four steals, and 3.8 blocked pictures in leading the Aces to a 31–3 report. Bryant ended his high-school career as Southeastern Pennsylvania's all-time main scorer at 2,883 points, surpassing each Wilt Chamberlain and Lionel Simmons. Bryant's retired No. 33 jersey and banner at the Lower Merion High School gymBryant earned nationwide recognition throughout a spectacular high-school career at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, positioned in the Philadelphia suburb of Lower Merion.

Through Shakespeare, I learned in regards to the nature of mankind. From The Iliad, I began to query at the age of 12 if I recognized with the hero Hector or Achilles. Taking checks helped me regular my pulse and assume clearly underneath duress.

Both numbers he wore throughout his career, eight and 24, were retired by the Lakers on December 18, 2017. In his first yr of eligibility, Bryant was named a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, weeks after his dying, before being elected a few months later in April 2020. His formal induction was delayed until 2021 as a end result of COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2021, Bryant was honored as one of the league's biggest gamers of all time by being named to the NBA seventy fifth Anniversary Team. The Lakers swept the Utah Jazz in the second spherical and superior to the Western Conference Finals, where they confronted the Phoenix Suns. In Game 2, Bryant finished the game with thirteen assists, setting a new playoff career-high; it was probably the most assists by a Laker within the playoffs since Magic Johnson had 13 in 1996.

Trudell retains preying on Bryant's weak backhand, however. Someone has referred to as subsequent, but when the sport ends, Bryant would not budge. When Bryant has a choice word for Lakers sideline reporter Mike Trudell whereas he is taking half in towards Shawne Williams, Trudell tells Bryant he'd be joyful to beat him subsequent.

Jackson utilized the triangle offense he used to win six championships with the Chicago Bulls, which would assist each Bryant and O'Neal rise to the elite class of the NBA. The three resulting championships received consecutively in 2000, 2001, and 2002 further proved such a truth. Bryant is the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise historical past. He was also the primary guard in NBA history to play no less than 20 seasons. His 18 All-Star designations are the second most all time, whereas it is the report for most consecutive appearances as a starter.