During the season, Bryant signed a six-year contract extension value $70 million. The all-time main scorer in Lakers historical past, Bryant was the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. His 18 All-Star designations are the second most all time, and he has the second most consecutive appearances as a starter.

January 26, 2023, is the third anniversary of the demise of Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and 7 others who perished in a helicopter crash in California. NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant was announced Thursday as the cover athlete for NBA 2K24. It's the fourth time Bryant will be on the cover of NBA 2K.

Zobayan wasreprimanded as quickly as by the FAA, in 2015, for flying into busy airspace without clearance. He was recommended on the incident but not required to bear any remedial coaching. "I haven’t seen something within the data that I’ve checked out that may suggest that there was something bodily wrong with the helicopter, that might trigger an accident," said Brickhouse, who reviewed the NTSB's public docket of the crash. Cress said the Sikorsky S-76 is generally well-regarded among pilots and has a powerful safety report over decades of use. He noted that it has been the "helicopter of selection" for Queen Elizabeth II, amongst different top dignitaries, since 2009. Minutes later, there was a shift change at the Southern California TRACON, which provides air visitors control providers to airports in the area.

Bryant would later acknowledge the engagement and marriage led to a two-year estrangement from his father. Juggling two rising superstars, both with egos, coach Phil Jackson made O’Neal his first priority, forcing Bryant into one thing of a supporting position that did not sit well with the younger guard. Fans collect near a makeshift memorial for Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center after studying of the Lakers legend’s death Sunday. Bryant had no doubts, exhibiting the kind of bravura that could — at times — irritate his critics. Though scouts characterized him as “borderline sensational,” young gamers have been expected to spend no less than a couple of years honing their expertise at the college stage. “Kobe was a legend on the court and simply getting began in what would have been just as significant a second act,” former President Obama mentioned in a statement.

Bryant started taking half in basketball when he was three, and the Lakers had been his favourite staff when he was rising up. When Bryant was six, his father retired from the NBA and moved his household to Rieti in Italy to continue taking half in professional basketball. After two years, they moved first to Reggio Calabria, then to Pistoia and Reggio Emilia.

This adopted with O'Neal winning the MVP and Bryant being named to the All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team for the primary time in his profession (the youngest participant to obtain All-Defensive honors). While playing second fiddle to O'Neal in the playoffs, Bryant had some clutch performances, together with a 25-point, 11-rebound, 7-assist, 4-block game in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers. In the 2000 Finals, towards the Indiana Pacers, Bryant injured his ankle in the second quarter of Game 2 after landing on the Pacers' Jalen Rose's foot. In Game 4, Bryant scored 22 factors in the second half and led the staff to an OT victory as O'Neal fouled out of the sport. With a 116–111 victory in Game 6, the Lakers received their first championship since 1988.

Previously, Bryant was revered but not beloved, and he was astonished at the cheers he was now receiving. Bryant later confirmed his need for West's return to the franchise but denied stating that he would wish to be traded if that did not happen. Bryant was later shown in an infamous newbie video saying that center Andrew Bynum ought to have been traded for All-Star Jason Kidd.

Along with LeBron James, he was one of many first two players to publicly named to the 2006–2008 U.S. preliminary roster in 2006 by Jerry Colangelo. However, he was once again sidelined after knee surgery and did not participate within the 2006 FIBA World Championship. The 1998–99 season marked Bryant's emergence as a premier guard within the league. With beginning guards Van Exel and Jones traded, Bryant started every game for the lockout-shortened 50-game season. During the season, Bryant signed a 6-year contract extension worth $70 million. This saved him with the Lakers till the top of the 2003–04 season.