The group's quest for another three-peat was ended after they had been swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs. The Mavericks would go on to win the 2011 NBA Finals. On May 27, 2007, ESPN reported that Bryant acknowledged that he needed to be traded if Jerry West did not return to the team with full authority. Bryant later confirmed his desire for West's return to the franchise, but denied stating that he would wish to be traded if that doesn't occur. Bryant would later be proven on an infamous novice video saying that middle Andrew Bynum should have been traded for All-Star Jason Kidd.

In the newest installment, NBA 2K23, the cover athlete was none other than Michael Jordan. Jordan has graced the covers of NBA 2K11, 2K12, and 2K16. A “three-ring media circus” visited Eagle County in an try and study more about accusations in opposition to basketball star Kobe Bryant, the Vail Daily reported.

Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, obtained the Eucharist together just hours earlier than they died. Before the 1996 NBA draft, Bryant had labored out in Los Angeles, the place he scrimmaged in opposition to former Lakers gamers Larry Drew and Michael Cooper and, in accordance with then-Laker basic supervisor Jerry West, "marched over these folks". Kobe Bryant had indicated that transitioning from a basketball participant right into a enterprise mogul was a long-term aim that was essential to him, particularly given his goal-orientated mindset. Bryant made $323,312,307 from the Los Angeles Lakers throughout his taking half in profession, the sixth-highest earnings in NBA history behind LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Garnett.

Bryant admitted to an adulterous sexual encounter together with his accuser however denied her sexual assault allegation. However, Bryant's lawyers requested the auction house to return the gadgets. Before the scheduled trial, a settlement was reached permitting the auction home the sale of less than 10% of the gadgets.

Bryant and O’Neal opened the 21st Century with three championships in a row. Bryant’s encore efficiency got here in 2009 and again in 2010 when the Lakers went back-to-back. Bryant was an 18-time All-Star, which ranks second behind solely Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's and LeBron James’ 19. He was chosen a then-record 18 straight occasions, each time as a starter. Four occasions Bryant was named the All-Star MVP, a report he shares with Bob Pettit. He was chosen to the All-NBA Team on 15 occasions, tied for essentially the most with Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan, and his 11 first-team honors are tied for the second-most with Karl Malone.

My father Joe “Jellybean” Bryant and my uncle John “Chubby” Cox had been Future League legends in their day. My father as a 6-10 level ahead and my uncle as a 6-4 point guard. Kobe died in a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. His daughter Gianna and 7 others also handed in the accident.

On February 15, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that the All-Star Game MVP Award can be renamed to the NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player in Bryant's honor. In May 2020, the Mamba Sports Academy was renamed to Sports Academy out of respect for Bryant. Bryant established a status for taking shots in the closing moments of tight games, even amid double or triple groups, and has been famous as being one of many premier closers in the NBA. In an annual survey of NBA basic managers, he was selected in 2012 for the 10th consecutive season because the player they most needed taking the shot with the sport on the line. Bryant enjoys being the villain, and revels in being booed and silencing the group with his play. Throughout his career, he has been disparaged for being a egocentric high-volume shooter; he has missed more field objective makes an attempt in his career than another participant in NBA history.

He has won the All-Star MVP Award 4 times , tying him for essentially the most All Star MVP Awards in NBA history. He is a 14-time member of the All-NBA staff and an 12-time member of the All-Defensive group; he is additionally the youngest player ever to obtain defensive honors. At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, he won gold medals as a member of the USA nationwide staff. In 2009, Sporting News and TNT named Bryant the top NBA participant of the 2000s . Tragedy struck the world of basketball and sport in general on 26 January 2020 when Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in California on the age of 41. All 9 people on board, including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, died within the crash.