“I suppose Kobe was extra like a gymnast, you know, when he played, and Mike was more like […] you know a ballet dance because you realize what more often than not he performs on his toes. When he does everything it’s all the time like increase boom of a sudden one-two punch,” Rodman added. Bryant had famously travelled by helicopters for years. He routinely flew from Newport Beach, California to Los Angeles Stapes Center in his Sikorsky S-76 chopper when he played for the L.A.

“There’s no such thing as having a steadiness,” Prescott said about his takeaway from the studying. “Your balance is how a lot you care for what you’re doing, your concentrate on what you’re doing. The method you steadiness that's catching a break when you'll be able to.

The picture of Bryant being less than “thrilled” with the not-so-maniacal work ethic of a teammate has become the middle of his persona. Though he won't ever usurp the greatness of Michael Jordan within the public consciousness, he has doubtless already surpassed MJ when it comes to the terror and antipathy he instills in those who play alongside him. His legacy is suffering from the corpses of slackers who couldn't match his commitment, particularly underachievers of surprising size . It has turn out to be well-liked to counsel that his ego—and his two-year, $48.5 million contract—are now actively hurting the franchise.

At the identical time, the Hornets wanted a middle, so West noticed that as an ideal opportunity to unload Vlade Divac’s salary in exchange for the 13th choose, which was the primary exterior of the lottery, saving much more cash to signal O’Neal. Greg Thomas, the president of Visual Concepts, which developed the sport, stated in a press release that the decision was made to honor Bryant's "impact" on the game of basketball. The Kobe Bryant Edition will feature the Lakers legend leaping through the air in his No. 8 jersey. The Black Mamba Edition will feature Bryant in his No. 24 uniform. Both versions of the game might be obtainable for buy later this yr.

At the time of his announcement, he was second on the group in minutes (30.8) behind Jordan Clarkson and main the group with sixteen.7 area objective makes an attempt per recreation, while averaging just 15.7 points and taking pictures a career-low 31.5 percent. In his press conference after the announcement, he acknowledged his declining skills. "Even though I play like shit, I’ve worked really, actually hard not to play like crap and I do everything I possibly can. And I feel good about that", he said.

On December 23, 2007, Bryant grew to become the youngest participant to achieve 20,000 factors, in a game in opposition to the New York Knicks, in Madison Square Garden. In the next 2003–04 season, the Lakers were in a position to acquire NBA All-Stars Karl Malone, and Gary Payton to make another push at the NBA Championship. Before the season began, Bryant was arrested for sexual assault. This brought on Bryant to overlook some games because of courtroom appearances or attend court docket earlier in the day and travel to play video games later in identical day. Bryant made two buzzer beaters to win the sport and the Pacific Division title. At the tip of the fourth quarter, Bryant made a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to ship it into extra time.

The son of former NBA participant Joe Bryant, he declared for the 1996 NBA draft after commencement, and was chosen by the Charlotte Hornets with the thirteenth total choose; the Hornets then traded him to the Lakers. As a rookie, Bryant earned a popularity as a high-flyer and a fan favourite by successful the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, and he was named an All-Star by his second season. Despite a feud with teammate Shaquille O'Neal, the pair led the Lakers to a few consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002.

The basis given for the suspension was that Bryant had performed an "unnatural motion" in swinging his arm backwards. Later, on March 6, he seemed to repeat the motion, this time striking Minnesota Timberwolves guard Marko Jarić. On March 7, the NBA handed Bryant his second one-game suspension. In his first recreation again on March 9, he elbowed Kyle Korver within the face which was retroactively re-classified as a Type 1 flagrant foul. In the 2002–03 season, Bryant set an NBA report for three-pointers on January 7, 2003, making 12 in opposition to the Seattle SuperSonics. He averaged 30 factors per sport and launched into a historic run, posting forty or more points in nine consecutive video games whereas averaging forty.6 in the complete month of February.