He has received the All-Star MVP Award four occasions , tying him for 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 team; he's also the youngest player ever to receive defensive honors. At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, he won gold medals as a member of the USA nationwide team. In 2009, Sporting News and TNT named Bryant the top NBA participant of the 2000s . Tragedy struck the world of basketball and sport generally on 26 January 2020 when Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in California on the age of 41.

Lakers star Kobe Bryant stands next to educate Phil Jackson during a playoff game in opposition to the Phoenix Suns in April 2006. Los Angeles Lakers Karl Malone, left, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Shaquille O’Neal before their preseason opener with the Los Angeles Clippers. It was Bryant’s first recreation since sexual assault charges were filed in opposition to him in Colorado. Kobe Bryant, along with his wife, Vanessa, at his facet, holds a information conference at Staples Center in 2003 to debate accusations by a 19-year-old Colorado lady that he sexually assaulted her. He conceded he was responsible of adultery, but he declared he was harmless of charges of felonious sexual assault. Kobe Bryant is swarmed by teammates Derek Fisher, Rick Fox and Shaquille O’Neal as he heads to the foul line in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

He trails solely Kevin Garnett, however LeBron James is catching up rapidly. Both had been named for Bryant, who -- for now -- is the only player named Kobe to make it to the NBA. LAS VEGAS -- There’s Kobe, wearing the uniform of a team from Los Angeles.

Late NBA Hall of Famer and former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant has been named the quilt athlete for NBA 2K24, the online game publisher introduced Thursday. A majority of the feedback, however, has been heartening. Commenters have mentioned they’ve watched it dozens of time or more, and gone out to the courts to follow.

Speakers at the service included Vanessa, Jordan, and O'Neal, together with Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi and Geno Auriemma, Taurasi's coach at Connecticut, the place Gianna had been aspiring to play. The Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, and the FBI launched investigations into the crash. The reason for the crash was onerous to analyze, because the helicopter was not geared up with a black field. Over a yr after the crash, on February 9, 2021, the NTSB declared that pilot Ara Zobayan in all probability turned disoriented after flying into thick clouds. The five board members also said Zobayan, who also died in the crash, ignored his coaching and violated federal laws during the 40-minute flight.

For one, I couldn’t fairly believe that Bryant was doing this. Here he was, in his absolute prime—he was coming off an MVP season and about to win the primary of another repeat pair of NBA titles—and he was all in. I felt much less nervous than stuck in an excitable fog, figuring out that we had something good. Kobe Bryant’s free-throw-shooting approach can be simply as relevant in 2023, and past, as it would be in 2009. Parents might watch the video with their kids, and their youngsters would watch with their kids, and so forth. Bryant is the second-highest-paid NBA participant ever, with $323 million in career wage.

Midway through his career, in July 2003, Bryant was accused of rape by a lodge employee. The criminal case, which drew national attention when salacious details have been leaked, was finally dropped after the woman refused to testify. In an ensuing civil suit, Bryant settled and apologized without admitting his guilt. Lakers legend Kobe Bryant died when the helicopter he was traveling in crashed into a hillside in Calabasas shortly before 10 a.m. The NBA wasn’t convinced that any player, regardless of how sensational or gifted, might leap immediately from highschool to the massive leagues.

However, it was not for something basketball related, somewhat it was about Bryant being a giant fan of FC Barcelona. CNN estimated Bryant's endorsement deals in 2007 to be price $16 million a yr. In 2010, Bryant was ranked third behind Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan in Forbes‍ '​ record of the world's highest-paid athletes with $48 million. He stated his religion and a priest helped him via tough occasions, such because the period following his accusation of rape. A Catholic cantor mentioned she was inspired by Bryant's religion, and the respect that he showed her. Bryant and his household were common attendees at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Newport Beach.