He performed almost the entire following season however again struggled, with a career-low .358 taking pictures proportion whereas averaging 17.6 points per game, and he retired following the final regular-season recreation of the 2015–16 season. The Lakers in 2012–13 acquired center Dwight Howard and point guard Steve Nash. On November 2, 2012, Bryant scored forty factors with two steals, and he passed Magic Johnson because the Lakers career leader in steals. However, the Lakers lost the sport to the Clippers and began the season 0–3 for the first time in 34 years and just the fourth time in franchise historical past. After starting the season 1–4, coach Mike Brown was fired.

Bryant’s dying despatched shockwaves through the American sporting world. Bryant was an avid helicopter commuter who started using this novel transport technique throughout his Los Angeles Lakers days. Unfortunately, this time one thing went badly incorrect. According to eyewitnesses, the helicopter's engine had began "sputtering" earlier than taking place.

After finishing 50–32 in the regular season, the Lakers floundered in the playoffs and lost in the Western Conference semi-finals in six games to the eventual NBA champions San Antonio Spurs. The son of former NBA player Joe Bryant, he was born in Philadelphia and partly raised in Italy. As a rookie, Bryant earned a popularity as a high-flyer by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, and was named an All-Star by his second season.

He also gained the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1997 and was its youngest winner. In his profession, Bryant scored 40-plus factors in 121 video games, and 21 times he recorded a triple-double. Bryant enjoying in opposition to Gary Neal of the Washington Wizards after announcing his forthcoming retirement, 2015After recovering to play in the 2015–16 preseason, Bryant suffered a calf damage and missed the ultimate two weeks of exhibition video games.

He remained the league's highest-paid participant, although he accepted a reduced deal; he had been eligible to receive an extension starting at $32 million per yr. Bryant resumed taking part in on December eight after missing the season's first 19 video games. On December 17, Bryant matched his season high of 21 factors in a 96–92 win over Memphis, but he suffered a lateral tibial plateau fracture in his left knee that was anticipated to sideline him for six weeks. He had played six video games since returning from his Achilles harm, which included time at point guard after accidents to Nash, Steve Blake, and Jordan Farmar. Bryant was averaging 13.8 factors, 6.three assists, and 4.three rebounds.

Kobe Bufkin hugs household and friends after being chosen 15th total by the Atlanta Hawks during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York. "It's by no means affected me an excessive amount of in relation to enjoying ball," stated Bufkin, who was born in 2003. Brown is in Summer League with the Los Angeles Clippers. Bufkin is coming into his rookie year with the Atlanta Hawks. Both have been named for Bryant, who — for now — is the one player named Kobe to make it to the NBA.

Over the course of the season, Bryant grew to become concerned in a number of on-court incidents. On January 28 while trying to draw contact on a potential game-winning bounce shot, he flailed his arm, hanging San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginóbili within the face along with his elbow. The foundation given for the suspension was that Bryant had carried out an "unnatural movement" in swinging his arm backward.

Bryant was already coaching Gianna on the youth level—they have been on their way to a recreation that tragic day on January 26, 2020. If he ever wanted to show the game to others, at any stage, he might have made a fabulous coach. I vividly bear in mind Kobe sitting round eating french fries and speaking basketball as a little child. When we might be on the shootaround before the sport, Kobe can be trying to heat up with us. I’m not talking like, you realize, shagging rebounds, like a ball boy or whatever. I’m speaking, this kid was within the layup line like he was on the team.