He then retired from the league and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. As it stands now, Durant is thirteenth all-time in NBA scoring at 26,892 factors at 34 years old and has led the NBA in scoring on four totally different occasions. He’s also the youngest scoring champion ever after his impressive 2009–10 campaign when he led all scorers at just 21 years old. Kobe Bryant wrote a 2017 piece for The Players Tribune entitled "Obsession is Natural".

Receive a MyPLAYER gamerplate and a pair of additional MyTEAM Promo Packs when you order by way of the PlayStation Store. Kobe's mom's brother, John Cox, additionally played in the NBA. At the time of the writing of this text he was third on the all-time NBA scoring listing.

According to Arn Tellem, Bryant's agent at the time, Bryant enjoying for the Charlotte Hornets was "an impossibility". However, Bill Branch, the Hornets' head scout at the time, stated that the Hornets agreed to commerce their draft selection to the Los Angeles Lakers before choosing Bryant. The groups agreed to the trade the day earlier than the draft and the Lakers advised the Hornets whom to select five minutes earlier than the choose was made.

In Game four, Bryant scored 22 factors in the second half, and led the staff to an OT victory as O'Neal fouled out of the game. Bryant scored the winning shot to place the Lakers forward 120–118. With a 116–111 Game 6 victory, the Lakers gained their first championship since 1988.

The following day, Bryant declined a proposal to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers and re-signed with the Lakers on a seven-year contract. The announcement drew a robust response, significantly from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "With 17 NBA All-Star alternatives, an NBA MVP, 5 NBA championships with the Lakers, two Olympic gold medals and a relentless work ethic, Kobe Bryant is amongst the greatest players in the historical past of our recreation," Silver mentioned in an announcement. "Whether competing within the finals or hoisting bounce shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the sport."

Hadn’t that been the point of their final month together? Editing his story and, by extension, the story of the Eagles’ season. He had crafted a plan for the remainder of his career—serve as an elite backup if he by no means regained the starting function; benefit from any spot obligation; graduate, in part to open up switch options; excel; NFL; world domination. When Tua harm both ankles within the SEC championship game in opposition to Georgia, Hurts came in and sparked a comeback. Kobe befriended common of us, writers, directors, celebrities. Kobe woke up early, tried new things, excelled at every little thing.

What happened in return was a shift within the Drew League’s recognition, saving the league. Dino Smiley informed Yahoo Sports in 2016 that he had deliberate on the 2011 season being the final. The responsibilities as commissioner had begun to take a toll on him. She mentioned that when safety tried to get Bryant out of the game early, he told them no. Bryant wished to play until the top and end the game. Bryant’s game-winner nonetheless lives on within the minds of everyone that’s been around the Drew League.

Maybe Del lastly heard me, as a end result of Kobe checked in before the end of the half. The Los Angeles Lakers legend is seen soaring on the Kobe Bryant Edition cover, whereas the Black Mamba Edition has a close-up shot of him from later in his profession. In high school, Bryant was a member of a rap group known as CHEIZAW, named after the Chi Sah gang within the martial arts film Kid with the Golden Arm. The group was signed by Sony Entertainment, but the company's ultimate objective was to remove the group and have Bryant record on his personal. The label wished to capitalize on Bryant's youth and NBA fame.