In 2008 and once more in 2016, ESPN ranked him the second best capturing guard of all-time after Jordan. Players together with Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, and Derrick Rose have known as Bryant their generation's version of Jordan.The Press-Enterprisedescribed Bryant as "perhaps the best Laker within the organization's history". He is the Lakers' all-time main scorer, and his 5 titles are tied for probably the most in franchise historical past. In the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz in five video games and the Houston Rockets in seven games in the opening two rounds. After finishing off the Denver Nuggets in the Conference Finals in six games, the Lakers earned their second straight journey to the NBA Finals the place they defeated the Orlando Magic in 5 video games. Bryant was awarded his first NBA Finals MVP trophy upon successful his fourth championship, reaching series averages of 32.4 points, 7.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks.

The accuser acknowledged that Bryant raped her in his lodge room the night earlier than Bryant was to have the procedure. Bryant admitted to an adulterous sexual encounter along with his accuser, but denied her sexual assault allegation. In his interview with police, Bryant also acknowledged a "frequent" adulterous sexual relationship with one other woman named "Michelle" on the time. Bryant scored a career excessive of 81-points against the Toronto Raptors in Staples Center, second-highest single scoring efficiency in NBA history, surpassed solely by Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point recreation in 1962.

On November 30, 2014, in a 129–122 overtime victory towards the Toronto Raptors, Bryant recorded his twentieth career triple-double with 31 points, 12 assists and eleven rebounds. At age 36, he became the oldest NBA player to ever obtain 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a recreation. On December 14, Bryant grew to become the NBA's third all-time leading scorer, passing Jordan in a 100–94 win in opposition to Minnesota.

With career averages of 25.zero points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.four steals per sport, he is thought-about one of the complete gamers in NBA historical past. He was the primary player in NBA historical past to have at least 30,000 profession points and 6,000 profession assists, and is certainly one of only four gamers with 25,000 factors, 6,000 rebounds and 6,000 assists. Bryant led the NBA in scoring during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons.His 81-point efficiency in opposition to Toronto in 2006 was the second-highest in NBA history, behind only Chamberlain's one hundred. He has scored a minimal of 50 points 24 occasions in his profession, which is third in league historical past behind Jordan and Chamberlain ; six times Bryant scored no much less than 60.

Despite being sidelined, he was voted by fans to begin in his 16th All-Star sport. Bryant did not feel he was deserving of the choice, and some likened it to a career achievement award for his previous efficiency. However, he missed taking part in in the recreation, nonetheless hampered by his knee. On March 12, 2014, the Lakers dominated Bryant out for the remainder of the season, citing his need for more rehab and the limited time remaining within the season.

In the airline's latest industrial, the duo competes to win the attention of a young boy. In 2013, Forbes listed Bryant the fifth highest paid sports activities star in the world behind Floyd Mayweather, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James and Lionel Messi. According to Forbes, Bryant's $680 million in profession earnings was the most ever by a staff athlete during their taking half in career. Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, obtained the Eucharist together simply hours earlier than they died. Before the 1996 NBA draft, Bryant had labored out in Los Angeles, the place he scrimmaged towards former Lakers gamers Larry Drew and Michael Cooper and, in accordance with then-Laker basic manager Jerry West, "marched over these folks".

He was accused of sexual assault in 2003, a charge which he settled out of court—the episode cost him a few of his most profitable sponsorship deals, however he retained his standing as one of the wealthiest and most beloved American athletes. In addition to his long playing career, Bryant was recognized for his philanthropy and several enterprise ventures and film tasks . With the Lakers fighting to safe the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference, coupled with accidents on the team, Bryant started playing almost all 48 minutes every game. On April 10, 2013, Bryant turned the primary player in NBA history to get forty seven factors, eight rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and three steals in an NBA sport.

When I obtained traded to the Lakers in ’97, Kobe Bryant was only a rookie. We would play this capturing game every day after follow. It was me, Kobe, Brian Shaw, Mitch Richmond and Kurt Rambis. We would get to apply the subsequent day and sure sufficient, Kobe would already be there taking pictures nothing but threes.