Once once more, Bryant led the team in assists, with five per recreation. The Lakers, nonetheless, solely won fifty six video games, an 11-game dropoff from the earlier 12 months. The Lakers would reply by going 15–1 in the playoffs. They easily swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. In the semifinals round, the Lakers swept the Sacramento Kings. In Game 4 in opposition to the Kings, Bryant recorded forty eight factors, sixteen rebounds and 3 assists in a 119–113 series-clinching win.

Receive a MyPLAYER gamerplate and a pair of further MyTEAM Promo Packs if you order through the PlayStation Store. Kobe's mom's brother, John Cox, additionally performed within the NBA. At the time of the writing of this article he was third on the all-time NBA scoring listing.

Bryant was picked 13th general in the same draft, whereas Iverson was selected first general by Kobe's hometown Sixers. Not that he was jealous of AI, however Bryant was a player who never wished anyone to get the better of him. As his last season drew to a detailed, followers merely wanted a last probability to see him.

After years of regular improvement, Bryant became one of many premier taking pictures guards within the league, incomes appearances within the league's All-NBA, All-Star, and All-Defensive groups. The Los Angeles Lakers grew to become true championship contenders underneath Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, who fashioned a legendary center-guard mixture. Jackson utilized the triangle offense he used to win six championships with the Chicago Bulls, which might help both Bryant and O'Neal rise to the elite class of the NBA.

Bryant was additionally a 12-time All-Defensive Team selection, trailing solely Duncan's 15, and 9 instances he was named to the All-Defensive First Team, tied with Jordan, Garnett, and Gary Payton for the most all time. He was the primary guard to play 20 seasons in the NBA. He also won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1997 and was its youngest winner. In his career, Bryant scored 40-plus points in 121 games, and 21 occasions he recorded a triple-double.

In 2011, Bryant was featured in Taiwanese singer Jay Chou's single "The Heaven and Earth Challenge" (天地一鬥, pronounced "Tian Di Yi Dou"). Not to be confused with the American soccer player Coby Bryant.

In addition, he averaged 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and a pair of.2 steals per game, all career-highs to that time. Bryant was once once more voted to each the All-NBA and All-Defensive First Teams, and got here in third place in voting for the MVP award. After finishing 50–32 within the regular season, the Lakers floundered within the playoffs and lost within the Western Conference semi-finals in six games to the eventual NBA champions San Antonio Spurs.

On January eleven, 2013, Bryant and his spouse each introduced by way of social media that that they had referred to as off their divorce. In early December 2016, Vanessa gave delivery to their third daughter, and in January 2019 the Bryants introduced they have been anticipating a fourth daughter. Bryant was within the constructing and working on his debut album. The two began courting and became engaged six months later in May 2000, while Laine was nonetheless a senior at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California.