Kobe Bryant has scored more points than any Los Angeles Laker in NBA history. Getty
Kobe Bryant’s NBA career is set to come to an end on Wednesday night at Staples Center when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Utah Jazz. The future Hall of Famer will conclude the worst season of his career, but Bryant’s accomplishments in his 20 seasons are more impressive than what almost any NBA player has ever done.
Bryant will walk away from the game having set multiple NBA records, while ranking near the top of numerous statistical categories. In addition to his prowess on the court, Bryant’s background and journey to the NBA are also notable.
Below are 50 interesting facts about Bryant.
Born Kobe Bean Bryant on Aug. 23, 1978
Listed at 6'6, 212 pounds
Was raised Roman Catholic
Named after Kobe beef, when his parents saw it on a restaurant menu
He is the son of Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, who played in the NBA from 1975-1983 with the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers and Houston Rockets
Joe Bryant moved the family to Italy, where he played from 1984 to 1991
Kobe has two older sisters: Sharia and Shaya
He's fluent in Italian
Grew up playing both basketball and soccer, and a fan of Barcelona and AC Milan
Has appeared in Turkish Airline commercials with Barcelona star Lionel Messi
His endorsement deal with Turkish Airlines sparked protest from Armenian Americans in Los Angeles, a city with a largest ethnic Armenian community outside of Armenia
Attended Lower Merion High School, a public school in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, and took Brandy Norwood to his senior prom
Was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996 at age 17
The Lakers drafted Kobe before the signed free-agent center Shaquille O'Neal
The Lakers traded Vlade Divac to the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 13 overall pick to draft Kobe
Kobe reportedly told the New Jersey Nets that he didn't want to play for them
Won the 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Tossed up three airballs in the final minute of overtime in a loss to the Utah Jazz in Game 5 of the 1997 Western Conference Semifinals
Finished second to Danny Manning for the 1998 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, averaging 15.4 points per game in his second season
In 1999, declared himself "a Laker for life," after signing a $70 million deal that ran through the 2004-2005 season
Feuded with O'Neal, which resulted in a trade that sent O'Neal to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom and other players
Signed endorsement deals with Adidas, Sprite, and McDonald's,among others
In 2003, was arrested for sexual assault in Eagle, Colorado. The case was later dropped.
Scored a career-high 81 points on Jan. 22, 2006 against the Toronto Raptors. It was the highest point total since Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in 1962.
Averaged 35.4 points per game in 2005-2006, good for eighth-best in a single NBA season
Kobe changed his number from No.8 to No.24 in the 2006 offseason.
Kobe was almost traded to the Chicago Bulls in 2007
Won the scoring title in 2006 and 2007
Won the 2008 NBA MVP award and back-to-back NBA Finals MVP awards in 2009 and 2010
In 2013, a family feud ensued over auctioning Kobe's memorabilia. He later reached a settlement with the auction house after his mother, Pamela, sold $1.5 million worth of items, allegedly without his permission
Kobe is the only player in NBA history to play 20 seasons and only play for one team
Earned over $480,000 for every game he played in his final two seasons
Kobe ranks second among active players in career earnings at $323,312,307
Won five championships in seven NBA Finals appearances
Averaged 27.3 points per game against the Portland Trail Blazers, his career-high against any team
Ranks one spot ahead of Michael Jordan for third on the all-time scoring list and behind leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone
Kobe is 12th all time in points per game, ranking behind Kevin Durant and LeBron James on the active list
Ranks 11th all time in three-pointers made
Will end his career ranked 12th with 1,346 regular-season games played
Ranks fifth all time with 220 playoff games played
Played 148 games off the bench, averaging 11.8 points per game
Kobe is sandwiched in between Jerry West and Tony Parker for 29th on the all-time assists list
Kobe has scored at least 60 points on five different occasions
Scored at least 50 points 25 times
Was named to the All-NBA First Team 11 times
Shares the record with Bob Pettit with four All-Star MVP awards (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011)
A nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection
