The duo of O'Neal and Bryant backed with a powerful bench led to the Lakers successful 67 games, tied for fifth-most in NBA historical past. This adopted with O'Neal winning the MVP and Bryant being named to the All-NBA Team Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team for the first time in his profession . While taking part in second fiddle to O'Neal in the playoffs, Bryant had some clutch performances together with a 25-point, eleven rebound, 7 help, 4 block recreation in recreation 7 of the Western Conference finals in opposition to the Portland Trail Blazers. He also threw an alley-oop move to O'Neal to clinch the sport and the sequence. In the 2000 NBA Finals in opposition to the Indiana Pacers, Bryant injured his ankle in the second quarter of Game 2 after landing on the Pacers' Jalen Rose's foot.

The solely other Laker to do so was Elgin Baylor, who also scored 50+ in three consecutive contests in December 1962. Bryant completed the 12 months with a complete of ten 50-plus point games, matched solely by Chamberlain. Bryant additionally received his second straight scoring title that season.

In that sequence, Bryant averaged 22.6 points per recreation and four.4 assists. Jackson's contract as coach was not renewed, and Rudy Tomjanovich took over. O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant. The following day, Bryant declined a suggestion to signal with the Los Angeles Clippers and re-signed with the Lakers on a seven-year contract.

Bryant's parents had been opposed to the marriage for a quantity of reasons. Following his demise, on February 15, 2020, commissioner Adam Silver announced that the NBA All-Star Game MVP Award could be renamed to the NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player in honor of Bryant. The Lakers completed the season at 45-37, good for seventh in the West. Playing with out Bryant, the Lakers have been swept in four video games by the San Antonio Spurs. Kobe, while human and due to this fact flawed, was an anomaly of types, breaking stereotypes and crossing borders.

When Ryan broke his leg in 2018, he walked off the sector like Kobe walked off the court—though Ryan mentioned he was not channeling his idol on function. Once he obtained to the sideline, they advised him it was broken. It’s unimaginable to separate Bryant’s creation of the Black Mamba with what happened in 2003 and 2004.

Despite all that trash speak and throwing the paddle down at game's finish, he is not a sore loser, even to the 5'9" guy whose job is to do walk-off interviews celebrating him. Trudell retains preying on Bryant's weak backhand, nonetheless. Someone has referred to as next, but when the sport ends, Bryant does not budge.

This marks Bryant’s fourth time on the duvet of an “NBA 2K” recreation. Bryant also appeared initially of the In Memoriam phase of the 92nd Academy Awards, having gained an Oscar in 2018, and Spike Lee wore a swimsuit in tribute to him on the ceremony. He was not included within the montages on the 2020 VMAs and Emmys, held later in the yr.

On January 10, 2012, Bryant scored 48 points in opposition to the Suns, essentially the most ever by a participant in his 16th season. "Not unhealthy for the seventh-best player in the league," stated Bryant, referring to a preseason ESPN ranking of the NBA's high gamers. He went on to score 40, 42, and 42 in his subsequent three games. It was the sixth time in his profession he scored 40 or extra points in 4 straight video games, a feat exceeded only by Wilt Chamberlain . At the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, Bryant scored 27 factors to pass Michael Jordan because the career scoring chief within the All-Star Game.