After Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles on Sunday, and people saluted him, theScore looks back on the career and legacy of the NBA legend.
This article was originally published on April 13, 2016, just a few hours before Kobe Bryant dropped 60 points in his brilliant farewell game against the Utah Jazz.
After 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant Bryant's legendary NBA career finally ended Wednesday night.
With five NBA championships, two Finals MVP, 18 All-Star appearances and two scoring kings in his name, Bryant's resume is on the greatest list ever.
These are the 20 most memorable moments of a black mamba career:
20. Back to back
He wasn't the Lakers' best player in the 2001 NBA Finals, but Bryant still dominated the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 24.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, the second consecutive los Angeles title.
19. Nine consecutive wins with 40 points
After years as Robin of Batman (Robin) as Shabinle O'Neal, the Lakers finally looked like Kobe Bryant's team in the 2002-03 season. In February 2003, he was unable to defend his title, giving up at least 40 points in nine consecutive games.
18. Dwight University
Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard clashed when they became teammates in the 2012-13 season, but Bryant also didn't fare well with Howard early in his career, as he embarrassed him with a dunk in Howard's rookie season.
17. Conceded a three-pointer on the Supersonics
Bryant, who is not known as an elite three-point shooter, broke through three-pointers in 2003 to beat the then NBA record in the game against the Seattle Supersonics, three-pointers.
16. 1997 Slam Dunk Contest
Although Kobe Bryant is considered a deadly mid-range shooter, he was also one of the highest scorers early in his career. His ridiculous hops as a rookie won national attention, winning the 1997 dunk contest.
15. Final All-Star Game
In his 18th and final All-Star Game, Bryant was a favourite among Toronto's crowd. When he left the pitch, he received the most acclaim in the player introduction, a moving video montage, and a standing ovation.
14. The first champion
It wasn't his best Finals ever, but Bryant looked like a star early in his career, winning his first title in 2000 at just 22 years old.
13. Win his fourth All-Star Game MVP
Even in the All-Star Game, there is no friendly game like the black mamba. Kobe Bryant, who has the record for most career All-Star Game MVPs, won his fourth award in 2011, tied with NBA legend Bob Pettit.
12. Beijing Gold
On a team of All-Stars and Future Hall of Famers, Bryant played Alpha Dog in the 2008 Olympic Running Event in the United States, leading the "Cash Team" to gold.
11. No. 5
After losing to the Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals, Bryant got revenge just two years later when he gathered his illustrious career. Relative to those same Celtics' fifth championship. The victory also gave Bibi's highly competitive Kobe Bryant one more ring than his former teammate and rival Shaker.
10. Gaze at Matt Barnes
Bryant's reputation as a cold-blooded Assassin has never been as real as it was against the Orlando Magic in the 2009-10 regular season. Matt Barnes, the magic swinger of the time, pretended to throw the ball in his face, much to Kobe's uneasiness. With Kobe staring at him, Barnes' attempt to reach for Kobe's head couldn't have gotten any worse.
9. 1998 All-Star Game
At the age of 19, Bryant played his first All-Star Game, but he didn't back down. Bryant even played michael Jordan, contributing 18 points to the West.
8. Three peas
Shaq may have won the Finals MVP award during the Lakers' dynasty in the early 2000s, but Bryant has become more important in each of the past years. In the 2002 NBA Finals, Bryant averaged 26.8 points per game against the New Jersey Nets, the best result of Bryant's career in the Finals at the time — and Los Angeles rose to a triple crown.
7. Achilles made two deadly free throws
On April 12, 2013, Bryant showed the world that even a devastating leg injury could not stop him. Bryant, who tore Achilles tendons behind, calmly sank into the game in a late-game free throw to tie the Golden State Warriors, which the Lakers won.
6. Hutong
The Portland Trail Blazers advanced to Game 7, Fourth Quarter of the Western Conference Finals with a 13-point lead, destined for the 2000 NBA Finals. That all changed when the Lakers, led by young Kobe Bryant, hit back violently. Los Angeles beat Portland 31-13 in the fourth quarter, and Bryant blocked Shaq's comeback with a beautiful alley pass that left the Temples Center wobbly.
5. Defeat the buzzer of the sun
Phoenix eventually won the first-round series against the Lakers in 2006 after a 3-1 defeat, but Bryant's late-stage heroism pushed the 54-win Suns to the brink. In Game 4, the Lakers' score dropped by one point, allowing Bryant to pass the ball to Bryant and the Black Mamba to play magic with a mid-range buzzer.
4. Game 4 of the 2000 NBA Finals
While Bryant has shown his ability to be a great NBA player, his performance in Game 4 of the 2000 NBA Finals has made him know he's destined to be a star. After Shaq fouled to help Los Angeles take a 3-1 lead and break the series start, Bryant scored 28 points and took over the game.
3. The last MVP
Although Shaq led the Lakers almost single-handedly after leaving in the 2003-04 season, it took Kobe some time to make money for his personal efforts. Ultimately, in 2007-08, Bryant won his first and only MVP award.
2. No First Championship of Shaq
Although Bryant scored ahead of the league in back-to-back seasons, Bryant has been criticized for failing to win the title without winning Shake. Everything changed in June 2009, when Bryant won his first Finals MVP after beating the Orlando Magic in five games.
1. 81 points
With Smush Parker, Kwame Brown and Chris Mihm as regular Lakers starters, Bryant was often forced to take on los Angeles scoring responsibilities in 2005-06. In particular, on Jan. 22, 2006, Bryant dropped 81 points against the Toronto Raptors and cemented his position as one of the greatest players in NBA history.