Player Spotlight : Kobe Bean Bryant

7 years ago today, I was lucky enough to witness history in the making. The Los Angeles Lakers were hosting the Toronto Raptors for a regular season match up. Few people imagined that Kobe Bryant (at the time aged 27) would set an NBA record, scoring a breathtaking 81 points, in just 42 minutes. His scoring performance was the best seen in the NBA since March 2nd, 1962 when Wilt Chamberlain dropped 100 points against New York. If you haven't seen any footage of this game, you should definitely check it out. It is very unlikely that we will witness such a game ever again. So, to celebrate the seventh anniversary of this milestone, I've decided to take a small look at the life and times (so far) of Kobe Bean Bryant.

Kobe Bryant was born in Philadelphia, on the 23rd of August, 1978. He was the only son (he had two older sisters) of Philadelphia's Joe "Jellybean" Bryant. From a young age, Kobe loved basketball, playing from three years old. His grandfather sent him NBA tapes, which Kobe would enjoy watching and studying. Funnily enough, Kobe's favorite team was the Lakers. From six years of age, he grew up in Italy, after his father left the NBA and moved there to continue playing basketball. In the summer months, Kobe would return to America to play basketball in a summer league. The Bryant family stayed in Italy until 1991, when Joe retired from basketball, moving the family back to America.

His passion for basketball carried on into his teenage years, playing on his high school's team in Lower Merion, Philadelphia. During his junior year as a player he averaged 31.1 ppg, 10.4 rpg and 5.2 apg, being named player of the year in the process. In his senior year, the Aces (Lower Merion's team) won their first championship in 53 years. Kobe averaged 30.8 ppg, 12 prg, 6.5 apg, 4 spg and 3.8 bpg. Kobe ended his high school career with a total of 2,883 points (more than Wilt Chamberlain) Just about every college in America was ready to recruit Kobe : North Carolina, Duke, Villanova and Michigan were at the top of his list, however Kobe was considering heading straight to the NBA. Bryant was picked 13th overall in the NBA draft of 1996, being selected by the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets had previously agreed to trade their draft selection to the Lakers, who requested Bryant be selected. In return, the Hornets received center Vlade Divac.



Too look into Kobe's stellar career with any detail would take days, if not weeks. We all know what a great player he has been, continuing to improve every single year. The Lakers haven't missed the playoffs since drafting him, with the exception of his rookie year in 1996. Kobe has led his team to 5 championships, including a threepeat in the years 2000-2002. In the years 2005-2007, he was the league's leading scorer, and in 2008, he was awarded the MVP title. He has been selected to 14 All-NBA teams, 12 All-Defensive teams and has played in 15 All-Star games, winning the All-Star MVP award 4 times (2002, 2007, 2009 and 2011). Slam Dunk contest winner in 1997. Not to mention he was the youngest player ever to reach 30,000 career points.

Even though Kobe and the Lakers are struggling this season (17-24, 12th in the west) no one can deny Kobe Bryant was, and still is, one of the greatest NBA players of all time. I don't expect to see Kobe win anymore rings or titles between now and his retirement, but with a player like Kobe, anything is possible.