Editing Kobe Bryant (section)

== Professional Career ==

=== NBA Draft and Early Lakers Years (1996-1999) ===
Bryant entered the 1996 NBA draft directly from high school, becoming only the sixth player in NBA history to do so. He was selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets but was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a pre-arranged deal. At age 18, Bryant became the youngest player ever to appear in an NBA game.

=== Championship Years (2000-2002) ===
Under coach Phil Jackson's guidance, Bryant and teammate Shaquille O'Neal formed one of the most dominant duos in NBA history, leading the Lakers to three consecutive championships (2000-2002). During this period, Bryant emerged as one of the league's premier players, earning All-Star and All-NBA team selections while developing his reputation as an elite two-way player.

=== Individual Achievement and Later Championships (2003-2010) ===
After O'Neal's departure in 2004, Bryant became the Lakers' undisputed leader. He led the NBA in scoring in 2006 and 2007, including a remarkable 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006—the second-highest single-game point total in NBA history. Bryant won his only NBA MVP award in 2008 and led the Lakers to two more championships in 2009 and 2010, earning Finals MVP honors both times.

=== Final Years and Retirement (2011-2016) ===
Bryant's later career was marked by several significant injuries, including a torn Achilles tendon in 2013. Despite these setbacks, he continued to achieve milestones, including becoming the NBA's third all-time leading scorer. He announced his retirement in November 2015 through a poem titled "Dear Basketball" and played his final game on April 13, 2016, scoring 60 points against the Utah Jazz.