Criminal costs were later dropped after the accuser didn't testify, and a lawsuit was settled out of courtroom, with Bryant issuing a public apology and admitting to a sexual encounter he maintained was consensual. The accusation briefly tarnished Bryant's popularity, ensuing within the loss of a quantity of of his endorsement contracts. The four-time NBA champion was asked in regards to the 23rd anniversary of Bryant’s excellent ally-oop to O’Neal in the course of the 2000 Western Conference Finals. “Shaq Diesel” and the crew watched footage of the iconic play earlier than sharing thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers’ comeback win over the Portland Trailblazers that 12 months. Shaquille O’Neal reminisced on his days playing with Kobe Bryant throughout Game 2 of the 2023 NBA Finals.

If you watch him walk, he would ooze Michael Jordan. The means he answered the question, the way he moves his physique. With a starting lineup of O'Neal, Malone, Payton, and Bryant, the Lakers have been in a place to reach the NBA Finals. However, they had been upset in five games by the Detroit Pistons, who received their first championship since 1990.

For the NBA 2K21 soundtrack, Damian Lillard, under his stage name Dame D.O.L.L.A., launched a tribute monitor also titled "Kobe," that includes Snoop Dogg and Derrick Milano. In 2011, Bryant was featured in Taiwanese singer Jay Chou's single "The Heaven and Earth Challenge" (天地一鬥, pronounced "Tian Di Yi Dou"). Not to be confused with the American football participant Coby Bryant.

When the elder Bryant and his spouse, Pam, had a son on Aug. 23, 1978, they named him after the town in Japan. Kobe Bryant shares a laugh along with his daughter Gianna while attending a women’s basketball game between Long Beach State and Oregon on Dec. 14, 2019. Kobe Bryant is congratulated by teammates after passing Michael Jordan on the NBA’s all-time scoring record during a game in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 14, 2014. Kobe Bryant walks off the courtroom with his spouse, Vanessa, and daughter Natalia after scoring a career-high 81 factors in a Lakers win over the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center on Jan. 22, 2006. Despite Jason Kidd’s hand in his face, Kobe Bryant puts up the successful shot within the Lakers’ victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Arena. Kobe Bryant drives past Chris Webber in Game four of the first spherical of the 2000 Western Conference playoffs at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

The single debuted in January 2000, and was carried out at NBA All-Star Weekend that month; the music was not properly received. Sony abandoned plans for the album, which was never released, and dropped Bryant later that year. The Sony president who originally signed Bryant had already left, and Bryant's different backers had largely deserted him.

For every heart that was broken on Jan. 26 by the information, many more have been impressed. And very like one other West Coast icon gone too quickly, Nipsey Hussle, Kobe’s death delivered to gentle what characteristics makes one legendary. Given that they’re both first-rounders, Bufkin and Brown look like locks to be in the NBA when the model new season opens this fall. Bufkin was drafted No. 15 total out of Michigan by the Hawks – and also has a brother named for an NBA player in Isaiah Thomas. The Clippers chosen Brown at No. 30 overall out of Missouri. Saved By the Bell's Josie Totah and Alycia Pascual-Peña seemed again on the "surreal" moment they discovered Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash as they mentioned the revival's pilot episode.

His protection disrupted opponents and freed Nash from unfavorable matchups. After starting the season 1–4, coach Brown was fired. On December 18, in a 101–100 win over the Charlotte Bobcats, Bryant scored 30+ points in his seventh consecutive sport, the longest streak by an NBA player after turning 34 years old; it was the fourth-longest such streak in his career. Derek Fisher and Bryant with President Barack Obama through the White House go to honoring the Lakers' 2009 championshipIn early September 2008, Bryant decided not to have surgical procedure to restore his right pinkie. In the 2008–09 season, the Lakers opened the campaign by profitable their first seven video games.

He has gained the All-Star MVP Award four instances , tying him for probably the most All Star MVP Awards in NBA historical past. He is a 14-time member of the All-NBA group and an 12-time member of the All-Defensive team; he's also the youngest participant ever to receive defensive honors. At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, he gained gold medals as a member of the USA national group. In 2009, Sporting News and TNT named Bryant the top NBA participant of the 2000s . Tragedy struck the world of basketball and sport in general on 26 January 2020 when Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in California on the age of forty one. All nine individuals on board, together with Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, died in the crash.