<P> Bryant debuted in the Summer Pro League in Long Beach, California, scoring 25 points in front of a standing - room - only crowd . Defenders struggled to get in front of him, and his performance excited West and Lakers coach Del Harris . He scored 36 points in the finale, and finished with averages of 24.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in four games . As a rookie in 1996--97, Bryant mostly came off the bench behind guards Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel . At the time he became the youngest player ever to play in an NBA game (18 years, 72 days; a record since broken by Jermaine O'Neal and former teammate Andrew Bynum), and also became the youngest NBA starter ever (18 years, 158 days). Initially, Bryant played limited minutes, but as the season continued, he began to see some more playing time . By the end of the season, he averaged 15.5 minutes a game . During the All - Star weekend, Bryant participated in the Rookie Challenge and won the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, becoming the youngest dunk champion ever at the age of 18 . Bryant's performance throughout the year earned him a spot on the NBA All - Rookie Second Team with fellow bench teammate Travis Knight . The Lakers advanced to the Western Conference semifinals in the playoffs against the Utah Jazz, when Bryant was pressed into a lead role at the end of Game 5 . Byron Scott missed the game with a sprained wrist, Robert Horry was ejected for fighting with the Utah's Jeff Hornacek, and Shaquille O'Neal fouled out with 1: 46 remaining in the fourth quarter . Bryant shot four air balls at the end of the game; the Jazz won 98--93 in overtime to eliminate the Lakers 4--1 . He first whiffed a game - winning 2 - point jump shot in the fourth quarter, and then misfired three three - point field goals in overtime, including two tying shots in the final minute . O'Neal commented that "(Bryant) was the only guy who had the guts at the time to take shots like that ." </P> <P> In Bryant's second season, he received more playing time and began to show more of his abilities as a talented young guard . As a result, Bryant's point averages more than doubled from 7.6 to 15.4 points per game . Bryant would see an increase in minutes when the Lakers "played small", which would feature Bryant playing small forward alongside the guards he would usually back up . Bryant was the runner - up for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award, and through fan voting, he also became the youngest NBA All - Star starter in NBA history . He was joined by teammates O'Neal, Van Exel, and Jones, making it the first time since 1983 that four players on the same team were selected to play in the same All - Star Game . Bryant's 15.4 points per game was the highest of any non-starter in the season . </P> <P> The 1998--99 season marked Bryant's emergence as a premier guard in the league . With starting guards Van Exel and Jones traded, Bryant started every game for the lockout - shortened 50 - game season . During the season, Bryant signed a 6 - year contract extension worth $70 million . This kept him with the Lakers until the end of the 2003--04 season . Even at an early stage of his career, sportswriters were comparing his skills to those of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson . The playoff results, however, were no better, as the Lakers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals . </P> <P> Bryant's fortunes would improve when Phil Jackson took over as coach of the Lakers in 1999 . After years of steady improvement, Bryant became one of the premier shooting guards in the league, earning appearances in the league's All - NBA, All - Star, and All - Defensive teams . The Lakers became championship contenders under Bryant and O'Neal, who formed a legendary center - guard combination . Jackson utilized the triangle offense that he implemented to win six championships with the Chicago Bulls; this offense would help both Bryant and O'Neal rise to the elite class of the NBA . Three resulting championships were won consecutively in 2000, 2001, and 2002, further proving such a fact . </P>

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