<P> Kobe Bean Bryant (born August 23, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player . He played his entire 20 - year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships with the Lakers . Bryant is an 18 - time All - Star, 15 - time member of the All - NBA Team, and 12 - time member of the All - Defensive team . He led the NBA in scoring during two seasons and ranks third on the league's all - time regular season scoring and fourth on the all - time postseason scoring list . He holds the NBA record for the most seasons playing with one franchise for an entire career and is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time . Bryant is the first guard in NBA history to play for at least 20 seasons . </P> <P> The son of former NBA player Joe Bryant, Kobe Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania, where he was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the country . He declared for the NBA draft upon graduation and was selected in the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets, who traded him to the Lakers . As a rookie, Bryant earned himself a reputation as a high - flyer and a fan favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, and he was named an All - Star by his second season . Despite a feud between them, Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002 . </P> <P> In 2003, Bryant was accused of sexual assault in Colorado, but the charges were eventually dropped, and a civil suit was settled out of court . After the Lakers lost the 2004 NBA Finals, O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat . Bryant became the cornerstone of the Lakers, and he led the NBA in scoring during the 2005--06 and 2006--07 seasons . In 2006, he scored a career - high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second most points scored in a single game in league history behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100 - point game in 1962 . Bryant was awarded the regular season's Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in 2008 . After losing in the 2008 NBA Finals, he led the Lakers to two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, earning the Finals MVP Award on both occasions . He continued to be among the top players in the league through 2013 when the 34 - year - old Bryant suffered a torn Achilles tendon . Although he recovered, his play was limited the following two years by season - ending injuries to his knee and shoulder, respectively . Citing his physical decline, he announced that he would retire after the 2015--16 season . </P> <P> At 34 years and 104 days of age, Bryant became the youngest player in league history to reach 30,000 career points . He became the all - time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history on February 1, 2010, when he surpassed Jerry West . During his third year in the league, Bryant was chosen to start the All - Star Game, and he would continue to be selected to start that game for a record 18 consecutive appearances until his retirement . His four All - Star MVP Awards are tied for the most in NBA history . At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, he won gold medals as a member of the U.S. national team . Sporting News and TNT named Bryant the top NBA player of the 2000s . In 2018, Bryant won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for his film Dear Basketball . </P>

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