<Table> Kobe Bryant <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Bryant in 2015 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> (1978 - 08 - 23) August 23, 1978 (age 39) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Nationality </Th> <Td> American </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Listed height </Th> <Td> 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Listed weight </Th> <Td> 212 lb (96 kg) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Career information </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> High school </Th> <Td> Lower Merion (Ardmore, Pennsylvania) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> NBA draft </Th> <Td> 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Selected by the Charlotte Hornets </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Playing career </Th> <Td> 1996--2016 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Position </Th> <Td> Shooting guard </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Number </Th> <Td> 8, 24 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Career history </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 1996--2016 </Th> <Td> Los Angeles Lakers </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Career highlights and awards </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <Ul> <Li> 5 × NBA champion (2000--2002, 2009, 2010) </Li> <Li> 2 × NBA Finals MVP (2009, 2010) </Li> <Li> NBA Most Valuable Player (2008) </Li> <Li> 18 × NBA All - Star (1998, 2000--2016) </Li> <Li> 4 × NBA All - Star Game MVP (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011) </Li> <Li> 11 × All - NBA First Team (2002--2004, 2006--2013) </Li> <Li> 2 × All - NBA Second Team (2000, 2001) </Li> <Li> 2 × All - NBA Third Team (1999, 2005) </Li> <Li> 9 × NBA All - Defensive First Team (2000, 2003, 2004, 2006--2011) </Li> <Li> 3 × NBA All - Defensive Second Team (2001, 2002, 2012) </Li> <Li> 2 × NBA scoring champion (2006, 2007) </Li> <Li> NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1997) </Li> <Li> NBA All - Rookie Second Team (1997) </Li> <Li> Naismith Prep Player of the Year (1996) </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Career statistics </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Points </Th> <Td> 33,643 (25.0 ppg) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Rebounds </Th> <Td> 7,047 (5.2 rpg) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Assists </Th> <Td> 6,306 (4.7 apg) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Stats at Basketball-Reference.com </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Medals (hide) <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="3"> Men's basketball </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="3"> Representing United States </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="3"> Olympic Games </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2008 Beijing </Td> <Td> Team </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2012 London </Td> <Td> Team </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="3"> FIBA Americas Championship </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2007 Las Vegas </Td> <Td> Team </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Bryant in 2015 </Td> </Tr>

When did kobe start playing in the nba