He went on to attain 40, forty two, and forty two in his next three video games. It was the sixth time in his career he scored 40 or extra points in four straight video games, a feat exceeded solely by Wilt Chamberlain . At the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, Bryant scored 27 points to pass Michael Jordan because the career scoring chief within the All-Star Game.

His 81-point efficiency in opposition to Toronto in 2006 was the second-highest in NBA historical past, behind only Chamberlain's 100. He scored a minimum of 50 factors 24 instances in his career, which is third in league history behind Jordan and Chamberlain ; six times Bryant scored no much less than 60. He was simply the third participant in NBA historical past to common 40 points in a calendar month, which he accomplished four times. Bryant was voted the league MVP in 2008 and led his team to the 2008 NBA Finals as the first seed within the Western Conference.

The Bryants' first daughter, Natalia, was born in January 2003. The birth resulted in a reconciliation between Bryant and his parents. Due to an ectopic pregnancy, Vanessa suffered a miscarriage in the spring of 2005. Their second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore (also known as "Gigi"), was born in May 2006.

Over the course of the season, Bryant turned involved in a variety of on-court incidents. On January 28 while making an attempt to draw contact on a possible game-winning leap shot, he flailed his arm, striking San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginóbili within the face with his elbow. The foundation given for the suspension was that Bryant had performed an "unnatural movement" in swinging his arm backward.

Kobe Bufkin hugs family and pals after being selected fifteenth overall by the Atlanta Hawks through the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York. "It's by no means affected me too much when it comes to taking half in ball," stated Bufkin, who was born in 2003. Brown is in Summer League with the Los Angeles Clippers. Bufkin is coming into his rookie 12 months with the Atlanta Hawks. Both were named for Bryant, who — for now — is the only participant named Kobe to make it to the NBA.

Players including Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, and Derrick Rose referred to as Bryant their era's version of Jordan. The Press-Enterprise described Bryant as "possibly the best Laker within the group's historical past". He was the Lakers' all-time leading scorer, and his five titles are tied for the most in franchise history.

The Lakers completed the season at 45–37, good for seventh within the West. Playing without Bryant, the Lakers had been swept in 4 games by the San Antonio Spurs within the first round of the playoffs. Bryant obtained experimental platelet-rich plasma therapy known as Orthokine in Germany to treat the ache on his left knee and ankle, and Mike Brown replaced the retired Phil Jackson as coach of the Lakers within the offseason. Bryant began the season taking half in with an injured wrist. On January 10, 2012, Bryant scored forty eight points towards the Suns, the most ever by a player in his sixteenth season. "Not bad for the seventh-best participant in the league," mentioned Bryant, referring to a preseason ESPN rating of the NBA's prime gamers.

His net price on the time of his death was an estimated $600 million. Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association to 5 championships (2000–02 and 2009–10). Javascript is required for the number of a player.