Remembering Kobe Bryant: The Life of the NBA Star in Pictures (2024)

Kobe tried out for the Boston Celtics trying as coaches look on during practice at Brandeis University on June 20, 1996.

Before he headed off to play in the NBA, Kobe Bryant brought Brandy to his high school prom. One month later, he accompanied her to the Eraser premiere in Los Angeles.

On July 11, 1996 Kobe is introduced by the Los Angeles Lakers general manager and head coach.

The gifted basketball player held up his trophy for winning the NBA Slam Dunk contest in Cleveland, Ohio.

Kobe chatted with Jay Leno during the fifth season of the comedian's hosting tenure of The Tonight Show.

Kobe was beaming in a game against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

Kobe spoke with basketball legend Michael Jordan during a free-throw attempt in the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls game at Chicago's United Center. In that game, the then-19-year-old scored a team-high 33 points off the bench, while Jordan scored a team-high of 36 for the Bulls, and Chicago won 104-83.

One to frequently give back to the community, Kobe took part in Nickelodeon's Big Help.

The Philly native posed for a magazine shoot held at The Coliseum in Los Angeles.

Kobe jumped into teammate Shaquille O'Neal's arms after the Lakers won the 2000 NBA Finals, which earned the 20-year player the first of his five rings.

The Philly kid knew how to make people laugh! During a team media day in El Segundo, California, Kobe jokingly held up a magnifying glass for photographers.

Kobe scooped a layup in a Lakers game against the Detroit Pistons in L.A.

Kobe celebrated scoring in the first half of game two of the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Lakers would end up winning the series, giving Black Mamba his second ring.

Kobe and wife Vanessa couldn't stop grinning as they headed into the Rush Hour 2 premiere at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Kobe and Shaq held up the Championship and MVP trophies after sweeping the New Jersey Nets in the 2002 NBA Finals, which marked the Lakers' third consecutive title.

Vanessa and Kobe posed backstage at the 10th Annual ESPY Awards.

In the first season the Lakers wore new white uniforms at home, Kobe hauled in a rebound in the second quarter of a matchup against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center.

In this Jan. 7 game against the Seattle Supersonics, the Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard broke the NBA record with 12 three-point shots in one game. In total, he scored 45 points in the Lakers' 119-98 win.

Kobe cozied up to his wife, Vanessa, during GQ Magazine's 2004 NBA All-Star Party in Los Angeles.

Kobe gave his wife a kiss as they posed for pics on the red carpet at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards.

Kobe and wife Vanessa brought their then-toddler-aged daughter, Natalia, to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. New York Yankees matchup at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.

Black Mamba posed with an adorable pup for the 2005-2006 Lakers calendar. The NBA teamworked with the Amanda Foundation, a non-profit organization that rescued cats and dogs, and the Lakers Youth Foundation for the photoshoot, which benefitted both charities.

Kobe went on a true winning streak, becoming the first Laker in 44 years to score 50 points or more in consecutive games since December 1962. He scored totals of 65, 60, 60 and 50 during the four-game streak, which included this March 18 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kobe ran up the court during the second quarter of game oneof the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center.

Olympic champ! The All-Star conferred with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade as the United States competed against Argentina in the semifinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China. Kobe won gold medals with both the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic basketball teams.

Kobe celebrated after defeating the Orlando Magic 99-86 in game five of the 2009 NBA Finals in Florida.

After President Barack Obama welcomed the 2009 NBA Champions to the White House, Kobe gifted the then-president with his very own Lakers jersey.

The shooting guard pointed during a heated moment in the second quarter of game seven of the 2010 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

Purple and yellow confetti rained down on the court after the Lakers beat the Boston Celtics in game seven of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center -- and Kobe basked in the win.

Black Mamba shot a free throw in a 118-107 win against the Milwaukee Bucks in Wisconsin.

Black Mamba laid down an impressive dunk in the third quarter of game five of the Western Conference Quarterfinalsagainst the New Orleans Hornets during the 2011 NBA Playoffs.

Kobe adjusted his jersey during a game against the Phoenix Suns in Arizona, which the Lakers lost 102-90.

The sharp athlete drove the ball against the Denver Nuggets' Arron Afflalo in game four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2012 NBA Playoffs.

Though he was on crutches, Kobe still stepped out for the EIF Women's Cancer Research Fund's 16th Annual "An Unforgettable Evening" event in Beverly Hills, where he and wife Vanessa matched in black-and-white attire.

The NBA All-Star reacted to a call in the Lakers game against the Charlotte Bobcats in North Carolina.

Black Mamba waved to the crowd after a free throw in the second quarter of the Lakers game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis allowed him to pass Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list. One day before his death, LeBron Jamessurpassed Kobe for the No. 3 spot on the NBA's all-time scoring list during his game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. LeBron needed 18 points to beat out Kobe's career total of33,643 pointsand accomplished it with a running layup in the third quarter -- and Kobecongratulated LeBronon the accolade.

Vanessa and Kobe were one gorgeous couple at the premiere of the Showtime documentary, Kobe Bryant's Muse, in West Hollywood, California.

The affable NBA player spoke at the Genius Talks during the 2015 BET Experience in Los Angeles.

Kobe hit a basket in a 1094-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Despite being taken out in the fourth quarter of a game against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, California, Kobe waved to the crowd. Black Mamba was regularly celebrated by fans across the country during his final season with the NBA.

Gianna and Kobe warmed up together during the 2016 NBA All-Star Game at Toronto's Air Canada Centre.

Kobe looked proud as he watched a tribute in his honor playing at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, as the Lakers took on the Spurs on Feb. 6.

The Pennsylvania native backed into the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James in the first half of the March 10 game at Staples Center.

A fan holds up a sign spelling out Kobe's name, which is framed behind him on the court in a game against the visiting Utah Jazz.

Kobe scored 60 points in his final game at Staples Center, helping the Lakers defeat the Utah Jazz 101-96 on April 13.

Kobe walked out onto the court during his jersey retirement ceremony at halftime in a game between the Lakers and Golden State Warriors at Staples Center.

Kobe was proudly surrounded by his daughters,Gianna, Bianka and Natalia, and his wife, Vanessa, as both of his numbers -- 8 and 24 -- were retired at Staples Center on Dec. 18, 2017.

Kobe took on quite a few varied activities after retiring from basketball, including filmmaking. He earned an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for 2018's Dear Basketball.

Vanessa and Kobe brought their oldest daughters, Natalia and Gianna, to the Los Angeles premiere of Disney's A Wrinkle In Time.

Vanessa joined her husband at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party while pregnant with their fourth daughter, Capri, whom they welcomed in June 2019.

Gianna and Kobe took in a game between his former team and the Atlanta Hawks just a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving.