TRKB’s Kobe Through The Years

Kobe Bryant is all smiles at the July 1996 news conference where he was introduced after the Lakers acquired him from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Vlade Divac. The Hornets had selected the 17-year-old right out of high school with the 13th overall choice in the 1996 NBA draft.

Kobe Bryant, the teenager obtained by the Lakers in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets, takes part in an ad shoot for Adidas at Will Rogers State Beach.
October 15, 1996

Laker rookie Kobe Bryant was a seasoned veteran of advertising photo shoots before taking his first shot in training camp.
October 15, 1996

Laker rookie Kobe Bryant, 18, listens to coach Del Harris during a break in a 129-99 victory over the Washington Bullets at the Forum. Bryant scored 13 points.
February 2, 1997

Kobe Byrant drives against Utah center Greg Ostertag in the Western Conference Finals at the Forum in Inglewood. Utah won 109-98 to give the Jazz a 3-0 lead in the series.
May 22, 1998

Kobe Bryant is dejected after losing the ball late in the second half of Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs at the Forum. The Lakers lost, 103-91, giving the Spurs a 3-0 advantage in the series. The Spurs went on to win the series 4-0.
May 22, 1999

Kobe Bryant drives past Chris Webber in Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs at Arco Arena in Sacramento. The Kings won, 99-91, but the Lakers went on to win the series in five games and advanced to face the Phoenix Suns in the next round.
April 30, 2000

Despite Jason Kidd’s hand in his face, Kobe Bryant puts up the winning shot in the Lakers’ 97-96 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Arena. The Lakers won the series, 4-1.
May 10, 2000

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal share a moment at Staples Center after beating the Indiana Pacers in six games in the NBA Finals to win the first of three consecutive championships.
June 19, 2000

A People’s Libration Army soldier walks past an advertisement board in Beijing for a German sports equipment manufacturer featuring Kobe Bryant.
November 17, 2000

Kobe Bryant performs on stage at the House of Blues during a celebration of the launch of his record label, Heads High Entertainment.
July 23, 2000

Kobe Bryant is swarmed by teammates Derek Fisher, Rick Fox and Shaquille O’Neal as he heads to the foul line in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Bryant scored 45 points as the Lakers beat the Spurs, 104-90, on their way to a sweep of the series.
May 19, 2001

Kobe Bryant goes up for a dunk in the second quarter against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center. The Lakers won, 111-82, to sweep the series and advance to the NBA finals. Bryant had 24 points and 11 assists.
May 27, 2001

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal celebrate during Game 1 of the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs at Staples. Bryant scored 35 points and O’Neal 24 as the Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 95-87. The Lakers swept the series, 3-0.
April 21, 2002

Kobe Bryant raises the NBA Championship trophy at a Staples Center rally celebrating the Lakers’ third consecutive title, which they won by sweeping the New Jersey Nets, 4-0, in the finals.
June 14, 2002

Kobe Bryant signals as his three-point shot falls during a 108-94 victory over the Washington Wizards. Bryant made eight three-pointers, tying an NBA record. He scored 55 points, while Michael Jordan made 23 in his final NBA game in Los Angeles.
March 28, 2003

Kobe Bryant, with his wife, Vanessa, at his side, holds a news conference at Staples Center to discuss accusations by a 19-year-old Colorado woman that he sexually assaulted her. He conceded he was guilty of adultery, but he declared he was innocent of charges of felonious sexual assault.
July 18, 2003

Los Angeles Lakers from left, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Shaquille O’Neal before their preseason opener with the Los Angeles Clippers. It was Bryant’s first game since sexual assault charges were filed against him in Colorado.
October 23, 2003

Kobe Bryant celebrates the game-winning shot against the Nuggets at Staples Center.
December 19, 2003

Kobe Bryant walks past the Eagle, Colo., courthouse where he appeared for a pretrial hearing. Bryant faced his accuser for the first time since he allegedly raped her June 30, 2003

Hours after pleading not guilty to a felony sexual assault charge in Colorado, an exhausted Kobe Bryant is congratulated by teammate Derek Fisher after the Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs, 98-90, in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center. Bryant scored 42 points as the Lakers tied the series at 2-2.
May 11, 2004

Kobe Bryant makes a fourth-quarter shot against, from left, Devin Brown, Tim Duncan and Robert Horry of the San Antonio Spurs in the Lakers’ 88-76 victory in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center. The Lakers took the series, 4-2, advancing to the conference finals.
May 15, 2004

Kobe Bryant wipes sweat from his face during Game 5 of the NBA Finals at the Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich. The Detroit Pistons won the game, 100-87, and the series, 4-1, to deny the Lakers another championship.
June 15, 2004

Kobe Bryant writhes in pain after injuring his right ankle during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 13, 2005, in Los Angeles. Bryant was injured when he landed awkwardly on his right foot while going for a rebound under the Cavaliers’ basket and had to be helped off the court.
January 13, 2005

Kobe Bryant looks at his hand after making a shot as he was fouled and held in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 102-95 victory over the Utah Jazz. Bryant scored 40 points in his second game back from an ankle injury.
February 15, 2005

Kobe Bryant and his new backcourt partner, William “Smush” Parker during a preseason game against Utah at the Anaheim Pond.
October 25, 2005

Kobe Bryant reacts after he was fouled on the way to the basket in the Lakers’ 76-74 loss to the Houston Rockets. Bryant had 24 points in the game but only two in the fourth quarter.
December 18, 2005

Kobe Bryant dunks over the Phoenix Suns’ Steve Nash in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at the US Airways Center in Phoenix. The Lakers won, 99-93, to tie the series at 1-1. The series went to a seventh game, which the Suns easily won, 121 to 90.
April 26, 2006

Kobe Bryant whispers something to coach Phil Jackson during a media day at the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo.
October 2, 2006

With Hakim Warrick of the Memphis Grizzlies sprawled on the court, Kobe Bryant saves the ball from going out of bounds and maintains possession during fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 91-81 victory at the Staples Center. Bryant scored 20 points.
November 12, 2006

Lakers Lamar Odom, left, and Kobe Bryant talk on the bench during a timeout during a 99-93 victory over the New Jersey Nets at Staples Center.
November 26, 2006

Kobe Bryant and his Lakers teammates walk off the court after they lost, 95-87, to the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA playoffs at US Airways Center in Phoenix. The Suns went on to win the series, 4-1.
April 27, 2007

Kobe Bryant listens to the national anthem before a game against the New Jersey Nets at Staples Center. The Lakers won, 99-93.
November 26, 2006

Less than a year after requesting a trade, Bryant led a young Lakers team to a 15-game improvement and the top playoff seed in the 2008 Western Conference playoffs. Bryant won his first MVP award and — with help from midseason acquisition Pau Gasol and a cast of developing young players — lifted L.A. into the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

Bottled up by the Celtics’ stifling defense, Kobe and the Lakers lost the 2008 Finals in six games. Bryant, however, could get another chance soon to win his fourth NBA title, as the Lakers have established themselves as the heavy favorite to repeat as conference champions in 2009

After hard working with the TeamUSA the whole summer, the Redeem Team won their Olympic Gold Medal after a long time. Kobe’s first Olympic medal.

After losing to the Celtics in 2008, the Lakers came back strong with a better arsenal, a healthy Andrew Bynum and a healthy Trevor Ariza. The Lakers finished at the top of the Western Conference once again heading to the 2009 Playoffs. A back-2-back Finals apearence for Kobe and the Lakers, this time against the Orlando Magic. Kobe finished the series in 5 games, nominated the Finals MVP, his first in 6 NBA Finals. The Lakers are the 2009 NBA Champions.

Courtesey from

L.A. Times and Sports Illustraded