On November 3rd, 1996, a young Kobe Bryant, a rookie drafted straight out of high school, checked in for the Los Angeles Lakers for the very first time. Little did Laker Nation know at that moment that they were witnessing the birth of a legend. Even though the Bryants’ debut wasn’t anything to talk to your boys about, it would change the face of the franchise for the next 20 years. Bryant was only 18 years, 2 months, and 11 days old, making him, at the time, the youngest player to make his NBA debut.
Kobe Bryant’s Legendary Career
Even though the debut of the future Hall of Famer wasn’t very impressive, Kobe Bryant would become the greatest Laker of all time. In that lackluster debut, Bryant played six minutes, zero points on one shot, grabbed one rebound, and blocked one shot. As the season progressed, so would the rookie out of Lower Merion High School.
The future “Black Mamba” would go on to receive NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team selection honors. He would average 7.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. After his rookie season, it would not take long for the then number 8 to cement his legacy in Laker history.
The young Michael Jordan-like clone would take the NBA world by storm, creating one of the best one-two combos in the history of the game. Kobe and Shaq became not only the best tandem on the court but a cultural phenomenon off the court. The duo went on to win three consecutive championships, a specialty of the “Zen Master,” coach Phil Jackson.
After losing the 2004 finals to finals MVP and future “poker player” Chauncey Billups and the Detroit Pistons, tension between the two stars started to boil over. Bryant and O’Neal could not see eye to eye, and the Lakers organization made a tough decision, trading the dominant center to the Miami Heat and entrusting Kobe with their future.
The decision to give Bryant the keys to the car would be the right one. The “Black Mamba” would deliver two more championships for the “City of Angels,” making him a five-time champion! He would spend all twenty years of his career with the LA Lakers, establishing himself as arguably the greatest Laker of all time. An organization that has seen the likes of Magic, Kareem, Worthy, and Shaq, making the accolade even more impressive.
Kobe Bryant’s Shocking Death
On January 26th, 2020, months before the world was shut down by COVID-19, the world lost one of the greatest basketball players in history. Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna and several other passengers, would be involved in a tragic helicopter crash, ending their lives. The father and daughter were on the way to a youth basketball game. The weather conditions were not ideal and would ultimately play a huge role in the crash.
At age 41, the world said goodbye to the legendary “Black Mamba.” A death that still doesn’t feel real. As most millennials grew up with Kobe, it was a very tragic event to believe and hard to swallow. Five years later, it’s still hard to believe he’s gone.
Final Thoughts
I can’t believe it was 29 years ago that we saw Kobe Bryant’s debut in the NBA. He is arguably a top-5 player to ever hit the hardwood. His Jordan-like play on the court and determination to be the best will be hard to match. Whether it’s number 8 or 24 (both retired by the Lakers), you want the ball in his hands with the game on the line. Thanks to The Chappelle Show, we can all shout “Kobe” when shooting our garbage into the trash can. Thanks for all the memories, and “Black Mamba” lives forever!
