But Bryant's lifelong dedication to prove others mistaken prevailed with him returning to the court docket about eight months later. Bryant's focus and old flame were on enhancing his game within the league and gaining stardom there. However, it didn't cease him from making a small detour into rap music. Bryant was on a video set in 1999 when he met Vanessa Laine, an additional and high school student who would become his wife two years later. His determination to marry young brought on a brief rift between him and his family. On April 29, 1996, Bryant announced he would skip faculty and go straight to the NBA to pursue his goal of changing into the best basketball participant.

Criminal costs have been later dropped after the accuser didn't testify, and a lawsuit was settled out of court docket, with Bryant issuing a public apology and admitting to a sexual encounter he maintained was consensual. The accusation briefly tarnished Bryant's reputation, resulting in the lack of a quantity of of his endorsement contracts. The four-time NBA champion was requested about the 23rd anniversary of Bryant’s good ally-oop to O’Neal in the course of the 2000 Western Conference Finals. “Shaq Diesel” and the crew watched footage of the enduring play earlier than sharing ideas on the Los Angeles Lakers’ comeback win over the Portland Trailblazers that year.

This sounds simple, and you might think it’s a no-brainer, however take some time to suppose on it additional. Bryant will appear on the covers of the "Kobe Bryant Edition" as nicely as the "Black Mamba Edition" of the popular online game. Sharing the Mamba Mentality with the next era. Introducing our #NBA2K24 cowl athlete, Kobe Bryant.

In Game 4, Bryant scored 22 factors in the second half, and led the staff to an OT victory as O'Neal fouled out of the sport. Bryant scored the winning shot to place the Lakers ahead 120–118. With a 116–111 Game 6 victory, the Lakers received their first championship since 1988.

The 34-year-old Bryant was averaging his most minutes (38.6) in six years, and only Portland rookie Damian Lillard was averaging more minutes. Bryant's assists have been the second-highest of his profession and his subject goal proportion was its highest since 2008–09. On April 2, 2010, Bryant signed a three-year contract extension price $87 million. Bryant finished the regular season lacking 4 of the final five video games, due to accidents to his knee and finger. Bryant suffered multiple injuries all through the season and consequently, missed nine games. The Lakers started the playoffs because the number one seed in the Western Conference towards the Oklahoma City Thunder, eventually defeating them in six video games.

In 2011, Bryant was featured in Taiwanese singer Jay Chou's single "The Heaven and Earth Challenge" (天地一鬥, pronounced "Tian Di Yi Dou"). Not to be confused with the American soccer participant Coby Bryant.

Bryant's retired No. 33 jersey and banner at the Lower Merion High School gymBryant earned nationwide recognition during a spectacular high-school career at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, situated within the Philadelphia suburb of Lower Merion. He played on the varsity basketball staff as a freshman. Bryant grew to become the first freshman in many years to start for Lower Merion's varsity team, however the team finished with a 4–20 document. The following three years, the Aces compiled a 77–13 report, with Bryant playing all five positions. Duke, Michigan, North Carolina and Villanova have been on the high of his list. After the Lakers lost the 2004 NBA Finals, O'Neal was traded and Bryant turned the cornerstone of the franchise.

On January 11, 2013, Bryant and his wife both announced via social media that they had called off their divorce. In early December 2016, Vanessa gave birth to their third daughter, and in January 2019 the Bryants introduced they had been anticipating a fourth daughter. Bryant was within the building and working on his debut album. The two began dating and have become engaged six months later in May 2000, whereas Laine was nonetheless a senior at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California.