Kobe Bryant: 'I'm extremely loyal to the Lakers' (2024)

FAQs

Was Kobe loyal to the Lakers? ›

In addition to that, due to the fact that he spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, he is considered one of the most loyal players in the history of the league.

It turns out the late Los Angeles Lakers legend also considered bolting for Memphis. Jerry West, the former Lakers executive who drafted Bryant before leaving for the Grizzlies in 2002, said Kobe considered bolting for Memphis in 2004. "He became a free agent, OK? And he called me and his agent then was Rob Pelinka.

In Southern California, future NBA stars including Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Paul George and Russell Westbrook grew up able to watch his exploits after dinner and fall asleep dreaming of one day joining him in the league.

The two met 22 times in the regular season, with Lebron winning 16 contests and Kobe winning only 6. Championships: Regarding on-court success and legacy, championships play a pivotal role. Kobe Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, showcases a career marked by multiple victories at the highest level.

Before the Lakers' first game since the Sunday morning crash, the lights went off in the arena except for a purple spotlight on two Lakers jerseys bearing Bryant's numbers, 8 and 24, hanging above. The crowd chanted "MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant had a love story for the ages. The late NBA legend met his future wife when she was just 17 years old. At the time, Kobe was a starting player on the Los Angeles Lakers — while Vanessa was a high school senior from southern California.

Bryant started playing basketball when he was three, and the Lakers were his favorite team when he was growing up.

Kobe Bryant is a little more gifted athletically than Michael Jordan was. Kobe is a much better pure shooter. Kobe has risen into Michael's rare air when it comes to making great late shots. Kobe is a little taller, and just as quick and strong.

If you look at certain numbers, Jordan may have a slight edge. He's won slightly more championships, more MVPs and more All-Defensive Team honors. On the other hand, James has scored more points than Jordan—or anybody else who ever played in the NBA.

Is Kobe the greatest Laker of all time? ›

In a poll conducted in conjunction with the Lakers' 75th birthday, five of the six experts on The Los Angeles Times panel voted Johnson as the greatest Lakers player, with the sixth expert choosing Kobe Bryant, who is a worthy selection but not quite the basketball equal of Magic.

At the time of his death, his estate was worth $600 million dollars. He had done some planning; he had a trust in place naming his wife, Vanessa Bryant, and his three older children, Natalia, Gianna (who also died in the crash), and Bianka as beneficiaries.

On July 11, 1996, the Los Angeles Lakers officially completed a trade with the Charlotte Hornets to acquire the late great Kobe Bryant. Bryant first came onto the Lakers' radar during his pre-draft workouts in L.A. that famously impressed general manager and Lakers legend Jerry West.

Kobe Bryant (born August 23, 1978, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died January 26, 2020, Calabasas, California) was an American professional basketball player, who helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to five championships (2000–02 and 2009–10).