-
Bryant, who said he made himself a decoy through most of the game,
scored 18 of his 32 points in the final eight minutes to keep Los Angeles safely
ahead. -
In the 2001–02 season, Bryant played 80 games for the first time in his career.
-
Bryant was the first guard drafted directly out of high school.
-
In the following season, the Lakers were able to acquire NBA All-Stars Karl Malone,
and Gary Payton to make another push at the NBA championship. -
On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a 122–104 victory
against the Toronto Raptors. -
On May 27, 2007, ESPN reported that Bryant stated that he wanted to be traded
if Jerry West did not return to the team with full authority. -
On December 23, 2007, Bryant became the youngest player (29 years, 122 days)
to reach 20,000 points, in a game against the New York Knicks, in Madison Square
Garden, after scoring 39 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 8 assists. -
the Lakers opened the campaign by winning their first
seven games -
Bryant tallied 27 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals was awarded All-Star Game co-MVP
-
Bryant scored 61 points
-
Bryant was runner-up in the MVP voting behind LeBron James
-
the Lakers were looking to trade their starting center Vlade Divac for a player's draft rights to free up salary cap space to make an offer to free-agent center Shaquille O'Neal.
-
Bryant debuted in the Summer Pro League in Long Beach, California, scoring 25
points in front of a standing-room-only crowd. -
The Lakers finished the regular season with the best record in the west (65–17).
-
Since Bryant was still 17 at the time, his parents had to cosign his contract with the
Lakers until he was able to sign his own when he turned 18 before the season
began.
