As far as carrying the torch for the years to come, I don't know. I just want to be the best basketball player I can be.
Everyting negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise.
I dont want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant.
I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot.
I'm playing against great players, playing against the best in the world. The competition - that's what I've always wanted.
My parents are my backbone. Still are. They're the only group that will support you if you score zero or you score 40.
Sometimes I do wonder what college would have been like. But I made my decision.
What I'm doing right now, I'm chasing perfection.
Kobe was the recipient of the 2007 NBA All-Star Game MVP award with 31 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals, this was his second All-Star Game MVP award.
Kobe Bryant started his own foundation, Vivo del Mondo. Through education, he wants to connect African American and Hispanic students.
Kobe scored the 7th highest single-season point total in NBA history with 2,832 points in the 2005-06 season.
Kobe has 20 career 50+ point games.
Kobe is one of only four players in NBA history to score 60-plus points in a single game, while playing less than 40 minutes. He scored 62 points in 3 quarters in a game against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2005-06 season.
He was the 1995 Adidas ABCD Camp Senior MVP.
He's appeared on the cover of the Nintendo 64 games NBA Courtside and NBA Courtside 2. He was on the cover of NBA Courtside 2002, for the Nintendo GameCube and he will appear on the cover of NBA 07 for the PlayStation 2 and PSP.
Kobe Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
When asked about changing his number, Kobe said,"It's time for me to start the second half of my career". He decided changing his number would be effective.
Kobe Bryant averaged over 35 points per game in the 2005-06 regular season, he broke the Lakers' franchise record of most 40 point games in a regular season and the most points scored in the regular season 2,832 points.
Bryant was the all-time leading scorer in Southeastern Pennsylvania schoolboy history with 2,883 points, breaking the marks of Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain (2,359 points) and former St. Joseph's player Carlin Warley (2,441 points)
His all-time favorite movie is "Star Wars".
Kobe Bryant wears #8.
Kobe won the Slam Dunk Contest in 1996, his rookie year.
Kobe Bryant teamed with Lisa Leslie of the WNBA's L.A. Sparks in the inaugural Nestle Crunch All-Star 2ball during All-Star Saturday.
Kobe Bryant totaled 17 points and 4 rebounds, in his only start of the 1997-98 season, against the Portland Trail Blazers on 2/10/98.
Kobe Bryant was named to the 1998-99 All-NBA Third Team after leading the Lakers in steals (1.44 spg) and ranking 2nd on the team in scoring (19.9 ppg, 15th in the NBA) and free-throw percentage (.839, 20th).
Kobe Bryant hit the game-winning bucket with 2.6 seconds remaining, lifting the Lakers to a 97-96 win over Phoenix on 5/10/00 in game 2 of the series.
Kobe Bryant was selected to the 1999-2000 NBA All-Defensive First Team and named to the 1999-2000 NBA All-Interview Second Team.
Kobe Byrant was a member of the 2000 Laker championship team averaging 15.6 ppg and 4.6 apg in five games in the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers.
Kobe Bryant was a member of the 2001 Laker championship team averaging 24.6 ppg and 5.8 apg in five games in the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Kobe Bryant was named MVP of the 2002 All-Star Game after tallying 31 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Kobe Bryant was selected to the 2001-2002 All-NBA First Team after averaging 25.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 5.5 apg.
Kobe Bryant became youngest player in NBA history to score 10,000 points, 3/5/03 vs. Indiana.
Kobe Bryant was selected to the 2003-04 All-NBA First Team after averaging 24.0 ppg.
Kobe Bryant was selected to the 2004-05 All-NBA Third Team after averaging 27.6 ppg, 6.0 apg.
On April 6, 2006, Kobe Bryant will play in his 700th game.
Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Hornets but never played a game there. He was traded to the Lakers.
Kobe has caused a lot of fans and fellow players to dislike him by being selfish on the court and talking bad about teammates (Shaq in particular).
Kobe's wife Vanessa is Mexican-American.
Kobe was a team member of three Lakers championships(2000, 2001, 2002).
Kobe was accused of rape in August of 2003.
Kobe is 6'7" tall.
Kobe attended Lower Merion High School.
Kobe is the youngest NBA player to score 10,000 career points.
Kobe's first child, Natalia Diamante Bryant, was born on January 19, 2003.
Kobe's parents named him after a type of steak (Kobe Bean) that they saw on a menu shortly before his birth.
Kobe is the son of former NBA player Joe "Jellybean" Bryant.
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