Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant was born on 23 August 1978 in the United States in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) is a basketball player working in the NBA club the Los Angeles Lakers. Voted MVP of the 2007-2008 season, he was one of four players still active in the NBA to have recorded more than 20 000 career points (with Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson and Shaquille O'Neal).
His youth
Son of basketball player Joe "JellyeBean" Bryant, Kobe spent part of his childhood in Italy (he speaks Italian fluently), where his father moves in the Italian Championship Basketball. He follows his father during a passage over it in France, eight months at FC Mulhouse Basket. Nevertheless he joined the United States during his adolescence, and continued his studies at a secondary school in Philadelphia, Lower Merion High School, where in addition to his studies he completely dominated the championship basketball (source: USA today): in its Last year he carries his team to a record of 31 wins to 3 losses and was named Player of the Year (Naismith High School Player of the Year, source: USA Today and Parade Magazine).
His debut in the NBA (1997-1999)
It comes to the 1996 NBA draft. It is selected by the Charlotte Hornets in 13th position in the draft, but Bryant made it clear he will not play for the club of his heart, the Los Angeles Lakers. Jerry West, the Lakers General Manager, then performs a transfer by offering Hornets: Focus Serbian Vlade Divac. The future in favor of the Lakers GM, for that "trade" some of which refer to it as "the bargain of the century in the NBA." (George Eddy)
Bryant became the youngest player in the history of the league during his first match. His first season, although shy (average 7.6 points, 6 games started over 71), suggests all the capabilities of the player, even if it gives the impression of having to learn the basics of the game community. The potential to form duo with Shaquille O'Neal for the season ahead looks to the securities. He also won the Slam Dunk Contest during his rookie season (1996-1997).
During the 1997 NBA Playoffs in the last seconds of a crucial match to face the Utah Jazz, wants to make a difference and show he can save his team. But the result ended with 3 air-ball and multiple criticism from journalists.
At its second season (1997-1998), it is quickly becoming one of the new sensations in the league, in its Thursday and its spectacular progress (15.4 points per game average).
In February 1998, he became the youngest owner of an NBA All-Star Game. But after the all-star game, he knows a second part of season, and his offensive contribution decreases somewhat. This irregularity cost him the title of the best sixth man and player with the most advanced, awards for which it was long anticipated. Los Angeles is subsequently eliminated from the playoffs 4-0 by Utah.
The shortened season of 1999 shows Kobe Bryant in constant progression in his game, but in Los Angeles to make a 4-0 sweep again, this time by the future champions San Antonio.
The three-peat (2000-2002)
Kobe Bryant finally takes its place in the workforce at its fourth season in the NBA (1999-2000). The arrival of Phil Jackson, coach of the six championship titles with the Bulls of Michael Jordan, allows the Lakers to win the champion title in 2000, against the Indiana Pacers.
Bryant does not play since the first quarter-time of the second half because of a sprained ankle but returned for the fourth quarter mark 28 times and 8 points in overtime. It was he who entered last 3 of 4 baskets Lakers, while Shaquille O'Neal is out for 6 faults. Los Angeles won the title a few days later at Staples Center.
The 2000-2001 season is crowned with a new title, and Bryant is still increasing its level of play with an average of 28.5 points per game, or 6 points higher than the previous year. The offensive duo with O'Neal trade almost 60 points average on both.
But the desire for Bryant to show his progress to the entire league is sometimes at the expense of his teammates, particularly annoys and Shaquille O'Neal. The season is marred by the media war of the two stars of the Lakers.
Thus, at the end of the season, while Bryant is injured, O'Neal shows that the team arrives at winning without him. Bryant also understands and returned with a different mentality. It's the beginning of the domination of the Lakers, who have won their last 8 regular season games and their first 11 meetings playoffs. Bryant, more collective, realizes, however, two games to 48 points and 45 points. O'Neal said while the number 8 is the best player in the league.
Los Angeles does not lose a match in the finals and won a second consecutive title and became the second best team in the playoffs in history, with 15 wins to 1 loss.
The 2001-2002 season is Kobe Bryant win the MVP as the All-Star Game under the whistles of his former audience in Philadelphia. Los Angeles encounter more difficulties in the playoffs last year, particularly in the series against Sacramento, one of the most beautiful in recent years. Kobe mark 30 points, took 10 rebounds and 7 assists offers in the victory in overtime in the seventh round. A third title was won a few days later to face the New Jersey Nets.
Kobe gets his third title at only 23 years. His aggressive style and his spectacular dunks make Bryant one of the favorite players of fans.
The end of the dynasty (2003)
O'Neal injured early in the 2002-2003 season, Bryant had trouble conducting the Lakers to victory, shooting excessively, failing to involve his teammates. This situation reached its climax during a defeat to Boston, match during which Bryant missed 30 of his 47 shots. Critics and journalists reappear the Lakers are far from the eighth place qualifying for the playoffs.
But with O'Neal back in the team, the Lakers gradually found their basketball and go back to the classification at the approach of the All-Star Game (mid-February).
Kobe will then produce nine consecutive games to 40 points or more (only Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan have done both), leaving almost alone the Lakers on the road to success (7 wins 2 losses during the series). Despite their miserable start to the season, Los Angeles managed to complete the feat in the fifth place, but from four did not occur. The Lakers are struck by the Spurs during the 2003 playoffs.
At the end of this season, Kobe Bryant is considered one of the best players, finishing in third place for the title of MVP of the regular season, and being elected in the All-NBA First Team (top five of the season).
Accused of rape
During the summer of 2003, he is accused of rape by an employee of a Colorado hotel where he spent his rehabilitation after an injury. The case was an enormous echo in the American media and Bryant had to admit that he had had a sexual relationship with the employee. The prosecution is then halted, the young woman undergoing a huge pressure from the surrounding Kobe Bryant. His image (married and father of a child) was highly flawed, some contributors (with Nutella) breaking their contracts with the player.
2003-2004 Season
Go like the Lakers for the 2003-2004 season after the signing of two future Hall of Famers: Karl Malone and Gary Payton, looking for their first title. With O'Neal and Bryant, the four superstars are at the service of the collective and the Lakers are rapidly becoming the best team in the league. But the wound of Karl Malone in December 2003 just stop series of beautiful Angelinos. Malone, cement group is absent three months, and Los Angeles began to lose his footing. O'Neal and Bryant, who take their media war, also missing several matches due to injury. Kobe is also forced to make several trips in Colorado to meet his alleged rape.
But the return of Malone at the end of the year gives breath to the Lakers and Bryant, who large enchaine performance. In the last game of the regular season, Kobe will probably her best performance, then pulling the extension giving victory buzzer on a three-point shooting. The Lakers became champions of the Pacific Division and seem to find their best basketball at the start of 2004 playoffs.
After a difficult first round against Houston, Los Angeles is 2-0 led facing the Spurs in San Antonio. But the Lakers manage the feat of winning all four meetings following. In Game 4, Kobe realizes one of his best career games with 42 points. Having eliminated Minnesota in the final conference, the Lakers reached the finals where they figure to face grand favorite Detroit Pistons. Kobe is also nominated for the title of MVP of the Finals. And pulling the extension in Game 2 on the shooting "the most important of his career, Bryant seems to be reason to journalists and the series is now tied. But the Pistons defensive rigor, combined with an adequate Lakers, has the title in Detroit in just five games. Los Angeles became the first team in history to lose three games out, critics point to Kobe, who has demonstrated selfishness and continued to shoot at the expense of his teammates, despite a low of 35%.
2004-2005 Season
After the finals lost to Detroit, Kobe Bryant is testing the market by abandoning its additional option years with the Lakers. But his wage demands, that few teams can meet, forced him to resign a contract for 7 years with the Lakers, after a time approached the side of the Clippers. But the Lakers team to face change: Coach Phil Jackson left the club and Shaquille O'Neal was traded to Miami against three players. Many journalists believe that Bryant is behind these two movements, although senior members of the Lakers say the opposite. Bryant is in fact wrong with O'Neal and seems to be the unchallenged leader of the team.
Bryant began the 2004-2005 season as the unquestioned leader of the Lakers but he struggles to lift his team over 50% of wins. Following its conflict with the law, he is booed almost every movement of the club and journalists to criticize his arrogance and his individualism.
Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant are competing for the first time on a parquet floor when the Lakers host the Miami Heat on Christmas Day. Before a record audience, Kobe 42 points mark, but O'Neal and his team win the game.
Despite the offensive performance of Bryant, the Lakers fell dramatically after the All Star Game, losing 19 of their last 22 games and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1994. Bryant finished second top scorer of the season, but the percentage of address (43.3%) is the lowest since 1998. His lack of camaraderie in the locker room and its tendency to monopolize the ball earned him the criticism of some of his teammates.
2005-2006 Season
Phil Jackson rejoined the Lakers team, which also sign the disappointing number 1 of 2001 draft Kwame Brown and Smush Parker discreet.
Nobody believes in Los Angeles before the start of the season, but after a month in first half-tone, create the Lakers surprised by positioning itself in the eighth qualifying spot in the West. Bryant, who has never been as strong offensively, took an entirely different dimension score 62 points in three quarter-time on 20 December against Dallas.
Kobe beats his record career points on 22 January 2006 with 81 points in the victory of his team deal with Toronto (122-104). This is the second best performance in the history of the NBA on a game, behind the 100 points of Wilt Chamberlain in 1962. In 42 minutes, Bryant set fire 28/46, 18/20 for free throws and 7 / 13 to 3 points. It marked 55 points in second half and even beat the Raptors alone over this period (55 to 45).
Kobe is the attraction of this part of the season, and journalists and fans expect every game to a great performance.
The end of the season marks the birth of a real team. If the individual performance of Bryant led the Lakers to be described as "one man show", this is not the approach of the playoffs. Odom is playing like a star All, Brown and Parker finally comfirm remains one of the revelations of the year. And this team will create a sensation through 3 wins to 1 against one of the favorites in Phoenix. Los Angeles, however, becomes the eighth team in history to lose a series of playoffs after having a 3-1 advantage.
Bryant has succeeded in driving almost alone in his team play-offs, with an average of more than 35 points, best performance over a season since Michael Jordan in his third year. It erases and Elgin Baylor for the top scorer on the Lakers season.
2006-2007 Season
Kobe Bryant began the year by changing the number. It deals with the number 24. The Lakers won 26 of their first 39 games and put up at the 4th Conference of the West. But successive injuries to Lamar Odom and Luke Walton will slow the team. The Lakers lose the foot, including chaining 7 consecutive defeats in March. Bryant registered 50 points in four consecutive games, "Mamba" will become the only player with Wilt Chamberlain to succeed such a feat: 65 against Portland, 50 against Minnesota, 60 against Memphis and 50 against New Orleans - all victories.
Bryant brand over 50 points three times, becoming the player with the most successful games to 50 points a season in the history of the Lakers (10 times). He eventually leading scorer in the league for the 2nd consecutive season with an average of 31.6 points per game.
Ended the season with only 42 wins and 40 losses, the Lakers face the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs in a remake of the previous season. But this time, the size of Phoenix is significantly better than the Lakers, despite a good game 3 which will see Bryant score 45 points, the Suns easily eliminate Lakers in 5 games.
Bryant particularly frustrated at the end of this series, said he wants to be transferred, unconvinced by the willingness of leaders to improve the team. It shrinks a little later, after talks with Phil Jackson, but the planner still doubt. Many rumors and the possible start of Kobe becomes the soap this summer.
Bryant has yet to concentrate on his basketball because he defends for the first time the colors of the United States with Team USA at the Americas Championship in August 2007. Like Michael Jordan in 1992 with the Dream Team, Bryant focuses on the defense. The United States won the tournament, playing Kobe Bryant averaged 19.9 minutes in 10 games. It marks an average of 15.3 points (60.7% at two points, 45.9% three-point and 87.2% in free throws), captures 2 gives 2.9 rebounds and assists.
And NBA Finals MVP (2007-2008)
The Lakers have a good start to the season thanks to the young center Andrew Bynum who became one of the most promising players in the league. The Lakers are in first place in the highly competitive Western Conference in January when Bynum was seriously injure the knee, reducing the strength of the Lakers in the racket. On 1 February, Spaniard Pau Gasol to the Lakers arrived to strengthen the team. Following this arrival, the Lakers won 10 consecutive games and become favorites. Bryant tears a ligament in atrial but continues to play. It marks 52 points against the Dallas Mavericks, including 30 in the last quarter-time and extension in the 108-104 victory of his team. Important victories against New Orleans and San Antonio during the last week of competition put the Lakers in the first place west of the conference (one of the end of the season closer in the history of the NBA) with a record of 57 victories for 25 defeats.
The Lakers face the Denver Nuggets in the first round of playoffs. Bryant brand 49 points and has 10 assists during the second meeting. Only three players have scored more than 40 points and given at least 10 assists in the playoffs in the last fifteen years (Tracy McGrady, Kevin Johnson and Charles Barkley). The Lakers are, in 2008, the only team to pass the first round of the playoffs 4 - 0 (scan).
On May 7, Bryant finally wins the title of NBA Most Valuable Player of the 2007-08 regular season. With an average of 28.3 points (second marker of the season), 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists, and he beat Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James.
After beating Denver 4-0, the Lakers beat Utah 4-2 win by going on the floor and eventually to Utah in final conference meet the San Antonio Spurs, they fly in 5 rounds. They go straight to the finals for the first time since 2004. Against the Boston Celtics in the remake of one of the greatest rivalries in the history of basketball, the Lakers were unable to find their level before the final. At the fourth meeting, they lose their prosecution after leading by 24 points in the history of the playoffs, a team has lost in such a cash advance. The Celtics destroy Lakers in game 6 and won 39 points, one of the worst defeats of the stories of the playoffs for the Lakers, beaten 4-2 at the end of those finals.
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