Career.
At 34 years and 104 days of age, Bryant became the youngest player in league history to reach 30,000 career points.
- 1996 NBA Draft
The first guard to ever be taken out of high school, Bryant was chosen as the 13th overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 . - First three seasons (1996–99)
Bryant was the winner of the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest , becoming the youngest player to be named the slam dunk champion at the age of 18.
He received more playing time and began to show more of his abilities as a talented young guard.
During the season, Bryant signed a 6-year contract extension worth $70 million. - Three-peat (1999–2002)
Bryant started the 1999–2000 season sidelined for six weeks due to an injury to his hand.
2000–01 season saw Bryant perform similarly to the previous year, but he averaged 6 more points a game.
In the 2001–02 season , Bryant played 80 games for the first time in his career.
Bryant became the youngest player to win three championships. - Coming up short (2002–04)
In the 2002–03 season, Bryant averaged 30 points per game and embarked on a historic run, posting 40 or more points in nine consecutive games while averaging 40.6 in the entire month of February.
With a starting lineup of four future Hall of Famers , O'Neal, Malone, Payton, and Bryant, the Lakers were able to reach the NBA Finals.
Phil Jackson's contract as coach was not renewed, and Rudy Tomjanovich took over. - Setting records and playoffs disappointments (2004–07)
Bryant was criticized during the 2004–05 season with his reputation badly damaged from all that had happened over the previous year.
The 2005–06 NBA season, Phil Jackson returned to coach the Lakers.
Bryant and Jackson worked together well the second time around, leading the Lakers back into the playoffs. - MVP year and trip to the finals (2007–08)
Bryant was officially announced as the NBA Most Valuable Player award , his first for his career. - Back on top (2008–10)
Bryant won his fifth championship and earned his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP award.
Bryant said that this was the most satisfying of all of his five championships. - Chasing the sixth championship (2010–present)
Bryant scored 30+ points in his seventh consecutive game, the longest streak ever by an NBA player after turning 34 years old; it was the fourth-longest such streak in his career.