Kobe Bryant A Basketball Legend

By a show of reactions, who here watches or has watched basketball. Alright well today is the 15 year anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s 81 point game, one of the best performances by an athlete in a single game. Kobe Bryant was born in Philadelphia on August 23rd, 1978. In his early life, Kobe lived in Italy up till the age of 13 when he moved back to Philly where he later enrolled at Lower Merion High School and led his team to a state championship for 4 straight years in a row. After averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks a year, Kobe chose to enter the NBA draft at the age of 18 and was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick but was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night. As a rookie, Kobe needed some time to adjust from playing high school level players to NBA level players. He had only averaged 7 points a game, but the next season Kobe adjusted. He averaged 15 points per game and was voted the youngest all star in NBA history at the age of 19. He had also won the NBA dunk contest this same all star weekend. Kobe was later paired with Shaq after the Lakers completed a trade with the Orlando Magic. Alongside Shaq, Kobe’s stats increased dramatically. Averaging 22,28, and 25 points per game, Kobe and Shaq went on to win 3 straight championships, the first and only 3 peat since Michael Jordan’s bulls. However, Kobe and Shaq didn’t see eye to eye so they ended up splitting ways and something just ignited in Kobe that turned him into an MVP caliber player. After the departure of Shaq, Kobe went on to have multiple amazing seasons. His most notable was his 2006 season where he average 35 points per game as well as 6 50 point games and not to forget his 81 point game against the Toronto Raptors on this day 15 days ago. The highest scoring game by any player since Wilt Camberlein’s 100 point game in 1962. In 2008, Kobe was named the leagues Most Valuable Player and took the Lakers to their first championship since the departure of Shaq, where they sadly lost to the Boston Celtics, who were stacked with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, and Ray and Allen. Kobe sought out to prove to everyone that he could win without Shaq and that’s exactly what he did the very next season. Kobe defeated Shaq’s former team, the Orlando Magic, who were led by Dwight Howard to win his fourth NBA championship. The following season, Kobe once again had to face a legendary Celtics roster, but this time the outcome was different. Kobe beat the Celtics in a nailbiting game 7. Kobe, once again, was an NBA champion. Kobe, however, didn’t see such success for the rest of his career on the level of winning championships. Kobe averaged 27 points per game all up to the 2012-13 where he ended up tearing his achilles tendon and Kobe was never the same. Kobe played 3 more seasons where he kept facing injuries and decided that 2016 would be his last season. In his last game, Kobe scored 60 points in a sold out Staples Center and secured the win in the final seconds against the Utah Jazz. Kobe sadly lost his life in a helicopter crash on January 26th of last year, along with 8 others including daughter Gianna. Kobe had accomplished so much in the world of basketball. Winning 2 gold medals with team USA in 2008 and 2012 alongside all stars Kevin Durant, Lebron James, and others. A quote from current NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says, “With 17 NBA All-Star selections, an NBA MVP, 5 NBA championships, two olympic gold medals, and a drelentless work ethic, Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in the history of our game, Whether competing in the finals or hoisting jump shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the game.” So I guess the only way to end this speech is by saying “Mambo Out”