The Bryants' first daughter, Natalia, was born in January 2003. The birth resulted in a reconciliation between Bryant and his mother and father. Due to an ectopic being pregnant, Vanessa suffered a miscarriage within the spring of 2005. Their second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore (also referred to as "Gigi"), was born in May 2006.

I knew that when my basketball profession was over, I’d be seeking to begin a business and new career. I started to see the passion and dedication from entrepreneurs. I associated to it because it’s how I approached the game every single day.

Bryant was already coaching Gianna on the youth level—they had been on their way to a recreation that tragic day on January 26, 2020. If he ever wanted to show the sport to others, at any stage, he could have made a fabulous coach. I vividly keep in mind Kobe sitting round eating french fries and talking basketball as slightly kid. When we might be on the shootaround earlier than the sport, Kobe could be attempting to heat up with us. I’m not talking like, you know, shagging rebounds, like a ball boy or whatever.

The song was also used by Sprite in its 2011 marketing campaign in China. Bryant's Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics in 6 video games in the course of the 2008 NBA Finals. While Kobe’s dying absolutely had a world impression illustrated by memorials and tributes everywhere in the world, black males have been particularly affected. The scenario occurred in Colorado, simply two years after marrying his spouse Vanessa Bryant, when a 19-year-old lodge front desk clerk claimed Kobe raped her on a hotel tour. The case was eventually dropped when the accuser decided to not testify and the civil lawsuit in opposition to him was settled out of the court docket of legislation, however the jury continues to be out in the court of public opinion. In one of Kobe’s ultimate interviews, he talked about that people would make feedback to him that he wanted a son to hold out his legacy, however as a proud #GirlDad, he at all times inspired his four girls to dream big.

The staff's quest for one more three-peat was ended once they were swept by the Dallas Mavericks within the second round of the playoffs. The Mavericks would go on to win the 2011 NBA Finals. On May 27, 2007, ESPN reported that Bryant stated that he wished to be traded if Jerry West did not return to the staff with full authority.

He died tragically in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. In genuine reverence to one of many biggest basketball players ever, Kobe Bryant is honored on the quilt of NBA 2K24, a legendary tribute. This selection observes Kobe’s impact on the sport of basketball that stretches across generations. Bryant avoiding a collision in a game in opposition to China at the 2008 Summer OlympicsBryant declined to play within the 2000 Olympics because he was getting married within the off-season. He additionally decided not to play within the 2002 FIBA World Championship. Bryant was originally chosen for the FIBA Americas Championship in 2003 but withdrew after present process arthroscopic shoulder and knee surgical procedures.

He was additionally the first guard in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons. His 18 All-Star designations are the second most all time, while it's the document for many consecutive appearances as a starter. Bryant's four All-Star Game MVP Awards are tied with Bob Pettit for essentially the most in NBA history. He gave himself the nickname "Black Mamba" within the mid-2000s, and the epithet became extensively adopted by the basic public. At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, he gained two gold medals as a member of the us national group. In 2018, he won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for his 2017 film Dear Basketball.

The Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs in the Western Conference Semifinals as they have been swept by the San Antonio Spurs. Dennis Rodman says Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal did not like him during his time with the Lakers and wanted him out of the group. However, Durant ultimately developed his sport and have become one of the most lethal scorers in NBA history and Bryant couldn’t determine a method to slow him down. Bryant was picked 13th overall in the identical draft, whereas Iverson was chosen first overall by Kobe's hometown Sixers.