He played almost all of the following season but once more struggled, with a career-low .358 capturing percentage whereas averaging 17.6 factors per game, and he retired following the last regular-season sport of the 2015–16 season. The Lakers in 2012–13 acquired heart Dwight Howard and point guard Steve Nash. On November 2, 2012, Bryant scored 40 factors with two steals, and he handed Magic Johnson as the Lakers career chief in steals. However, the Lakers lost the sport to the Clippers and began the season 0–3 for the first time in 34 years and simply the fourth time in franchise history. After starting the season 1–4, coach Mike Brown was fired.

Bryant was arrested for sexual assault before the season began. This triggered Bryant to miss some games as a result of courtroom appearances or attend court docket earlier in the day and journey to play games afterward the identical day. In the final game of the common season, the Lakers played the Portland Trail Blazers. Bryant made two buzzer-beaters to win the game and the Pacific Division title. At the tip of the fourth quarter, Bryant made a three-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to send it into additional time. The game ultimately went to a second additional time, in which Bryant made one other three-pointer as time expired to lift the Lakers past the Blazers, 105–104.

The two began courting and became engaged six months later in May 2000, whereas Laine was nonetheless a senior at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California. In addition to his talents on offense, Bryant additionally established himself as a standout defensive participant. Bryant not often drew costs when he played defense, which he believed spared his body and contributed to his longevity. However, some critics have suggested that Bryant's defensive accolades in his later years were based more on his reputation than his precise play. By the tip of the season, he averaged 15.5 minutes a sport.

“In our sport, nobody had more influence,” Diggins-Smith says. Each female player saw in him the title of his guide, The Mamba Mentality. Last season he played he started the ultimate six games for an injured Tanner Morgan, tossing three touchdowns and 946 yards passing and leading the Gophers to a second straight win over Wisconsin to retain the Paul Bunyan Axe. This is the fourth time Bryant has been on the quilt of the game, including when he was featured on the quilt of NBA 2K21, which was launched just months after his demise in January 2020.

The staggering misfortune sent shockwaves all by way of the world, leaving fans and individual opponents grieving. Because of this tragedy, Kobe inspired legends and current gamers, leaving a long-lasting impact on their lives. Whether you're from the United States or abroad, Kobe instilled the “Mamba Mentality” as a reminder to turn into nice.

When Ryan broke his leg in 2018, he walked off the sector like Kobe walked off the court—though Ryan stated he was not channeling his idol on function. Once he obtained to the sideline, they told him it was damaged. It’s unimaginable to separate Bryant’s creation of the Black Mamba with what happened in 2003 and 2004. In July 2003, Bryant was arrested and charged with felony sexual assault after a 19-year-old lady mentioned he raped her within the resort room the place he was staying in Edwards, Colorado. Bryant initially denied there was any sexual encounter but later told police that that they had consensual sex.

Over the course of the season, Bryant became concerned in a selection of on-court incidents. On January 28 while attempting to draw contact on a possible game-winning bounce shot, he flailed his arm, putting San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginóbili in the face with his elbow. The basis given for the suspension was that Bryant had carried out an "unnatural movement" in swinging his arm backward.

Thank you all in your love and help, it is a lot appreciated, even if the villain in me refuses to acknowledge it all the time. By the time Kobe got to the league and we had been in the NBA Finals that first time in L.A., I had reporters coming up to me asking, with a straight face, “Did Kobe actually take it to you in a game of one-on-one again in Italy? Teague then detailed his first encounter with McGrady, who showed as much as follow with a sense of entitlement. That’s T-Mac within the Maybach with some massive ass copyright clothes on,” Teague shared. Later within the follow, Teague felt disrespected by how McGrady scoffed at finding out Jeff was the Hawks’ place to begin guard. As a result, Teague claims he spent the remainder of the yr “talking shit” to his elder by reminding T-Mac that he wasn’t on the identical level as generational peers corresponding to Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.