Bryant led the Lakers to their 15th NBA Championship in franchise history (and his fourth overall), as they defeated the Orlando Magic in game five of the 2009 NBA Finals. In the closeout game, Bryant led the way with 30 points, en route to receiving the first NBA Finals MVP Award named after the great Bill Russell.

In his 12th NBA season, Bryant won his first Most Valuable Player Award. Bryant had a brilliant season, capped off by a Lakers trip to the NBA Finals. He had season averages of 28.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 5.4 apg. In addition to winning the MVP award, Bryant was the only unanimous selection to the All-NBA team on May 8, 2008 for the third straight season and sixth time in his career. He would then headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team, receiving 52 points overall including 24 first-place nods, earning his eighth selection.

Kobe Bryant re-signed as a free agent to the Los Angeles Lakers for a 7-year contract estimated at $136.4 million (the largest contract value in NBA history).

The Los Angeles Lakers re-signed Kobe Bryant to a 6-year $70.9 million contract extension.

Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1st round (13th pick) of the 1996 NBA Draft. With an agreement in place, the Hornets traded Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac (7-11-1996).

Kobe Bryant broke the Madison Square Garden record with 61 points, while leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 126-117 victory over the New York Knicks.

Kobe was 19 for 31 from the field and a perfect 20 for 20 from the free throw line. The previous record was held by Knicks legend Bernard King who scored 60 points against the New Jersey Nets on Christmas Day in 1984.

Bryant scored 30 points in the third quarter of a game versus the Utah Jazz at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. For the game, he tallied 52 points on 19-26 shooting, 2-3 from three-pont land, and 12-15 from the free throw line. He added 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 blocked shot as the Lakers routed the Jazz 132-102.

On January 22, 2006, in a regular season game against the Toronto Raptors, Bryant set the second-highest point total in NBA history with a phenomenal 81-point performance (career high). Only Wilt Chamberlain's storied 100-point game nearly 44 years earlier ranks higher. He left the game to a standing ovation with 4.2 seconds remaining, having shot 28-of-46 from the floor, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range, and 18-of-20 from the foul line. He scored 27 points in the third quarter and 28 points in the fourth. His statline also included 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 blocked shot.

Fueled by anger from a frustrating loss just two nights earlier, Bryant scorched the Dallas Mavericks for a then career-high 62 points. He shot 18-of-31, including 4-of-10 from 3-point range, and made 22 of 25 foul shots while playing only 33 minutes. When he left the game, he had outscored the Mavericks by himself, 62-61. He added 8 rebounds and 3 steals for the game.

On a night where the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Seattle Supersonics in the Staples Center, Bryant set an NBA record with 12 three-pointers made in a single game. He scored a total of 45 points on 16-28 shooting and 12-18 beyond the arc, including 9 straight made. He made 11 of those three-pointers in the second and third quarters alone. The Lakers went on to win the game 119-98. He shares the record with Donyell Marshall who tied the mark in 2005.

At the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Bryant scores 31 points in the All-Star Game and takes home MVP honors.

With Shaquille O'Neal serving a suspension, Bryant dominates in the Lakers' 120-81 pummeling of the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite playing just 34 minutes, Bryant pours in a career-high 56 points, making 21 of 34 shots, including 3 of 6 three-pointers, and 11 of 12 free throws.

On a series of putbacks, floaters, facials, and tough jumpshots, Bryant made up for Shaquille O'Neal's foul troubles as he put up some amazing numbers. He scored 48 points (15-29 FG, 1-1 3pt, 17-19 FT), grabbed 16 rebounds, dished out 3 assists, had 2 steals and 1 block, as Los Angeles closed out the Sacramento Kings in Game 4 of the 2001 Playoffs.

Bryant tallies a then career-high 51 points in a loss to the Warriors. Golden State forward Antawn Jamison matches Bryant's scoring output, and the two become the first opponents to top 50 points in the same game since the San Francisco Warriors' Wilt Chamberlain (63) and the Lakers' Elgin Baylor (51) did it on Dec. 14, 1962. This was Bryant's first ever 50-point game.

During the 2000 NBA Finals, Bryant was forced to miss Game 3 with a badly sprained ankle. A hobbled Kobe delivers an impressive performance in a Game 4 overtime victory. After Shaquille O'Neal fouls out, Bryant finishes with 28 and has the game-winning basket. Two games later, in Game 6, Kobe answers the bell again, complementing O'Neal's 41 points with 26 as the Lakers win the title.

Bryant scores 33 of his then career-high 38 points in the second half of a 113-104 victory over the Orlando Magic.

In a game against the Chicago Bulls, Bryant drops 33 points (12-20 FG, 3-5 3PT, 29 mins) on Michael Jordan, who guards him. The media picks up on this and begins hyping the upcoming All-Star game, comparing the Lakers guard to Jordan. The Bulls went on to win the ballgame 104-83.

The 1997 NBA Rookie Challenge Game took place during All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, OH. Bryant participated, and goes on to score 31 points in the game, erasing Eddie Jones' old record of 25. THe record has since been tied by Jason Richardson. Bryant was also crowned the Slam Dunk Champion during that weekend.