The reason for the crash remains to be unknown, because the helicopter was not equipped with a black box. The Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, and the FBI have launched investigations into the crash. On January 28, Bryant's identity was officially confirmed using fingerprints. The following day, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner stated that the official cause of death for him and the eight others on the helicopter was blunt force trauma. Aside from his abilities on offense, he has established himself as a standout defender.

But for the primary time for the reason that Hall of Famer retired in 2016, the NBA is about to have fans watching guys named Kobe again. And make no mistake -- Kobe Brown and Kobe Bufkin can be the primary two gamers at NBA Summer League to insist there'll by no means be one other Bryant. Kobe Bryant’s legacy continues to encourage younger basketball players. Try taking half in basketball, even in youth leagues, when your name is Coby Bryant. Try watching clips of the NBA superstar you’re named after when you’re 7, to know the usual you should meet.

The following day, he surpassed Jerry West to turn into the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise historical past. After being sidelined for 5 video games from an ankle injury, Bryant made his return and made another clutch three-pointer to offer the Lakers a one-point lead with 4 seconds remaining in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies. Two weeks later, he made his sixth game-winning shot of the season against the Toronto Raptors. After the Lakers misplaced the 2004 NBA Finals, O'Neal was traded and Bryant grew to become the cornerstone of the Lakers. He led the NBA in scoring during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons. In 2006, he scored a career-high 81 factors; the second most factors scored in a single sport in league history, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962.

He signed an endorsement contract with Adidas and obtained a Screen Actors Guild card for the roles he was now enjoying not solely on “Moesha” but additionally on “Arli$$,” a cable present a few sports activities agent. Naima Smith, 37, heart, and different fans mourn the death of Kobe Bryant at a vigil in Leimert Park on Sunday. The investigation continues Tuesday at the crash website in Calabasas the place a helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and 7 others crashed, killing all aboard. Averaging greater than 30 factors and 10 rebounds a game, he broke Wilt Chamberlain’s record as the leading high school scorer within the historical past of the Philadelphia area. Still, there was skepticism when the 17-year-old made himself available for the 1996 NBA draft. He idolized Elgin Baylor — “the footwork king” — and admired the method in which West might fireplace a fast bounce shot or easily minimize to the basket.

Kobe Bryant's sport winner in 99–98 victory over Memphis Grizzlies exhibits clutchness can't be duplicated Archived February 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, sports activities.yahoo.com, February 23, 2010. Lakers win eleventh straight, Bryant injures finger Archived August 12, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, sports.yahoo.com, December 12, 2009. Larry Bird held the earlier document; he was 35 when he had 49 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists on March 15, 1992, in opposition to Portland. Afterward, Bryant co-founded an unbiased record label, Heads High Entertainment, but it folded inside a yr. In 1999, Bryant appeared on a remix of "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child on the Maxi single version of the track.

The couple purchased a home within the Newport Beach group of Newport Coast, the place they installed his “Star Wars” memorabilia and her Disney collectibles. For her 19th birthday, he purchased her a Lamborghini with a special adapter so she wouldn’t should drive a stick shift. When the Lakers won their second championship in Philadelphia in 2001, Kobe was noticed holding the trophy in the bathe and crying. Some questioned if the battle with O’Neal was taking its toll; Bryant would later say he was excited about the rift in his family. Bryant and Vanessa have been married in Dana Point in 2001.

He noted that it has been the "helicopter of selection" for Queen Elizabeth II, amongst different high dignitaries, since 2009. Minutes later, there was a shift change on the Southern California TRACON, which provides air traffic control providers to airports within the area. And the helicopter was heading into more and more mountainous terrain, the place visibility that morning was poor. What occurred in return was a shift within the Drew League’s recognition, saving the league. Dino Smiley told Yahoo Sports in 2016 that he had planned on the 2011 season being the last.

The foundation given for the suspension was that Bryant had carried out an "unnatural movement" in swinging his arm backwards. Later, on March 6, he seemed to repeat the movement, this time putting Minnesota Timberwolves guard Marko Jarić. On March 7, the NBA handed Bryant his second one-game suspension. In his first recreation back on March 9, he elbowed Kyle Korver in the face which was retroactively re-classified as a Type 1 flagrant foul. In the 2002–03 season, Bryant set an NBA record for three-pointers on January 7, 2003, making 12 in opposition to the Seattle SuperSonics. He averaged 30 factors per sport and launched into a historic run, posting forty or more points in 9 consecutive video games while averaging forty.6 in the complete month of February.