Even though Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna died in a horrific accident more than four years ago, his legacy is still felt today. His NBA career will never
be forgotten. After being drafted right out of high school, he was traded to the Lakers and worked his way up the ladder to become a household name. With
teammates like Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol, Bryant won five NBA titles with the Lakers over his 20-year career, solidifying his status as a legend. He
was among the top scorers the league had ever seen, but he was also among the greatest scorers in history. August 23rd was
The Lakers captioned their Instagram photo, “Los Angeles’ heart & soul – Happy Birthday Kobe,” with a purple heart at the bottom. In addition to his five
championships, Bryant was named an All-Star 18 times, an NBA All-Star 15 times, an All-Defensive 12 times, an MVP of the regular season twice, a Finals
MVP twice, and an MVP of the regular season in 2008. In addition, he continues to rank well on the scoring list, coming in fourth place with 36,643 career points, only behind Karl Malone, Kareem Abdul-
Jabbar, and LeBron James. Players strive to be as committed and focused as their idol was when he controlled the league, and Bryant’s influence on the game is still felt today.
