The cause of the crash is still unknown, as 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 said that the official explanation for demise for him and the eight others on the helicopter was blunt pressure trauma. Aside from his skills on offense, he has established himself as a standout defender.

"I can't consider how briskly 20 years went by," he stated. Introducing proPLAY – a groundbreaking new expertise that directly interprets NBA footage into NBA 2K24 gameplay. ProPLAY delivers animations and actions via on-court NBA action for a generational leap in authenticity.

Kobe Bryant performed a significant role in main the Lakers to championship victories in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, and 2010. He was the youngest participant to reach 30,000 profession points within the NBA. Hence the jersey—his No. 33 from Lower Merion High—she wore to a sport in July 2022.

The Times is offering select protection of Kobe Bryant’s dying free of charge. Please think about a subscription to support our journalism. He called himself Black Mamba, a code name for an assassin in one of Quentin Tarantino’s films. But his aggression and agility on the court got here with a darker facet as properly.

The staff's quest for another three-peat was ended after they were swept by the Dallas Mavericks within the second spherical of the playoffs. The Mavericks would go on to win the 2011 NBA Finals. On May 27, 2007, ESPN reported that Bryant said that he wanted to be traded if Jerry West didn't return to the team with full authority. Bryant later confirmed his want for West's return to the franchise, however denied stating that he would want to be traded if that doesn't occur. Bryant would later be shown on an notorious amateur video saying that middle Andrew Bynum ought to have been traded for All-Star Jason Kidd.

The couple bought a house in the Newport Beach community of Newport Coast, the place they installed his “Star Wars” memorabilia and her Disney collectibles. For her nineteenth birthday, he bought her a Lamborghini with a particular adapter so she wouldn’t have to drive a stick shift. When the Lakers received their second championship in Philadelphia in 2001, Kobe was spotted holding the trophy within the shower and crying. Some wondered if the battle with O’Neal was taking its toll; Bryant would later say he was excited about the rift in his household. Bryant and Vanessa have been married in Dana Point in 2001.

And there's a special devotion among NFL players who’ve clung to Kobe’s strategy as a guide via the crucible of damage. Since 1957, GQ has inspired men to look sharper and stay smarter with its unparalleled coverage of favor, culture, and beyond. From award-winning writing and photography to binge-ready videos to electric live occasions, GQ meets millions of contemporary males the place they stay, creating the moments that create conversations. And in this final section of his sensible, checkered, championship-laden career, the man who once known as himself "the Valentino of the NBA" has been operating his mouth like never earlier than. This interview—the final one he gave earlier than his season-ending damage in late January—was no exception. The basketball player received greater than basketball championships.

"He would publicly say that neither of us could stop the opposite," added Bryant. "I refused to imagine that. I score 50. You score zero. That is what I imagine. When I began guarding AI, he had 16 at the half. He completed the sport with 16. Revenge was sweet." In the fourth quarter, as Bryant made shot after shot in opposition to the Utah Jazz, on his way to 60 factors, the sector was filled with a gentle, deafening cheer. Bryant picked up a microphone afterward to handle the crowd. Flying back to L.A., he known as a news conference at Staples Center and, with tears in his eyes and voice quavering, acknowledged having intercourse with the girl but insisted it was consensual. Bryant took refuge in his relationship with Vanessa, as bodyguards accompanied them to Disneyland and received them seats on the native Cineplex after the lights went down.