Kobe Bryant, a basketball legend, has left us great legacies. He gave his all for the Los Angeles Lakers and scored the most impressive.
During his career, Kobe Bryant won 5 rings from 2000 to 2010. He is the perfect combination of natural talent and hard work.
In this article of Langley Rams, we will review the life and achievements of Kobe Rings. You will understand why he is such a monument in the end.
Let’s read on to discover!
Contents
Career Snapshot of Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is the legend of the Los Angeles Lakers.
It’s been a while since Kobe Bryant left the basketball court. However, his stats are still really great. We can mention a few impressive rankings such as:
- 4th all-time in career points (33,643).
- 8th in minutes played (48,643).
- 16th in career steals (1,944).
He also has 18 appearances on the All-Star Team, 15 times on the All- NBA Team, 12 times on the All-NBA Defensive Team. You can watch this video to have a closer look at his performance.
Although Kobe Bryant only won a single MVP title in the 2008 season, his talent is undeniable. However, a few controversies outside the court affected the ratings in the other four MVP polls.
We also cannot ignore Bryant’s competitive relationship with Shaquille O’Neal. Kobe once said they could prolong their NBA dominance as long as Shaq stayed and played together.
Bryant’s career has been wrapped up with 5 NBA championships. Thanks to that, he was ranked fourteenth in the list of all NBA history along with Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, or Dennis Rodman.
Related: How many rings does lebron have
Biography of Kobe Bryant
In high school, Kobe Bryant received a lot of attention for his talent.
Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania. He is the son of former NBA player Joe Bryant.
During his time at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania, Bryant received a lot of attention. Teams are keeping an eye on him because he is the nation’s top basketball player.
In 1996, the Charlotte Hornets selected him as the 13th player in the First Draft. After playing for a while, the Hornets traded Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Since he was a rookie, Bryant’s vertical jumps have attracted the attention of the audience. As a result, he won the Slam-dunk competition in 1997. Since then, Kobe Bryant’s career began to flourish.
Let’s learn about 5 Kobe Bryant rings in the next section.
How Many Rings Does Kobe Have? Kobe Rings Collection
Of course, Kobe Bryant didn’t win all the matches during his career. His best days were playing with Shaquille O’Neal. Despite its ups and downs, Kobe still gives us outstanding performances.
View more: Who has the most rings in the nba
1. NBA season 1999-00: The first ring
Kobe Bryant Championships for the first time in 1999-00 season.
Both Bryant and Shaq entered the fourth year of their careers this 1999-00 season. The regular season here was a massive success for the Los Angeles Lakers. In particular, the team’s brightest star is Shaquille O’Neal, with consecutive MVP titles in his career.
And Kobe Bryant is still on the rise with 22.5 PPG at the age of 21. At the end of the season, he received second place in the All-NBA squad.
The 2000s playoffs weren’t easy, though, as the Kings and Trailblazers pushed the Lakers to two knockouts. As for favorites, they still entered the NBA Finals. One of the most iconic images in the Blazers’ series is Kobe’s alley-oop to Shaq.
This 2000s season belongs entirely to Shaq, but Kobe still makes his mark. After missing most of the 2nd and 3rd rounds with an ankle injury, Bryant came back powerfully in Round 44. He scored 26 points in Round 6 to decide the NBA championship for the Los Angeles Lakers. It was also the first championship of a 21-year-old youngster.
View more: How much is a nba championship ring worth
2. NBA season 2000-01: The second ring
During the NBA league of 2001, the conflict between Kobe and Shaq risen up.
The Los Angeles Lakers went through the regular season and playoffs like an unstoppable tank, losing a single playoff game. For the second time in a row, Kobe Bryant joined the All-NBA lineup. His form and Shaq’s form at the moment are both extremely high as both average 28 points per game.
With the league’s second-best record, the Los Angeles Lakers aim for a second straight championship.
It didn’t take long to prove that the Lakers’ vision was correct. When they reached the NBA Finals, they lost only one game to the Philadelphia 76ers. Kobe Bryant’s performance was relatively poor on that first night of competition when he only scored 15 points.
However, that situation did not last long. The next four games showed the Los Angeles Lakers’ dominance under Shaq and Kobe.
Kobe’s average difference in those four games was 27 points with nine rebounds, so they won the championship easily. However, since then, the conflict between Kobe and Shaq began to rekindle.
3. NBA season 2001-02: The third ring
The NBA season 2001-02 was the last time Kobe and Shaq played together.
The next regular season was a massive success for the Los Angeles Lakers, finishing second seed before the knockouts. After eliminating the Suns in a sweep and the Spurs with five games, they moved to the NBA Finals round.
Their opponent here is the Sacramento Kings. The team gathers young players and is hungry for titles.
The Kings put in an outstanding performance by repeatedly pushing the Los Angeles Lakers to their limits. With a 3-2 lead, they are ready to rewrite history. However, the results of Rounds 6 and 7 belonged to the Lakers.
This result has created controversy in the fan community for a long time. People thought that the referee gave too much favor to the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, Kobe Bryant had three championships with Shaq at the time.
4. NBA season 2008-09: The fourth ring
Black Mamba got his fourth NBA championship this season.
Now, the Los Angeles Lakers have lacked Shaquille O’Neal as a solid pillar. They returned with an effort to help Kobe prove that he could achieve the championship without relying on Shaq’s overwhelming shadow.
Their opponent in the match was the Orlando Magic. This series of NBA Finals was quite favorable and easy for Kobe Bryant with a 4-1.
Kobe has shined in this streak, averaging 32 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. In the end, the title of MVP in the finals is his most deserved reward.
5. NBA season 2009-10: The fifth ring
In 2009 and 2010, Kobe got his last NBA championship.
All eyes continue to be on Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers this season. Many argue that Kobe’s form has begun to decline when he has entered his 14th season in the NBA.
However, the Los Angeles Lakers continued to step through each obstacle. First the regular season, then the playoffs with the representatives of the West region. After a tough series against the Thunder, they overtook the Jazz and swept the Suns in 6th place.
The Los Angeles Lakers rematch the opponent who defeated them in 2008 – the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. This series of matches deserve to be in the ranks of super classics. The two teams continued to win each point. In-game 6, Kobe Bryant excellently scored 26 points with 11 rebounds.
In-game 7, Kobe Bryant took the lead with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and a game-defining assist for Ron Artest. No.3. In the end, the Los Angeles Lakers avenged their feud against the Boston Celtics.
Final Thoughts
In every stage of his career, Kobe Bryant has always had his shining moments. His performance shattered baseless claims that he couldn’t win a title without Shaq.
So, how many rings does Kobe have? How many championships does Kobe have? With a 20-year career and five championship rings, Kobe Bryant shows himself to be the soul of the Los Angeles Lakers. Though gone, his legacy will live on in the hearts of fans.
Hopefully, the article has provided you with useful information. Thank you for reading!
