Today would have been Kobe Bryant’s 46th birthday. Time to celebrate the late, great Kobe Bryant, who retired after the 2015-16 season. He is one of the greatest players to ever play this game, and as a reminder how great of a career he had, check out his accomplishments:
48,637: Minutes played
33,643: Career points, fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, and LeBron James
5,640: Points scored in the NBA Playoffs, fourth most in NBA history behind LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
81: Points in a 122-104 victory against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006, the second-highest total in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962
60: Points in a 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz on April 13, 2016, the most points in a player’s final game in NBA history. At 37, Bryant became the oldest player in league history with a 60-point game
50: Twenty-five career 50-point games, third most in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain (118) and Michael Jordan (31)
37: In his last season, he became the first player age 37 or older to score at least 25 points in three straight games since Michael Jordan at 40 in 2003
24: Jersey number beginning in the 2006-07 season after switching from No. 8
20: Seasons with the Lakers, second behind Dirk Nowitzki for the most with one team in NBA history
18: Consecutive All-Star Game selections (the longest streak in NBA history) and All-Star Game selections overall (the second most all time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 19)
16: Appearances on Christmas Day, the most in NBA history
15: All-Star Game starts, the most in NBA history
13: Overall selection by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft
11: All-NBA First Team selections, second most behind LeBron James
9: NBA All-Defensive First Team selections, tied with Kevin Garnett, Michael Jordan and Gary Payton for the most in NBA history
6: Six career 60-point games, second most in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain (32)
5: NBA championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)
4: All-Star MVP Awards (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011), tied with Bob Pettit for the most in NBA history
2: Finals MVP Awards (2009, 2010)
1: NBA Most Valuable Player Award (2007-08)
