In a 2012 annual survey of NBA basic managers, Bryant was selected for the 10th consecutive season as the player general managers would wish to take a clutch shot with a recreation on the line. Bryant enjoyed being the villain, and reveled in being booed after which silencing the group along with his play. His ability to make tough photographs has also drawn criticism of his shot choice. Throughout his profession, Bryant was disparaged for being a egocentric, high-volume shooter; he missed extra field objective attempts in his career than some other player in NBA history.

Statistically, the 2000–01 season saw Bryant carry out equally to the previous yr, however he averaged six more points per sport (28.5). It was also the yr when disagreements between Bryant and O'Neal started to floor. Once again, Bryant led the group in assists, with 5 per game. The Lakers, nevertheless, solely received 56 video games, an 11-game dropoff from the previous yr. The Lakers would reply by going 15–1 within the playoffs.

In a poignant tribute to his life and legacy following his death in January 2020, the Mamba Forever version was released for NBA 2K21. It wasn’t even preseason but, but Kobe was going full velocity. Somehow he made it look as if he was just gliding around.

Tragedy struck the world of basketball and sport generally on 26 January 2020 when Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in California on the age of forty one. All nine folks on board, including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, died in the crash. National and international tributes came flooding in from sports stars, followers and celebrities. Bryant truly made his mark on the historical past of basketball, and his death leaves an immense void.

But for him, with his huge toe and his knee, it grew to become very hard for him to rise up within the morning and push by way of these things. He won't have been as prepared to do these issues at the time, and I wasn’t thrilled about that. Because I selected to increase my deal with the Lakers to play with Shaquille O’ Neal and win championships. I could have gone to another group and averaged 35 points a recreation. So it was infuriating to hear to folks say I was egocentric.

Both numbers he wore during his career, 8 and 24, have been retired by the Lakers on December 18, 2017. In his first 12 months of eligibility, Bryant was named a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, weeks after his death, before being elected a few months later in April 2020. His formal induction was delayed till 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2021, Bryant was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. The Lakers swept the Utah Jazz within the second spherical and superior to the Western Conference Finals, the place they confronted the Phoenix Suns. In Game 2, Bryant completed the sport with thirteen assists, setting a new playoff career-high; it was the most assists by a Laker in the playoffs since Magic Johnson had 13 in 1996.

Trudell keeps preying on Bryant's weak backhand, nevertheless. Someone has referred to as next, however when the game ends, Bryant does not budge. When Bryant has a selection word for Lakers sideline reporter Mike Trudell whereas he is taking half in against Shawne Williams, Trudell tells Bryant he'd be happy to beat him next.

Bryant was joined on the flight by his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna; John and Keri Altobelli and their daughter, Alyssa; Sarah Chester and her daughter, Payton; and Christina Mauser, an assistant coach. On January 26, 2022, coinciding with the 2nd anniversary of his demise and the helicopter crash, a statue of Bryant and his daughter Gianna was positioned at the website the place the crash occurred. Later in February, the NBA redesigned the All-Star Game MVP trophy as a part of the most important redesign of the All-Star Weekend trophies in celebration of the league's 75th anniversary season. Bryant shoots a fadeaway over Shane Battier in 2009.Bryant primarily played as a taking pictures guard.