From No. 8 to No. 24: A Look Back at Kobe Bryant's Incredible Career
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Late NBA legend Kobe Bryant is among the select basketball players who will be inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame on Saturday night in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Bryant, a lifelong Los Angeles Laker, had his No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys retired on Dec. 18, 2017, becoming the first NBA player to have both his jerseys retired.
Although coronavirus caused the 2020 ceremony to be postponed, the class is now finally being honored. There are nine members of the class that will be enshrined Saturday: Alongside Bryant, Duncan and Garnett are new LSU women’s coach and former Baylor coach Kim Mulkey, former Bentley coach Barbara Stevens, four-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings, two-time NBA champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich, three-time Final Four coach Eddie Sutton and former FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann. Bryant, Sutton and Baumann will all be enshrined posthumously.
Take a look at his storied career in photos ahead of the 2020 NBA Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
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Five-time champion Kobe Bryant enjoys his final NBA title with his kids.
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Kobe Bryant played his rookie season in 1996-97.
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No. 8 Kobe Bryant was an athletic monster and won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in his rookie year.
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In 2000, Kobe Bryant played in his first NBA finals.
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With Shaq, Kobe Bryant won the 2000 NBA title.
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No. 8 Kobe's Lakers and Kings had a playoff rivalry.
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Tim Duncan and the Spurs were regular postseason foes.
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In the 2001 finals, Allen Iverson's Sixers offered a challenge.
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Lakers won the 2001 finals and went 15-1 in the playoffs.
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In 2002, Kobe's Lakers do the threepeat. They beat Jason Kidd's Nets.
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Manu Ginobili, one of the few to last from No. 8 to No. 24.
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Kobe led the 2004 Lakers' super team to the NBA finals.
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Lakers fell to Pistons in the 2004 NBA finals.
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Shaq and Kobe split in 2004.
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Kobe looks to Lamar Odom for Lakers' turnaround.
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No. 8: Kobe Bryant outscored the Mavs 62-61 over three quarters.
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Kobe Bryant once scored 61 points at Madison Square Garden.
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Various so-called rivals came and went.
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A new generation of rivals emerged.
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More new challengers to Kobe's throne.
