Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bean Bryant was originally selected in the first round of the June, 1996 National Basketball association draft by the Charlotte Hornets. By July, he had been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac.
This son of former NBA player, Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant, soon became one of the best players in the League. But, what will this career Laker’s place be in NBA history?
The past
The 32-year-old has played 15 seasons in the NBA.
In 1,103 regular season games he has scored 27,868 points, has 5,154 assists, has made 7,026 free throws, has 1,653 steals and 5,829 total rebounds.
On the all-time leader boards he ranks eighth in points, fifty-first in assists, sixth in free throws made, twentieth in steals and one hundred seventieth in total rebounds.
Bryant has also appeared in 13 All-Star games, won five championships, won two Finals MVP awards and won one League MVP award.
The future
In comparison to today’s current players, Bryant is one of the best.
If he is able to remain healthy, the Pennsylvania native should at least be able to play into his late thirties. Projecting his statistics over that length of time will allow him to statistically reach, or surpass, the accomplishments of many Hall of Fame players.
But, fans from North America to China will have to wait and see if Bryant becomes one of the greats of all-time. Because, at this point, we are not in the fourth quarter of that particular game yet.
I have been a fan of the NBA since the 1970s. My friends and remember the great Sixers teams of the late 1970s and that incredible 1982-1983 championship team. Read my Sports Blog: Insight and follow me on Twitter @ SeanyOB
More from Sean O’Brien and the Yahoo Contributor Network:
Five ridiculously great NBA records that will never be broken
Should Laker’s Kobe Bryant take a slow boat to China?
Is former Sixer Allen Iverson’s career over?
A model’s life: An interview with Kourtney Elizabeth
Eagles Quarterback Michael Vick stands on the goal line