IN PHOTOS: Look back at NBA legend Kobe Bryant’s life

Arguably, Kobe Bryant is one of the best, if not the best, basketball player ever played in the National Basketball Association.

Behind the basketball spotlight, let us look back at his life in this gallery.

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Kobe joined the NBA in the 1996 NBA draft.

He was initially drafted by the Charlotte Hornets but traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Kobe became the youngest NBA starter ever at 18 years old and 158 days

Despite their infamous feud, Kobe teamed-up with Shaquille O’Neal in leading the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002

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Kobe then didn’t win the championship until he led the Lakers to back-to-back championship in 2009 and 2010 with Pau Gasol

In both occasions, he won the Finals MVP. Together with him in the picture is another NBA legend in Bill Russell, the only player to win the Finals MVP award from the losing team

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Kobe represented the United State national men’s basketball team in many occasions, winning two Olympic gold medals

In an interview, Kobe revealed his obsession to beating Allen Iverson, the first-round pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. Kobe revealed that he studied AI’s games all the way from IUPU All-American Game

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After years of suffering from injuries, Kobe announced his retirement on November 25, 2015. Fans all over the United States presented him with video tributes and greeted him with ovations

Kobe’s Mamba Mentality won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for Dear Basketball in 2018

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Earlier this year, Kobe announced they are expecting a fourth daughter

Kobe influenced a lot of players with his mamba mentality