24 photos that celebrate Kobe Bryant's legacy

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash on Sunday in Calabasas, California.

Bryant's tragic accident came just a day after Bryant had been passed by LeBron James for third place on the NBA all-time scoring list.

"Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames," Bryant wrote on Twitter, in congratulations to James' accomplishment. "Much respect my brother #33644."

Bryant is one of the greatest to ever step foot on a basketball court, leading the Lakers to five NBA Championships in his historic 20-year career. He was an 18-time All-Star, and won MVP in 2008. Take a look back at his career below.

Jack Sommer wrote an earlier version of this story.

When he entered the league in 1996, 18-year-old Bryant was the youngest man to ever play in an NBA game. He also became the youngest winner of the Slam Dunk Contest that same season.

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Alongside his teammate Shaquille ONeal, Bryant won his first NBA championship in 2000.

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REUTERS/Mike Blake

Bryant battled it out with Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers in the following years NBA Finals, but the Lakers once again emerged victorious to win their second consecutive title in 2001.

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The Lakers completed their three-peat by winning the NBA Finals again in 2002.

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Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

From 2000 to 2002, the Lakers were unstoppable. Bryant played a big part in that.

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Bryant continued to shine, but the Lakers werent able to keep their championship-winning streak for a while.

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During this time, however, Bryant broke more and more records. In 2005, he scored 62 points in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks. As a result, entering the fourth quarter, Bryant had outscored the entire Mavericks team 6261. This is the only time a player has ever achieved this feat.

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In a 2006 game against the Toronto Raptors, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points, second in history only to Wilt Chamberlains famous 100-point game in 1962.

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Bryant was awarded the NBA MVP Award for the 2007/2008 season. Here, hes given the trophy before Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Western Conference Semifinals.

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REUTERS/Mike Blake

The United States National Team defeated Spain in the mens basketball finals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Here, along with teammate Dwight Howard, Bryant playfully bites into his gold medal.

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REUTERS/Sergio Perez

After the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic to win the NBA championship in 2009, Bryant celebrated by holding up both the Finals MVP Award and the championship trophy.

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REUTERS/Jeff Haynes

Bryant dives for a loose ball while playing the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals. The Lakers would go on to win the series, and Bryant was once again awarded the Finals MVP trophy.

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REUTERS/Lisa Hornak

During the parade celebrating the Lakers 2010 NBA Championship, Bryant holds his daughter, Gianna, while his wife, Vanessa, and another daughter, Natalia, stand by his side.

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REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

"I played through the sweat and hurt Not because challenge called me, but because YOU called me," Bryant said of basketball in his retirement letter. "I did everything for YOU because thats what you do when someone makes you feel as alive as youve made me feel."

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REUTERS/Jim Urquhart

Source: The Players' Tribune

First Lady Michelle Obama hugs Bryant at the end of the mens preliminary round match at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The national team would once again go on to take gold, defeating Spain in the gold-medal game.

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REUTERS/Luke MacGregor

On November 30, 2015, when Bryant announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season.

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"You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream and Ill always love you for it. But I cant love you obsessively for much longer," Bryant said in his retirement letter. "This season is all I have left to give."

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REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Source: The Players' Tribune

In his final game on April 13, 2016, Kobe put on an absolute show, dropping 60 points at the Staples Center in a win over the Utah Jazz. He walked off the court to a standing ovation that felt like it would never end.

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"What else can I say?" Bryant asked during his farewell speech. "Mamba out."

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Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

In his post-playing career, Bryant pursued other interests, winning an Academy Award for his short film, "Dear Basketball" in 2018.

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He also spent time teaching and coaching his daughters.

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AP Photo/Chris Carlson

But Bryant was never far from basketball, and on January 25, 2020, congratulated LeBron James pass him for third-place in all-time NBA scoring.

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Kevin Sullivan/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images

"Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames," Bryant wrote on Twitter. "Much respect my brother #33644."

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Harry How/Getty Images

The next day, Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash. He was 41 years old. His daughter Gianna was also killed in the crash.

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AP Photo/Ben Margot

24 photos that celebrate Kobe Bryant's legacy

When he entered the league in 1996, 18-year-old Bryant was the youngest man to ever play in an NBA game. He also became the youngest winner of the Slam Dunk Contest that same season.

Alongside his teammate Shaquille ONeal, Bryant won his first NBA championship in 2000.

Bryant battled it out with Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers in the following years NBA Finals, but the Lakers once again emerged victorious to win their second consecutive title in 2001.

The Lakers completed their three-peat by winning the NBA Finals again in 2002.

From 2000 to 2002, the Lakers were unstoppable. Bryant played a big part in that.

Bryant continued to shine, but the Lakers werent able to keep their championship-winning streak for a while.

During this time, however, Bryant broke more and more records. In 2005, he scored 62 points in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks. As a result, entering the fourth quarter, Bryant had outscored the entire Mavericks team 6261. This is the only time a player has ever achieved this feat.

In a 2006 game against the Toronto Raptors, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points, second in history only to Wilt Chamberlains famous 100-point game in 1962.

Bryant was awarded the NBA MVP Award for the 2007/2008 season. Here, hes given the trophy before Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Western Conference Semifinals.

The United States National Team defeated Spain in the mens basketball finals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Here, along with teammate Dwight Howard, Bryant playfully bites into his gold medal.

After the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic to win the NBA championship in 2009, Bryant celebrated by holding up both the Finals MVP Award and the championship trophy.

Bryant dives for a loose ball while playing the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals. The Lakers would go on to win the series, and Bryant was once again awarded the Finals MVP trophy.

During the parade celebrating the Lakers 2010 NBA Championship, Bryant holds his daughter, Gianna, while his wife, Vanessa, and another daughter, Natalia, stand by his side.

"I played through the sweat and hurt Not because challenge called me, but because YOU called me," Bryant said of basketball in his retirement letter. "I did everything for YOU because thats what you do when someone makes you feel as alive as youve made me feel."

First Lady Michelle Obama hugs Bryant at the end of the mens preliminary round match at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The national team would once again go on to take gold, defeating Spain in the gold-medal game.

On November 30, 2015, when Bryant announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season.

"You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream and Ill always love you for it. But I cant love you obsessively for much longer," Bryant said in his retirement letter. "This season is all I have left to give."

In his final game on April 13, 2016, Kobe put on an absolute show, dropping 60 points at the Staples Center in a win over the Utah Jazz. He walked off the court to a standing ovation that felt like it would never end.

"What else can I say?" Bryant asked during his farewell speech. "Mamba out."

In his post-playing career, Bryant pursued other interests, winning an Academy Award for his short film, "Dear Basketball" in 2018.

He also spent time teaching and coaching his daughters.

But Bryant was never far from basketball, and on January 25, 2020, congratulated LeBron James pass him for third-place in all-time NBA scoring.

"Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames," Bryant wrote on Twitter. "Much respect my brother #33644."

The next day, Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash. He was 41 years old. His daughter Gianna was also killed in the crash.

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