Kobe Bryant was an American professional basketball player who enjoyed a highly successful career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1996 until his retirement in 2016. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bryant was drafted straight out of high school at the age of 17 and spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Throughout his career, he established himself as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, earning numerous accolades and achieving unparalleled statistical success.