January 28, 2020

Two days ago, on Sunday, January 26, the former National Basketball Association (NBA) star Kobe Bryant was killed along with his 13-year old daughter and seven other people in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, near Los Angeles. The helicopter had been carrying the passengers to Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy in nearby Newbury Park. The United States Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, but the helicopter went down in foggy conditions that had grounded some other air traffic in the area. Bryant, who starred for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2016, was 41 years old.

Kobe Bryant (with the ball) eludes a Phoenix Suns defender during the NBA playoffs on May 4, 2006, in Los Angeles. Bryant died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020. credit: © NBAE/Getty Images

Bryant, a 6 foot 6 inch- (198 centimeter-) tall shooting guard, is considered one of the best players in NBA history. During his career, he helped lead the Lakers to five NBA championships, made 18 All-Star teams, was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team 12 times, and earned the NBA Most Valuable Player award for the 2007-2008 season. Bryant led the league in scoring twice (2005-2006 and 2006-2007) and retired with 33,643 points–the fourth most in NBA history. On Jan. 22, 2006, Bryant scored 81 points in one game, the second highest total in NBA history behind the 100 points scored in a game by Wilt Chamberlain in 1962. Bryant also starred on U.S. national basketball teams that won the gold medal at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.

Bryant was born in Philadelphia on Aug. 23, 1978. His father, Joe Bryant, played in the NBA from 1975 through 1983. Kobe was drafted directly out of high school by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996. At 17, he was the youngest player ever drafted into the NBA. Charlotte selected Bryant as the 13th pick and then traded his rights to Los Angeles.

Bryant was in his first year of eligibility for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020, and he is sure to be part of the new class when it is announced in early April.

April 14, 2016

Stephen Curry (30) and the Golden State Warriors finished the NBA season with a record-setting 73 wins against just 9 losses. Credit: AP Photo

Last night, April 13, the National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season finished in dazzling style. In Oakland, California, the Golden State Warriors dismantled the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104. The home win was nothing new for Stephen Curry and the Warriors, who ended the year 39-2 at Oracle Arena. The Warriors played well on the road this season, too, disappointing other teams’ fans 34 out of 41 times. Golden State finished 73-9, an all-time season best, breaking the 72-10 record set 20 years ago by the seemingly invincible Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls.

Last season, the Warriors went 39-2 at home as well, but they finished with an overall record of just 67-15. Masking their disappointment, the Warriors coasted through the playoffs on their way to an NBA championship. Basketball experts are banking on the Warriors repeating their championship run this year, with maybe one team standing in the way: the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs, by the way, won only 67 games this year. Poor Spurs.

Last night in Los Angeles, Lakers star Kobe Bryant took the court for the final time in his flamboyant 20-year NBA career. Bryant pleased the Laker faithful by scoring 60 points in his team’s 101-96 win over the Utah Jazz. Bryant’s teammates gave him the ball nearly every possession, and he took a career-high 50 shots from the floor. Bryant ended his sure-fire hall-of-fame career with 33,643 career points, third-most in NBA history.

The Lakers bring up the other end of the NBA spectrum, however. Last night’s headline victory pushed the Lakers to a 17-65 record—their worst season ever, but not the worst in the NBA this year. That distinction fell to the lowly Philadelphia 76ers, who finished 10-72. The 76ers fell one defeat shy of breaking their own record for losses in an 82-game NBA season. The ‘Sixers went 9-73 in ’73.