Well NBA fans. This weekend will be August 23. Kobe’s birthday. It would have been his 46th birthday. Then August 24. That will be Mamba Day, which is the 24th day and the 8th month.
Kobe Bryant was not only one of the greatest NBA players but one of the greatest and most inspirational athletes in the 21st century. He never cheated the game, and always came to the win and perform. He is the only player to have two numbers retired by the same organization. If you took his accomplishments from his #8 playing days to his #24 playing days, it would be hard to determine who had the better career. Bryant had many accomplishments with the Lakers.
Those include.
- 18x All-Star
- 4x All-Star Game MVP
- 5x Champion
- 2x Finals MVP
- 2008 MVP
- 4th All-Time in Scoring
- 2nd Highest scoring game in NBA history with 81 points
- 11x All First NBA Teams- 15x (All NBA team)
- 2x Gold Medalist
- 2x Scoring Champ
- 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Champ
- Only NBA player to two retired jerseys with the same team
Unfortunately, Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020. Despite that, his legacy has lived on forever and continues to be an inspiration for many fans across the world, not only in basketball but all sports. In honor of Mamba Day, let’s rank all his 20 seasons from best to worst.
Ranking All Kobe Bryant’s 20 Seasons
1. 2005-2006 NBA Season
Recap: No doubt, this was the most historical season of Bryant’s career. This is what happens after you become the most hated player in the league due to how the breakout with Shaquille O’Neal happened along with missing the playoffs for the first time in his career. With Phil Jackson returning as coach, Kobe was able to have his masterpiece season. He averaged 35 points a game, which included 62 points in 3 quarters against a team that ended up in the finals, and we all remember that 81-point game. The man was absolutely on a mission that season. And it would have been sweeter if the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off an upset and beat Phoenix.
2. 2002-2003 NBA Season
Recap: This was the first season where Kobe averaged at least 30 points a game (averaged 30.0). This was also the first season where he added a consistent three-point game as he shot a career-high 38.3%. Bryant also proved that he was the clear number option for the Lakers that season, which included an older Shaq. Unfortunately, the Lakers couldn’t keep their title streak going, but Bryant looked extremely dominant as the number one option. The man had a streak of nine 40+ point games, 12 threes in another game, and let’s not forget he dropped 42 points in the first half on Michael Jordan.
3. 2007-2008 NBA Season
Recap: This season was a turning point for Kobe Bryant. Not only did he win his only MVP, but it was a turning point as a leader. Kobe, before the season, requested to be traded after several seasons of carrying a huge offensive burden, which resulted in consecutive first-round losses. There was a challenge to himself as well as other greats for Bryant to become a leader. This resulted in a from being a respectable team to one that made it to the finals. The trade for Pau Gasol made things a lot easier. But it shows that when a team dominates, their best player gets a lot more recognition for MVP.
4. 2008-2009 NBA Season
Recap: This was the season of redemption, triumph, and legacy-defining for Kobe. After losing to the Celtics in the previous season, the Lakers were on a vengeance to return to the finals but win it all. This season showed another classic from the Black Mamba, where he became the All-Star Game MVP, 2nd in MVP voting, and scored the most points in Madison Square Garden as an opponent. The Lakers cruised through the playoffs and Bryant won his 1st ring and Finals MVP in his career, proving he can win without Shaq.
5. 2012-2013 NBA Season
Recap: This season might be higher than it should be, but it is one of my favorites. It is one of my favorites because it defined who Kobe was, and it was the last season of his prime. The expectation for the Lakers was to be a title contender, after acquiring both Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. The season was on the verge of being a total disaster with the Lakers sitting 12th in the West, halfway through the season. However, Bryant proved his greatness and resilience by becoming the point guard and averaging 45 minutes a game during the last seven games. Unfortunately, the season ended sourly for Bryant as he tore his Achilles in the 3rd last game against the Warriors. The man made sure to sink his two free throws. This would be a career legacy moment for the Mamba and a legacy moment in all of sports. This was the final season of Prime Kobe.
6. 2006-2007 NBA Season
Recap: This season was similar to the 2005-2006. There was plenty of dominant scoring, yet not as historical as the previous season. It was the same Kobe but a different number, as it was his first season wearing number 24. However, the span of March-April 2007 was arguably Kobe’s most dominant historical run. When the Lakers were on the verge of missing the playoffs, Kobe had seven 50-point games in 30 days. In that time frame, it also included four consecutive 50-point games. The only player to do that was Wilt Chamberlain. This season had highlights of Bryant winning his 2nd All-Star Game MVP and second straight-scoring title.
7. 2000-2001 NBA Season
Recap: Year 5 of Kobe Bryant included him ascending into the superstar we all grew up watching. Before that, there were moments of superstar potential, but this season Kobe elevated himself as one of the best players in the NBA. His best performance was during the Western Conference playoffs, where he would have been the undisputed Western Conference Finals MVP if the award existed back then. Some of the dominant performances included a 48-point and 16-rebound game against the Kings in Game Four to sweep Sacramento. Followed by that was a 45-point Game one win against San Antonio. Shaq would later claim that Kobe was his idol. The Lakers steamrolled through the playoffs by only losing one game in four series’.
8. 2009-2010 NBA Season
Recap: This season was another year where Mamba would average 27 points for the fifth time in six seasons. The season was special because Kobe finally won his first ring without Shaq and wanted to prove he could repeat. This season was highlighted by the sweetest finals victory vs. Celtics and the incredible six game-winners. The Lakers were able to win back-to-back titles for the first time since the 2000-2002 Lakers. Did I mention one of the greatest, yet subtle disses?
9. 2001-2002 NBA Season
Recap: Bryant slightly regressed statistically compared to the season before, but he still proved to be the superstar and closer the Lakers needed to win their 3rd championship by putting up 25 points a game. It was a season where he struggled from 3 only shooting 25%. The season was highlighted by winning his first All-Star Game MVP in his hometown Philly, and scoring 56 points vs his future teammate Pau Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies. Who knew they would become teammates later on?
10. 2003-2004 NBA Season
Recap: This one was an underrated season and the beginning of the Mamba Mentality. Who plays a full season after being accused of sexual assault in the summer prior? This man was able to play 66 games and have some of the best games of his career and some memorable buzzer-beaters. Kobe was able to finish 3rd in MVP voting, and the Lakers were able to return to the NBA finals. Unfortunately, there is no denying that Kobe had an awful shooting performance against the Detroit Pistons in the finals. Nevertheless, he played well despite his circumstances.
11. 2011-2012 NBA Season
Recap: This season Bryant showed he was still one of the best players in the NBA and wanted to prove he was better than the number seven ranking. He still managed to finish 2nd in scoring and was 4th in the MVP voting. Still, Kobe shot his lowest field goal percentage since his 2nd season in the NBA, and his athletic ability was declining. Bryant became the all-time leading scorer in the All-Star game by passing Michael Jordan. Kobe was able to average 30 points a game in what would be the last postseason of his career.
12. 2010-2011 NBA Season
Recap: The Lakers were looking to 3-peat for the second time in a decade. In the beginning, the Lakers were looking like the favorites. Then, the Lakers looked old and worn out and didn’t look like a dominant team that just got the 2nd seed. Bryant was still a top-three player, and he still averaged 25 points a game and took home his fourth All-Star Game MVP. Kobe Bryant, however, looked old and on the decline come playoff time, where he only averaged 22.8 points on 29% three-point shooting. This was likely a burnout from a team that went to three straight NBA finals.
13. 1999-2000 NBA Season
Recap: Yes, the year was 1999. The Lakers made some big moves by hiring Phil Jackson, and it brought the Lakers their first championship of the three-peat era. There was no question that Shaq was the top option for the Lakers that year. Nevertheless, this was a season where Kobe would elevate himself into a superstar that everyone would know later on. The highlights from this season were his breakout performances. These performances included showing up big in game seven against Portland when on the brink of elimination and taking over Game four of the Finals when Shaq fouled out. Those moments were the beginning of Prime Kobe. It was the first championship of the five total championships on his resume.
14. 2004-2005 NBA Season
Recap: This one is a tough one to rank. On one hand, Kobe Bryant had a remarkable season individually. Bryant was the runner-up for the scoring title, along with a career-high in assists. Yet, the Lakers missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons, and the first season without Shaq and Phil Jackson proved to be a challenge for Bryant as a leader. This was the first time since 1999 Bryant didn’t get first or second NBA team and the first time finishing outside the top 10 in NBA voting since 2000.
15. 1998-1999 NBA Season
Recap: This would become the first season Kobe would become a starter. And after that season, he was already one of the best shooting guards that year. He averaged just under 20 points at 19.9, with 5.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. The biggest flaw from this season was Bryant had his 3rd worst season shooting the ball from three at 26.7%. His most impressive game was scoring 33 points in the second half to help the Lakers rally and beat the Magic.
16. 1997-1998 NBA Season
Recap: This was a fun season for Lakers fans and Kobe Bryant. After ending his rookie season with an infamous amount of airballs, Bryant came back with a vengeance to prove to the world that he was a better player. Let’s not forget about the iconic afro. Bryant went on to become the youngest NBA all-star starter in NBA history and wasn’t a starter for the Lakers regularly. The comparisons with Michael Jordan started to surface after the iconic showdown between the teacher and the student occurred on a winter night in Chicago. Talk about a season where you took the league by storm.
17. 2014-2015 NBA Season
Recap: This season was probably Kobe’s best overall season since the Achilles injury. But this was a season that involved a lot of Lakers losses and Kobe being very inefficient from the field. The biggest highlight from this season was Kobe passing Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list. After that, the season ended prematurely for Bryant due to a season-ending shoulder injury. It didn’t because the Lakers were well out of the playoff picture. And we can remember the “Soft as Charmin” incident and Kobe calling Howard soft.
18. 2015-2016 NBA Season
Recap: At this point, Kobe was a shell of himself, and the Lakers were among the worst teams in the NBA. Still, the season was filled with glimpses of the old Kobe and plenty of farewell tours from fanbases across the NBA. We can’t forget that preposterous 60-point outing in his final game on 50 shots to ride off into the sunset.
19. 1996-1997 NBA Season
Recap: Yes, the skinny bald guy from Philadelphia who came into the league at 18 believing he was the best player in the league. I doubt many thought he would become the player that we all knew and loved, but at the same time, he was one of the top young prospects. It was a season of wowing fans with flashy dunks and seeing a glimpse of what the future held. Don’t forget winning the slam dunk contest and the airballs, which would foreshadow what will become.
20.2013-2014 NBA Season
Recap: The Mamba only appeared in 6 games and looked extremely rusty after missing eight months since tearing his Achilles. The Lakers went 2-4 in his presence. This was a lost season and easily the most forgettable season.
An honor of the last words spoken by Bryant before walking into the tunnel in his final game. MAMBA OUT! (mic drop) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWs7ryRURFM
