SI

SI's 100 Best Kobe Bryant Photos

Kobe Bryant retired as one of the greatest NBA players of all time. In his 20-year NBA career, Kobe was named an All-Star 18 times and is currently third all time on the NBA scoring list. He won five NBA titles, two finals MVPs, one regular season MVP and he was an 11-time All-NBA first team. The leading scorer in Los Angeles Lakers history, Kobe has also led the 2008 and 2012 US Olympic team to gold medals. In his post-playing days, Bryant has become an entertainment mogul. His "Dear Basketball" short feature won an Oscar in March for best Animated Short Film. In celebration of both Bryant’s 40th birthday on Aug. 23, 2018, we present SI's 100 best photos of the "Black Mamba" through the years.

SI Staff

SI's 100 Best Kobe Bryant Photos
SI's 100 Best Kobe Bryant Photos /

SI's 100 Best Kobe Bryant Photos

Kobe Bryant

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John W. McDonough

March 3, 1997

Kobe Bryant

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George Lange

Oct. 24, 1997

Amanda Bynes, Kobe Bryant and Christy Knowings

1998-0116-Kobe-Bryant-Amanda-Bynes-All-That-05817243.jpg
Jan Sonnenmair

Jan. 16, 1998 — All That

Kel Mitchell, Kobe Bryant and Kenan Thompson

1998-0116-Kobe-Bryant-Kennan-Thompson-Kel-Mitchell-All-That-05817255.jpg
Jan Sonnenmair

Jan. 16, 1998 — All That

Kobe Bryant with his sisters, Shaya and Sharia

1998-0427-Kobe-Bryant-sisters-Shaya-and-Sharia-079117371.jpg
Walter Iooss Jr

Feb. 1, 1998

Kobe Bryant

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Walter Iooss Jr

Feb. 1, 1998

Kobe Bryant

1998-0201-Kobe-Bryant-005715694.jpg
Walter Iooss Jr

Feb. 1, 1998

Kobe Bryant

1998-0427-Kobe-Bryant-079117315.jpg
Walter Iooss Jr

Feb. 1, 1998

Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant

1998-0201-Magic-Johnson-Kobe-Bryant-005709594.jpg
Walter Iooss Jr

Feb. 1, 1998

Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan

1998-0208-Kobe-Bryant-Michael-Jordan-05698272.jpg
Manny Millan

Feb. 8, 1998

Kobe Bryant

1998-0304-Kobe-Bryant-LAK022S.jpg
John W. McDonough

March 4, 1998

Kobe Bryant and John Stockton

1998-0427-Kobe-Bryant-John-Stockton-079117362.jpg
John W. McDonough

April 19, 1998

Kobe Bryant

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John W. McDonough

May 18, 1998 — Western Conference Finals, Game 2

Kobe Bryant

1998-0601-Kobe-Bryant-079117368.jpg
John W. McDonough

May 22, 1998 — Western Conference Finals, Game 3

Kobe Bryant and Scottie Pippen

1999-0205-Kobe-Bryant-Scottie-Pippen-005792500.jpg
John W. McDonough

Feb. 5, 1999

Kobe Bryant

1999-0205-Kobe-Bryant-LOF02S.jpg
John W. McDonough

Feb. 5, 1999

Kobe Bryant and Hakeem Olajuwon

1999-0228-Kobe-Bryant-Hakeem-Olajuwon-LAK03S.jpg
John W. McDonough

Feb. 28, 1999

Kobe Bryant

1999-1203-Kobe-Bryant-00106423.jpg
John W. McDonough

Dec. 3, 1999

Kobe Bryant

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John W. McDonough

Dec. 14, 1999

Kobe Bryant

1999-1226-Kobe-Bryant-079117370.jpg
John W. McDonough

Dec. 26, 1999

Kobe Bryant

2000-0117-Kobe-Bryant-079117358.jpg
John W. McDonough

Jan. 17, 2000

Kobe Bryant

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Manny Millan

Feb. 22, 2000

Kobe Bryant

2000-0226-Kobe-Bryant-079117318.jpg
Manny Millan

Feb. 26, 2000

Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson

2000-0424-Kobe-Bryant-Shaquille-O'Neal-Allen-Iverson-079117350.jpg
Robert Beck

March 31, 2000

Kobe Bryant

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Walter Iooss Jr

April 12, 2000

Kobe Bryant

2000-0411-Kobe-Bryant-001288809.jpg
Walter Iooss Jr

April 12, 2000

Kobe Bryant

2000-0413-Kobe-Bryant-00106423.jpg
Walter Iooss Jr

April 12, 2000

Kobe Bryant

2000-0411-Kobe-Bryant-001288816.jpg
Walter Iooss Jr

April 12, 2000

Kobe Bryant

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Walter Iooss Jr

April 12, 2000

Kobe Bryant

2000-0508-Kobe-Bryant-079117342.jpg
John W. McDonough

April 27, 2000 — Western Conference First Round, Game 2

Kobe Bryant

2000-0604-Kobe-Bryant-001361365.jpg
John W. McDonough

June 4, 2000 — Western Conference Finals, Game 7

Kobe Bryant and Mark Jackson

2000-0626-Kobe-Bryant-079117317.jpg

June 14, 2000 — NBA Finals, Game 4

Kobe Bryant

2000-0614-Kobe-Bryant-001285125final.jpg
Bob Rosato

June 14, 2000 — NBA Finals, Game 4

Kobe Bryant and Dale Davis

2000-0619-Kobe-Bryant-Dale-Davis-001324001.jpg
John W. McDonough

June 19, 2000 — NBA Finals, Game 6

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal

2000-0619-Kobe-Bryant-Shaquille-O'Neal-01065305.jpg
David E. Klutho

June 19, 2000 — NBA Finals, Game 6

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal

2000-0619-Kobe-Bryant-Shaquille-O'Neal-trophies.jpg
David E. Klutho

June 19, 2000 — NBA Finals, Game 6

Kobe Bryant

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Manny Millan

Feb. 10, 2001 — NBA All-Star Game

Kobe Bryant and Scottie Pippen

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John W. McDonough

April 22, 2001 — Western Conference First Round, Game 1

Kobe Bryant, Rasheed Wallace, Stacey Augmon and Shaquille O'Neal

2001-0422-Kobe-Bryant-Shaquille-O'Neal-01233643.jpg
John W. McDonough

April 22, 2001 — Western Conference First Round, Game 1

Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson

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John W. McDonough

April 29, 2001 — Western Conference First Round, Game 3

Kobe Bryant and Doug Christie

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John W. McDonough

May 8, 2001 — Western Conference Semifinals, Game 2

Kobe Bryant and David Robinson

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John Biever

May 19, 2001 — Western Conference Finals, Game 1

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant

2001-0601-Shaquille-O'Neal-Kobe-Bryant-001233014m.jpg
Walter Iooss Jr

June 1, 2001

Kobe Bryant and Dikembe Mutombo

2001-0613-Kobe-Bryant-Dikembe-Mutombo-001233948.jpg
Manny Millan

June 13, 2001 — NBA Finals, Game 4

Kobe Bryant and Chris Kaman

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John W. McDonough

Feb. 4, 2002

Kobe Bryant

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Manny Millan

Feb. 10, 2002 — NBA All-Star Game

Kobe Bryant

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Walter Iooss Jr

Feb. 24, 2002

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant

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Walter Iooss Jr

March 1, 2002

Kobe Bryant and Derek Anderson

2002-0428-Kobe-Bryant-Derek-Anderson-001252103.jpg
John W. McDonough

April 28, 2002 — Western Conference First Round, Game 1

Kobe Bryant and Bobby Jackson

2002-0602-Kobe-Bryant-Bobby-Jackson-001254203MFinal.jpg
John W. McDonough

June 2, 2002 — Western Conference Finals, Game 7

Kobe Bryant and Aaron Williams

2002-0605-Kobe-Bryant-Aaron-Williams-079117343.jpg
John W. McDonough

June 5, 2002 — NBA Finals, Game 1

Kobe Bryant

2002-0612-Kobe-Bryant-001254897rFinal.jpg
Walter Iooss Jr

June 12, 2002 — NBA Finals, Game 4

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal

2002-0617-Kobe-Bryant-Shaquille-O'Neal-079117352.jpg
John W. McDonough

June 9, 2002 — NBA Finals, Game 3

Kobe Bryant

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John W. McDonough

Nov. 11, 2002

Kobe Bryant and Yao Ming

2003-0127-Kobe-Bryant-Yao-Ming-079117347.jpg
John W. McDonough

Jan. 27, 2003

Chauncey Billups, Derek Fisher, Tayshaun Prince, Kobe Bryant, Devean George, Richard Hamilton, Karl Malone and Rasheed Wallace

2004-0608-Chauncey-Billups-Derek-Fisher-Tayshaun-Prince-Kobe-Bryant-Devean-George-Richard-Hamilton-Karl-Malone-Rasheed-Wallace-001324762_RT8.jpg
John W. McDonough

June 8, 2004 — NBA Finals, Game 2

Kobe Bryant

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John W. McDonough

Jan. 13, 2005

Kobe Bryant and Jermaine O'Neal

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Bill Frakes

Feb. 20, 2005 — NBA All-Star Game

Kobe Bryant, Chris Kaman, Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley

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John W. McDonough

Nov. 18, 2005

Kobe Bryant and DeSagana Diop

2005-1220-Kobe-Bryant-014649355.jpg
John W. McDonough

Dec. 20, 2005

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal

2006-0116-Kobe-Bryant-Shaquille-O'Neal-014728871.jpg
John W. McDonough

Jan. 16, 2006

Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan

2006-0310-Kobe-Bryant-Tim-Duncan-015199341.jpg
Greg Nelson

March 10, 2006

Kobe Bryant

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John W. McDonough

April 30, 2006 — Western Conference First Round, Game 4

Kobe Bryant

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John Biever

Feb. 11, 2007

Kobe Bryant, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and LeBron James

2008-0127-Kobe-Bryant-op7s-3752-mid.jpg
John W. McDonough

Jan. 27, 2008

Kobe Bryant

2008-0423-Kobe-Bryant-opb7-15756-rawfinalfinal.jpg
John W. McDonough

April 23, 2008 — Western Conference First Round, Game 2

Kobe Bryant

2008-0523-Kobe-Bryant-opfg-2784-mid.jpg
John W. McDonough

May 23, 2008 — Western Conference Finals, Game 2

Kobe Bryant and LeBron James

2008-0630-Kobe-Bryant-LeBron-James-076337078.jpg
Michael O'Neill

June 30, 2008

Kobe Bryant

2008-0820-Kobe-Bryant-opgw-16417-mid.jpg
Bob Rosato

Aug. 20, 2008 — Beijing Olympics

Kobe Bryant, LeBron Jame,s Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony

2008-0824-Kobe-Bryant-LeBron-James-Dwyane-Wade-Carmelo-Anthony-opgw-27729.jpg
Bob Rosato

Aug. 24, 2008 — Beijing Olympics

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant

2009-0215-Shaquille-O'Neal-Kobe-Bryant-ophd-94286.jpg
John W. McDonough

Feb. 15, 2009 — NBA All-Star Game

Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher

2009-0504-Kobe-Bryant-Derek-Fisher-ophd-137775.jpg
John W. McDonough

May 4, 2009 — Western Conference Semifinals, Game 1

Yao Ming and Kobe Bryant

2009-0506-Kobe-Bryant-Yao-Ming-ophd-139067.jpg
John W. McDonough

May 6, 2009 — Western Conference Semifinals, Game 2

Kobe Bryant

2009-0519-Kobe-Bryant-opme-4392.jpg

May 19, 2009 — Western Conference Finals, Game 1

Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony

2009-0519-Kobe-Bryant-Carmelo-Anthony-opme-5440.jpg
John W. McDonough

May 19, 2009 — Western Conference Finals, Game 1

Kobe Bryant

2009-0529-Kobe-Bryant-opme-17202.jpg
John W. McDonough

May 29, 2009 — Western Conference Finals, Game 6

Kobe Bryant and Mickael Pietrus

2009-0609-Kobe-Bryant-opme-24221.jpg
John W. McDonough

June 9, 2009 — NBA Finals, Game 3

Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol

2009-0614-Kobe-Bryant-Pau-Gasol-oph9-97496-rawfinal.jpg
Bob Rosato

June 14, 2009 — NBA Finals, Game 5

Kobe Bryant with his father, Joe

2009-0621-Kobe-Bryant-father-Joe-opme-39368.jpg
John W. McDonough

June 21, 2009 — Angels-Dodgers game

Kobe Bryant

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Walter Iooss Jr

March 25, 2010

Kobe Bryant

2010-0427-Kobe-Bryant-opsq-27760.jpg
John W. McDonough

April 27, 2010 — Western Conference First Round, Game 5

Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo

2010-0610-Kobe-Bryant-Kevin-Garnett-Rajon-Rondo-oprm-32038.jpg
Damian Strohmeyer

June 10, 2010 — NBA Finals, Game 4

Kobe Bryant and Rajon Rondo

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John W. McDonough

June 15, 2010 — NBA Finals, Game 6

Kobe Bryant

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Bob Rosato

June 17, 2010 — NBA Finals, Game 7

Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan

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John W. McDonough

Feb. 3, 2011

Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen

2011-0210-Kobe-Bryant-Ray-Allen-opxc-24774.jpg
John Biever

Feb. 10, 2011

Kobe Bryant

2011-0426-Kobe-Bryant-opy2-150614.jpg
John W. McDonough

April 26, 2011 — Western Conference First Round, Game 5

Kobe Bryant

2012-0304-Kobe-Bryant-mask-opy2-286903.jpg
John W. McDonough

March 4, 2012

Kobe Bryant

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Robert Beck

May 18, 2012 — Western Conference Semifinals, Game 3

Kobe Bryant

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John Biever

Aug. 6, 2012 — London Olympics

Kobe Bryant

2012-1109-Kobe-Bryant-op5r-37532-mid.jpg
John W. McDonough

Nov. 9, 2012

Kobe Bryant and LeBron James

2013-0217-Kobe-Bryant-op5x-34822.jpg
Greg Nelson

Feb. 17, 2013 — NBA All-Star Game

Kobe Bryant and Josh Smith

2013-0303-Kobe-Bryant-Josh-Smith-op5r-98015.jpg
John W. McDonough

March 3, 2013

Kobe Bryant and Serge Ibaka

2013-0305-Kobe-Bryant-Serge-Ibaka-op5x-40045_rawfinal.jpg
Greg Nelson

March 5, 2013

Kobe Bryant

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Walter Iooss Jr

Oct. 9, 2013

Kobe Bryant

2014-0718-Kobe-Bryant-X158468_TK1_0003.jpg
Robert Beck

July 18, 2014

Kobe Bryant

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Robert Beck

July 18, 2014

Kobe Bryant

2014-0718-Kobe-Bryant-X158468_TK1_0034.jpg
Robert Beck

July 18, 2014

Kobe Bryant

2014-0718-Kobe-Bryant-X158468_TK1_0098.jpg
Robert Beck

July 18, 2014

D'Angelo Russell and Kobe Bryant

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Andrew D. Bernstein

Sept. 30, 2015

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