Cornerstone of the Los Angeles Lakers team, he finished the regular season missing four of the final five games due to injuries to his knee and finger, but returned to become the star of the NBA Finals. Bryant and the Lakers came back from a 13 point deficit in Game 7 to beat Boston Celtics. It was Bryant’s fifth title and his second MVP Award. Bryant uses his wide array of moves and shots to beat defenders and score from all over the court. He is also a remarkable defender and has been selected for every All-NBA Team since 1999.
Bryant became the youngest player (31 years, 151 days) to reach 25,000 points during the 2009-10 season, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain. The following day, he surpassed Jerry West to become the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history. He helped the Lakers win their first eight games during the 2010–11 season and in his ninth game of the campaign, against the Denver Nuggets, Bryant became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 26,000 career points.
