Remembering Kobe Bryant: Sports Illustrated Covers Through the Years

Kobe Bryant has died in a helicopter crash in California. Bryant was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated countless times throughout his legendary career.

Ben Pickman | Mar 9, 2016

Remembering Kobe Bryant: Sports Illustrated Covers Through the Years /

Lakers legend Kobe Bryant died Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. He was 41.

Through the years, Bryant was featured on countless Sports Illustrated covers.

Kobe Bryant’s SI covers

April 27, 1998

May 31, 1999

November 1, 1999

May 29, 2000

June 12, 2000

June 25, 2001

June 10, 2002

Manny Millan and John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

March 3, 2003

July 28, 2003

May 17, 2004

July 26, 2004

April 21, 2008

June 16, 2008

October 27, 2008

June 22, 2009

July 19, 2010

February 21, 2011

2011-0221-SI-cover-Kobe-Bryabt-Rajon-Rondo-opy7-53135cov.jpg — Damian Strohmeyer/Sports Illustrated

October 21, 2013

August 25, 2014

October 26, 2015

The 18-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA first Team led the Lakers to five NBA championships and scored 33,643 points in his 20-year NBA career. He retired from the Lakers after the 2015-16 season after spending his entire career with the franchise. The Lakers retired his No. 8 and No. 24 jersey numbers in December 2017.

On Saturday night, LeBron James surpassed Bryant on the NBA's all-time scoring list. After the game, James expressed his appreciation of Bryant and said, "I'm happy just to be in any conversation with Kobe Bean Bryant, one of the all-time greatest basketball players to ever play, one of the all-time greatest Lakers. The man has two jerseys hanging up in Staples Center. It's just crazy."

More Coverage of Kobe Bryant's Death:

Published Mar 9, 2016

BEN PICKMAN