The Most Iconic Kobe Bryant Photos From Sports Illustrated’s Vault

To celebrate Kobe Bryant Day, Sports Illustrated compiled a gallery of our favorite photos of the late, great Black Mamba from his playing days.

Kobe Bryant won five championships with the Lakers in 2000, ’01, ’02, ’09 and ’10. | John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

The basketball world will never forget Kobe Bryant.

Each year on Aug. 24, the Los Angeles area and the rest of the globe comes together to celebrate the career and life of Bryant, who tragically died in a helicopter crash along with his daughter Gianna and seven other passengers on Jan. 26, 2020. Kobe Bryant Day was established by the city of Los Angeles in 2016 following his retirement from basketball, and it’s only become a bigger holiday nationally since his passing. The date (8/24) was chosen in honor of the two jersey numbers he wore with the Lakers—No. 8 (1997 to 2006) and No. 24 (2007 to 2016).

To honor one of the greatest to ever take the floor, here’s a look at some of our favorite Sports Illustrated images of Bryant over the years, beginning with one from his rookie season in 1996–97:

Bryant, the No. 13 pick of the 1996 draft, averaged 7.6 points in 15.5 minutes per game as a rookie. | John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

Bryant and the Lakers defeated Dikembe Mutombo and the 76ers in five games to win the 2001 NBA Finals. | Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated

Bryant is the Lakers’ all-time career leader in games played (1,346), points (33,643), field goals (11,719) and three-pointers (1,827), among other categories. | John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

Bryant passes out of a triple-team during the Lakers’ Western Conference semifinal series loss to the Spurs in 2003. | Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated

“I loved Kobe — he was like a little brother to me,” Michael Jordan wrote in a statement after Bryant’s passing in 2020. | Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated

Bryant placed in the top five in MVP voting 11 times but only took home the honor once in the 2007–08 season. | John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

Bryant was named to the All-NBA Defensive team 12 times over his 20-year career. | John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

Bryant scored 35 points in Game 6 of the 2009 Western Conference finals to eliminate the Nuggets and secure a spot in the Finals. | John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

Always a high-flyer above the rim, Bryant finishes a dunk here during a game in 2013. | John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

Bryant reacts after making a bucket during Game 2 of the Lakers’ first-round playoff matchup against the Nuggets in 2008. | John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

The NBA named the All-Star Game MVP trophy after Bryant in 2022. He was named to 18 All-Star Games, including this one in 2009. | John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

Bryant celebrates winning his fifth NBA championship after the Lakers defeated the Celtics in Game 7 of the 2010 Finals. | Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated

Bryant was named the Finals MVP twice in his career—after averaging 32.4 points per Finals game in 2009 and again in 2010 when he logged 28.6 points per contest. | John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

Rest in peace, Black Mamba. You are missed.

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