By Mike Patton
NABJ Black News & Views
Kobe Bryant’s athletic arrogance on the court, his precision and his will to win captivated everyone who was a fan. As a Los Angeles Laker, he collected many achievements, from championships to MVP trophies to evolving into an unquestioned leader.
Bryant was able to get buckets and make teams pay with his talent. An example of that was what took place on Dec. 5, 2012, when Bryant hit a right-handed runner in the second quarter against the New Orleans Hornets (now named the Pelicans). The Lakers would win the game 103-87 and with that runner, Bryant would become the youngest NBA player to reach 30,000 points — at 34 years and 104 days old. The previous record holder was Wilt Chamberlain at 35 years and 179 days old.
