During the 2007-2008 NBA season, Kobe won regular season MVP and made it back to the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, the Lakers lost in six games and it served as motivation for him for the next few seasons.

The Lakers got right back to their winning ways in 2009 and 2010, championing the Finals in both years and Kobe taking home the Finals MVP in back-to-back years proving he could truly win without Shaq’s help.

While Kobe still had some prime years after the 2010 NBA Finals, injuries started to catch up with the NBA veteran. At the age of 34, he suffered a torn achilles tendon, which is like a death sentence for a basketball player’s career. While he eventually returned to the court, he was never the same player he once was.

During the 2015-2016 NBA season, Kobe announced that it would be his final year in the NBA. Fans in every NBA arena greeted him with open arms and were enamored to see the NBA legend one final time. In his final game as a Laker, Kobe scored 60 points.

Shortly after retirement, Kobe became the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for his film Dear Basketball, which he wrote and narrated. He also became the first former professional athlete to be nominated and win the award.

Kobe was working on a children’s book that was aimed at inspiring underprivileged youth. He also coached his daughter, Gianna’s AAU team in his free time.

Shockingly, on January 26, 2020, Kobe, his daughter Gianna, and seven other victims died in a helicopter crash at 41 years old. His daughter was 14.