Kobe Bryant would win 5 Championship Rings in his career. His fourth ring would come in 2009 for his Los Angeles Lakers. Learn more about Kobe’s fourth ring below.
Draft
Kobe Bryant was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13 overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. Kobe entered the draft straight out of high school. His youth is probably why he went so low in the draft. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers right after being drafted by Charlotte.
Shaq
After four seasons playing for the Magic, Shaquille O’Neal decided to leave Orlando and join the Los Angeles Lakers. With the Lakers, Shaquille would reach new heights as a player and personality. O’Neal’s best years in the league were while wearing the Purple and Gold. Shaq would win three championships in LA, along with three Final’s MVPs. For his entire career in LA, Shaq and Kobe were teammates.
Phil
The Los Angeles Lakers named Phil Jackson their head coach in 1999. Phil Jackson was coming off his tenure coaching the Chicago Bulls, which resulted in 6 Rings. Jackson was able to nurture Bryant’s game and help take it to another level—the same way he did with Michael Jordan when he coached the Chicago Bulls. Kobe and Shaq were able to co-exist long enough to earn three rings together and accomplish the rare three-peat.
Number 4
The Kobe and Shaq rivalry eventually made it impossible for them to remain teammates. Shaq would leave the Lakers in 2004. Kobe was now the top player on the Los Angeles Lakers. He struggled for a while to lead the Lakers to the success he wanted. In 2009 Kobe Bryant led his Los Angeles Lakers to a Finals win over the Orlando Magic. Kobe proved he could lead a team to a ring, the same way Shaq did. His leadership allowed him to win his first Finals MVP Trophy.
- Adam C. Better
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