Los Angeles Lakers x Kobe Bryant [1957/2001]

I’ve already wrote about a hockey, football, and a baseball jersey. So my fourth jersey had to be basketball. On hand is what kicked off my collection; Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant. Recieved as a present in 2005, it was obviously made before his switch from #8 to #24. It’s one of those jerseys directed to the fashion sense as opposed to the replica/authentic uniforms.

Way back in the day, the Lakers started out in Michigan as the Detroit Gems in 1946. After one season, they moved to Minnesota and became the Minneapolis Lakers, the first NBA dynasty. George “Mr. Basketball” Mikan, who played 9 seasons there [1947 - 1956], would be the most notable player of that franchise. They would move again to the city of Los Angeles in 1960 and the rest is history.


The featured jersey is a crossover with the Minneapolis style and the current Los Angeles look. Above is Elgin Baylor, originally drafted by MPLS in 1958, wearing their blue and white pattern. Below, Kobe Bryant dawns the home colours of forum blue [former team owner Jack Kent Cooke hated the word “purple”] and gold.



A cap to match as always. I grabbed this online and waited longer than its expected delivery, but it was worth it. It also seemed fitting this had the classic Lakers logo on the front and the current logo on the side. Right off the bat, I knew I needed this with my jersey.

"Forum blue" crown with gold contrast brim, button, and strap, and the classic kelly green underbrim. Perfect.


Kobe Bryant was raised in Italy, but attended Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia, PA. In his 4 years with the Lower Merion Aces, he compiled 2883 points, a state championship, and was a highschool All-American. He would forego college and enter the 1996 NBA Draft.


The 1996 NBA Draft is highly regarded as one of the best draft classes in history. He was selected with the 13th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets. A few days later, then-Lakers GM Jerry West made the deal to bring the 17-year-old Lower Merion student to Los Angeles in exchange for Vlade Divac. The Lakers would also sign the biggest free agent in the game; Shaquille O'Neal, and the two would form one of the best duos in the league for years to come. He was also the youngest individual ever to play in an NBA game as a third string shooting guard with limited minutes averaging less than 8 PPG. At the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, he would recieve the top prize. It would be a small glimpse of what would become for the rest of his career.



In 1999, Phil Jackson would come out of retirement and coach the Los Angeles Lakers. It would be the biggest benefit for the organization as it would result in an NBA Championship in 2000 - their first since 1988. In his third year in the league, Kobe Bryant would hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy at only 21 years of age. He would win it again in 2001 and 2002, conducting a three-peat, like many other historical players on Phil Jackson's previous teams.


As well as the Lakers did in the post-O'Neal years, they would continue to come up short in the playoffs. However, Kobe Bryant would be the face of the franchise often leading the league in scoring and contiuous All-Star Game appearances. On January 22, 2006, he registered the second highest point total in a game with 81 points. One of many of his season highlights. At the end of the 2007-08 season, he was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player.


After many changes to the team, Kobe Bryant would not earn another championship until 2009, seven seasons after his last win. He was given his first NBA Finals MVP Award which was renamed after Bill Russell. The Lakers would repeat as champs again in 2010 and giving him his second straight Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award.


Kobe Bryant has represented Team USA twice in the 2007 FIBA Americas and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. On both occassions, he would take home the gold. He is also confirmed to represent the USA for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England.


Career highlights:
5x NBA Champion [‘00-‘03, ‘09, ‘10], 2x NBA Finals MVP [‘09, ‘10], NBA MVP [‘08], 12x NBA All-Star [‘98, ‘00-‘10], 3x All-Star Game MVP [’02, ’07, ‘09], 2x NBA Scoring Champion [‘06, ‘07], 8x All-NBA First Team [‘02-‘04, ‘06-‘10], 8x All Defensive First Team [’00, ’03-’04, ’06-’10], and Olympic Gold Medalist [2008].
In 2007, he and his wife Vanessa founded the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation. A charity establishment "dedicated to improving the lives of youth and families in need, both domestically and globally."



Beyond The Glory [2002]

"I don't want to be the next Michael Jordan..." - Kobe Bryant