Kobe Bryant of Los Angeles Lakers breaks the 30,000 points barrier – NBA Update
It was back in 1996, when a 17 year old boy by the name of Kobe Bryant became the youngest ever NBA player (at that time) and first guard to be drafted out of high school. From there began a journey that saw the man, who later
became known the Black Mamba, win five NBA Championship rings and further enhance the legacy of the mighty Los Angeles Lakers.
Nearly seventeen years down the line, the same kid has become the youngest ever player in the history of the game to break the 30,000 point barrier, at just 34 years, 104 days old.
"It's just a tremendous honour," Bryant told reporters after finishing with 29 points in the Lakers' 16 point win against the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday. "I don't really know how else to put it. I've just been very, very
fortunate."
Kobe has been one of the best athletes of his generation, and certainly one of the all time greats in NBA. He is as feisty a competitor as you will ever see and even in the twilight of his career, he just wants to keep working
harder and harder. The funny thing is, he does not know why. Perhaps it is something built in his DNA.
"I think now, honestly, I don't know why I'm still working as hard as I am after 17 years. I mean it's just that I enjoy what I do and I think that's the thing that I'm most proud of -- every year, every day working hard at it.
That's a lot of years, a lot of work."
Kobe now joins a group of some of the greatest shooter in NBA, who have crossed the 30,000 mark. He is now fifth in the list of all time leading scorers which is headed by former Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387). Karl Malone
follows next with 36,928 points; Michael Jordan at 32,292, while Wilt Chamberlain stands at 31,419. Four of these five players are former Lakers.
In terms of the number of games required to reach the 30,000 points plateau, Kobe is fifth. Chamberlain was the fastest to reach the milestone in 941 games. He was followed by Jordan (960), Jabbar (1101) and Malone (1152).
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