Kobe Bryant’s 40th birthday: 40 photographs from his NBA career

Lakers’ Kobe Bryant takes a break from the NBA playoffs to accept a challenge from Los Angeles-area youngsters on Nintendo’s new basketball video game ‘Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside.’ With him are Ashley Dunning of Los Angeles, Taylor Livingston of La Crescenta, and John Torrez, right, of Rolando Heights. The game was released on Monday, April 27, 1998. (Feature Photo Service)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant with Lakers Owner Jerry Buss, Magic Johnson and Venessa Bryant celebrate after winning the NBA Finals at Staples Center Thursday in Los Angeles, CA. June 17, 2010. Lakers defeat the Celtics 83-79 to win the 2010 NBA Finals. (Terry Pierson/ The Press-Enterprise)

Kobe Bryant walks off the court after a ceremony to retire both the numbers he wore as a Los Angeles Laker at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant walks to meet Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul during a timeout nearing the end of the game at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Clippers win 103-81. Photo by Ed Crisostomo)

Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, right, shares laughter with the Thunder’s Kevin Durant during a game at Staples Center on Wednesday. ///ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: lakers.1224a-12/23/15- KYUSUNG GONG, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Ð Lakers vs. Thunder

Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher, second from left, directs his teammates during a break in the action of the fourth quarter of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, against the Oklahoma City Thunder, in Oklahoma City, Friday, April 30, 2010. From left are Ron Artest, Fisher, Kobe Bryant, and Pau Gasol, of Spain. Los Angeles won the game 95-94. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and coach Phil Jackson talk during a break against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of Game 4 of a second-round NBA playoff basketball series, Sunday, May 8, 2011, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Wizards Michael Jordan is helped up by Lakers Kobe Bryant in the second half of the game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Bryant was called for a charging foul. (Photo by/Terry Pierson)

Kobe Bryant’s post-career plans – and his personality – don’t lend themselves to the Laker legend disappearing from the public eye (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News, SCNG)

MVP Kobe Bryant of the Lakers holds up his trophy. 2011 NBA All Star Game at Stapels Center on Sunday, February 20, 2011. (Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise)

Since retiring from the NBA last spring, former Laker Kobe Bryant has focused on digital storytelling with his Newport Beach-based company Kobe, Inc. ‘I’ve been so consumed and have had so much fun in putting stories together and putting up techniques,’ Bryant said. ‘Every day to come into the office, to take on and come up with stories and figure out a way to make those stories real by challenging ourselves to come up with techniques that haven’t been done, it consumes me. I just love it.’ (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Kobe Bryant talks about his former teammate Shaquille O’Neal during a ceremony to unveil a bronze statue of Los Angeles Lakers and NBA Hall of Fame player O’Neal in Star Plaza at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Friday, March 24, 2017. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant holds onto the NBA Championship Trophy during their 2010 Championship Parade on Monday, June 21, 2010 in Los Angeles. (Stan Lim/The Press Enterprise)

Los Angeles Lakers’s Kobe Bryant, left, and Shaquille O’Neal embracing in the closing minutes in Game 1 of their best-of-five first-round Western Conference playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers in Los Angeles. O’Neal says on Twitter Wednesday June 1, 2011,that he’s “about to retire.” O’Neal sent a Tweet shortly before 2:45 p.m. saying, “im retiring.” It included a link to a 16-second video in which he says, “We did it; 19 years, baby. Thank you very much. That’s why I’m telling you first: I’m about to retire. Love you. Talk to you soon.” (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill,File)

Kobe Bryant’s #8 and #24 jerseys are unveiled during a ceremony to retire both the numbers he wore as a Los Angeles Laker at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Kobe Bryant poses in the press room with the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for “Dear Basketball,” during the 90th Annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)

Some fans’ refusal to accept that they can root for new Laker LeBron James, right, even if they still cherish former Laker Kobe Bryant, left, borders on ridiculous. (Mark Ralston, AFP/GettyImages)

Former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna watch the U.S. national championships swimming meet Thursday, July 26, 2018, in Irvine, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Earvin “Magic” Johnson  and Kobe Bryant during a ceremony to retire both the numbers he wore as a Los Angeles Laker at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

In this photo taken Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant waves good bye to the fans after an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in his last appearance at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif. Renamed SleepTrain Arena, the facility has been the home of the Kings since it opened in 1988. The Kings won an NBA-best 61 games in the 2001-02 season behind Chris Webber and Vlade Divac, losing to the eventual champion Lakers in Game 7 of the conference finals. The Kings will play their last game at the aging building, Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder and begin play next season at the new Golden One Center built in downtown Sacramento. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant holds the NBA Championship trophy aloft during the Lakers’ victory celebration of their third consecutive NBA championship Friday, June 14, 2002, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant, left, holding the championship trophy, celebrates with teammates Rick Fox, Lindsey Hunter, second from right, and Shaquille O’Neal, right, holding the MVP trophy, after winning Game 4 of the NBA Finals, June 12, 2002, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Lakers defeated the New Jersey Nets 113-107, capturing their third consecutive NBA championship. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, center, wearing former Lakers’ general manager’s Jerry West jersey, celebrates on stage with teammates, from left to right, Isaiah Rider, Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant, Stanislav Medvedenko, Devean George, Tyronn Lue and Horace Grant, during the Lakers victory celebration at Staples Center Monday, June 18, 2001, in Los Angeles. The Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers to win their second consecutive championship. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant smiles as he talks to reporters following the Lakers’ victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in game 5 of the NBA finals Friday, June 15, 2001 in Philadelphia. The Lakers won their second straight NBA championship, defeating the 76ers 108-96 to clinch the best-of-seven series 4-1. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (8) turns and heads up-court after drilling a three-point shot in the first quarter, as Seattle SuperSonics’ Brent Barry (31) follows Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, in Seattle. (AP Photo)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant answers reporters’ questions following a team practice Friday, April 16, 1999, at Los Angeles Southwest College. The departure of Dennis Rodman was the main topic of the day. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant drives toward the basket as New York Knicks’ Kurt Thomas guards during the second half of their game Sunday, March 28, 1999, in Inglewood, Calif. The Lakers won the game 99-91. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant has his right hand in a cast while sitting on the Laker bench watching his teammates battle the Golden State Warriors in an NBA exhibition game Tuesday Oct. 19, 1999 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, left, and Shaquille O’Neal pose for a photo during media day at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif., Monday, Oct. 4, 1999. The Lakers training camp opens in Santa Barbara, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 5, 1999. (AP Photo/ Victoria Arocho)

ORG XMIT: CX514 **FILE** Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant goes up for a shot between the Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce, left, and Al Jefferson, right, during an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles in this Feb. 23, 2006, file photo. Los Angeles, which has its share of sports teams, is vying with Chicago, which also has its share of team, to host the 2016 Games. (AP Photo/Branimir Kvartuc, file)

FILE – In this June 9, 2016 file photo, retired NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant poses at the 2016 AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to John Williams in Los Angeles. Bryant has received a one-of-a-kind retirement gift from rapper Snoop Dogg: a Los Angeles Lakers-themed convertible. He posted a picture on Twitter of him and Snoop standing by the purple and gold car Wednesday. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

ORG XMIT: OLY622 USA’s Kobe Bryant, right, works the ball under the net as Spain’s Pau Gasol (4) defends during the men’s gold medal basketball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

ORG XMIT: OLY523 USA’s Kobe Bryant pops his shirt as celebrates after beating Spain 118-107 in the men’s gold medal basketball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)

ORG XMIT: OHTD105 Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, left, tries to stop Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James in the fourth quarter in a basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007, in Cleveland. James scored 33 points for the Cavaliers’ 94-90 win. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

ORG XMIT: MAG101 Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, center, Devean George, left, and Gary Payton, right, walk onto the court for the second half of their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 4, 2003, in Milwaukee. Not a single protester or heckler was around Monda as the Lakers left for their shootaround, continuing a relatively quiet weeklong road trip that marked Bryant’s first long foray into some of the 27 cities where he will ply his craft in front of thousands of fans acutely aware of the drama surrounding him.Bryant was loudly booed in Milwaukee and San Antonio before getting a less-severe treatment in New Orleans and Memphis. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)

ORG XMIT: LAS105 Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, right, yells at referee Tony Brown about a foul call during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors, Wednesday night, Nov. 12, 2003, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers super fan Gabbie Aquino, 24, holds the Kobe head she brought as she cheers in the second half of the game at Citizens Business Bank Arena Sunday in Ontario, CA. October 12, 2014.

ORG XMIT: CAKJ111 Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, left, passes the ball as Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett defends in the first half of Game 3 of the NBA basketball finals Tuesday, June 10, 2008, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)

Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant, left, shakes hands with general manger Mitch Kupchak after signing his contract during a news conference Thursday, July 15, 2004, at the team’s training facility in El Segundo, Calif. Bryant chose the Lakers over the Clippers, remaining with the team he joined in 1996 at age 18 and later helped win three NBA championships (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant, of the the Lakers, share a laugh on the bench during the Lakers vs. Clippers game at Staples Center. Malone and Bryant are on the injured list. (Photo by Amanda Lucidon of The Press-Enterprise, file)