Kobe Bryant Career in 1996 - 1998

       The Los Angeles Lakers and their president, Jerry West, were among the teams convinced that Kobe was destined for greatness. In a private workout for the club, the teenager impressed with his leaping ability and wide array of offensive skills. The Lakers asked Kobe to play one-on-one against Dontae’ Jones, and he blew the Mississippi State star off the court.

Los Angeles also felt Kobe’s upbringing was an advantage. As the son of an NBA player, he would be able to assimilate into the league better than other rookies.On draft day, Charlotte Hornets had grabbed Kobe at #13, and after a little haggling arranged a trade for Vlade Divac

Kobe was ecstatic to join the Lakers. Not only was he starting his pro career with his favorite team, but he would not be expected to be its savior.Kobe signed a three-year, $3.5 million contract with the Lakers, then averaged 25 points per game for their summer-league team.

During a Labor Day pickup game at Venice Beach, Kobe fractured his left wrist. Though the injury wasn’t serious, it forced him to sit out five weeks and miss much of training camp. Going into the 1996-97 season, Harris and the Lakers decided to bring their 18-year-old rookie along slowly.

Kobe made his official NBA debut against Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves. In six minutes, he bricked his only shot and committed a turnover. Sparse playing time was the norm for Kobe throughout the first half of the season. With Los Angeles vying for the Pacific Division crown, there was no need to throw him into the fire.

In January, At 18 years, five months and five days, Kobe became the youngest starter in NBA history. Weeks later, during All-Star Weekend, he set a record with 31 points in the Rookie Game and won the Slam Dunk Contest—the first Laker ever to do so.

Those were the highlights of the season for him. Injuries to O’Neal and other key players decimated Los Angeles, and the club was steamrolled by the Utah Jazz in the second round of the playoffs. Kobe, who saw only spot action in March and April, ended the year contributing just under eight points a night.

In the 1997-98 season, West and Harris agreed to install Kobe as the team’s sixth man. An observant and well-educated player, he took to the role immediately. Playing between 20 and 30 minutes a game, Kobe boosted his scoring average to nearly 18 points per game. He was just the spark the Lakers needed, as they reeled off 11 straight victories to start the year.

Kobe nailed down a spot in the starting lineup. He flourished at both ends of the court, earning Third Team All-NBA honors. Kobe began to add depth to his game, leading the Lakers in steals and ranking second on the team in scoring with a 19.9 average. In all, he logged nine double-doubles and proved increasingly dangerous in crunch time. Though his jumper lacked consistency, the Lakers were going to Kobe more and more in key situations.