Kobe Bryant played basketball.
Kobe Bean Bryant ( born August 23 , 1978 ) is an American retired professional basketball player and businessman . He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He declared for the NBA draft upon graduation , and was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets , who traded him to the Lakers . Sporting News and TNT named Bryant the top NBA player of the 2000s .