Born Kobe Bean Bryant (August 23, 1978), an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA). Following a successful high school basketball career, Bryant was selected in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. As a rookie, Bryant earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest. He led the NBA in scoring during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, setting numerous scoring records in the process. Bryant is also the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history. Since his second year in the league, Bryant has started in every NBA All-Star Game that has been held with thirteen All-Star appearances, winning the All-Star MVP Award four times. At the 2008 Olympics, he won a gold medal as a member of the USA national team.