Kobe Bryant Biography
... in his career. Eventually his team-mates began to accept him and Kobe then partnered up with Lakers and centre Shaquille O’Neal. The pair led the LA Lakers to NBA championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002. In 2001, Kobe Bryant married Vanessa Laine. The couple met in 1999 when Bryant visited a video shoot where Laine was working as a background model, while Vanessa was still in high school. They had a daughter, Natalia Diamante, who was born in January 2003. How ever it wasn’t all fun and games for young Kobe. In July 2003 Bryant was charged with sexual assault after an encounter with a 19-year-old resort employee in Colorado, but luckily the case was eventually dismissed and Bryant settled a civil suit with women out of court. Other conflicts have also done a fair bit of damage to Bryant's image. In addition to his problems with O'Neal, Bryant fought with other team-mates during his career. One of these incidents was when he allegedly punched teammate Samaki Walker from behind outside of the team bus. In 2004, a dispute between Bryant and former teammate Karl Malone became public before Malone's expected re-signing with the Lakers. Bryant explained Malone had made inappropriate comments about Bryant's wife. Malone claimed the comments were in good will and that Bryant was overreacting and in 2004, Kobe Bryant desperately tried to prove that he could lead the LA Lakers without Shaquille O'Neal. After Kobe told the Lakers he wouldn't be wearing the purple and gold if Shaq were in town, O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat before the 2004-2005 season. The trade was good news for the Heat, who advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals with O'Neal. It wasn't good for the Lakers, who missed the playoffs in their first season without Shaq. Even though these incidents occurred Bryant continued to play with the Lakers and on January 22 2006 Kobe Bryant scored an almighty 81 points in ...