All about Box: Interesting Traditions, Activities, & Facts that you should know
If you are an active person and you like to test your limits every time, accepting challenge after challenge, it's time to move to the hard category of sports. Specifically, in boxing. Besides the fact that it tones your body very well and improves your physical endurance, boxing is a great training for the mind as well.
And if you want to better discover such an activity and test it properly, we have prepared below a guide dedicated to boxing: what this sport involves, why you should start it, but also what is the equipment appropriate.
Boxing came from England between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which was worn barefoot, making it a very brutal and violent sport.
A few years later this sport began to be regulated, especially in 1867 with the formulation of Queenberry rules.
Boxing has always been an Olympic sport, not only present at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, as the sport was banned in the country.
Over the years, numerous boxing variants have appeared, of which the most famous are Thai Muay Thai and French Savate, which already use their feet.
What is boxing?
As you probably already know, boxing is the sport in which two opponents fight in a ring, using their fists (covered by special gloves). It is also important to note that in order to face each other, the two boxers should have similar weights so that they have equal chances in the ring. This is also the reason why there are several weight categories (from 49 to 91 kilograms, in general) in boxing, the competitions being organized according to this criterion, but also depending on the age of the athletes (seniors and juniors).
A match ends when one of the boxers is knocked out (KO) by his opponent, ie when he is knocked down and no longer manages to get in the ring in the time indicated by the referee, which counts up to ten. The match is over even when one of the fighters is too injured to continue the fight, in which case we are talking about technical knockout (TKO).
In the situation where we do not have KO or TKO, the winner of the match is the one who receives from the jury the most points for the given blows.
What are the benefits of boxing?
If you want to start a new sport, but you still don't realize which would suit you better, take a look below, because there are great chances to find your inspiration. The list of benefits that boxing has on the body and brain are significant.
Boxing works all your muscle groups. A cardio workout, which greatly develops your endurance in sports, boxing can improve your physical condition, moving all areas of the body. Although you would be tempted to think that it gives results rather at the top of the torso, the box works very well and the legs: you have to move quickly, keep your balance and stability very well, but also react with agility in every moment. The outcome? A well-toned body;
Boxing burns calories. Along with running and cycling, boxing is one of the best cardio workouts you can do, because it helps burn calories fast (on average, we're talking about 13 calories per minute), while sculpting your body;
Contributes to improving cardiovascular health. Every punch you punch helps to contract the muscles, it's a complete and complex physical effort. Therefore, due to the fact that all the muscles of the body are used during training, and the heart is forced to work at maximum speed and to pump at a fast pace the blood that ensures the transport of oxygen in the body. And because the heart is trained in turn, the risk of cardiovascular disease will be low;
Boxing improves coordination. Synchronization between eyes, hands and feet is the key to success in this sport. Boxing helps you maintain your balance, positions, stability, not to be unbalanced immediately in case of sudden movements;
Boxing also teaches you to learn self-defense techniques. Yes, another advantage of this sport is that it helps you practice self-defense movements, which can catch you very well if, at some point, you have to defend yourself from someone who threatens you or puts you in life threatening and physical integrity;
It helps you relax and reduce stress. Boxing requires all your attention, so when you enter the ring, you will focus only on your fighting movements. In addition, you always have a partner who keeps you alert and prevents you from thinking about anything else. Thus, you will forget about daily worries, but, at the same time, you will stimulate through movement the production of serotonin, the hormone that contributes significantly to your well-being.
What is the boxing equipment?
If you have decided to start boxing and you really want to keep training for a long time, it would be recommended to invest in a suitable equipment.
First of all, you will need appropriate clothing and footwear, which will allow you to move at ease and be able to make any movement without problems. In terms of clothing, you can opt for a pair of shorts and a cotton T-shirt or T-shirt (which does not fit on the body, does not tighten).
When it comes to footwear, choose a pair of comfortable sports shoes with non-slip soles, which will give you safety and stability in the ring.
In addition to the boxing outfit, you will also need the basic accessories of this sport: boxing gloves. Orient yourself towards a model that fits the shape and size of your hands, that has a protective layer with a role in mitigating the impact of blows. Also, for practicing the movements, the boxing palms are very useful, which are attached to the palm of the work teammate and are used for training.
Also in the category of useful accessories for boxing are special bandages for this sport, made of a soft fabric in order to cover and protect any wounds on the hands. And if you want to exercise your endurance and improve your physical condition, it wouldn't hurt to have a rope in your equipment.
The last, but not the last piece needed for training is the punching bag. It must be fastened with a hook to a ceiling or a strong beam. Hit it with correctly executed movements, focusing, first of all, on the technique instead of the hitting force.
The best training tips
Whether you want to do performance boxing or simply exercise and tone your body with this sport, there are a few tricks you should keep in mind before you start:
There are several styles of boxing (swarmer, slugger, etc.) from which you can choose, so if you want to perform in the field, it would be good to choose the right one for you and practice as much as possible;
Even if you do not want to become a professional boxer, it is important to seek the help of a coach who will show you how to execute the shots correctly, so that you can take full advantage of the benefits of this sport and not get hurt;
Don't expect it to come out right away! You won't hit accurately and you may not be able to stop your opponent's attacks, but that shouldn't discourage you. Practice, practice and practice again, until you get into the rhythm;
Make friends with the treadmill and skipping rope. Warming up is very important before boxing training, so never skip this essential step, which prepares your body for an intense movement session;
Watch out for the laces. No, it's not a joke, but a very good and practical piece of advice: make several knots, to make sure they stay connected. Often, while jumping rope or fighting in the ring, the laces tend to unravel. Squeeze them responsibly from the beginning, so as to prevent possible injuries.
That being said, if you want to try a new sport that not only works your physique, but also helps your psyche, boxing is one of the best options. Choose a gym where you can train, put on your gloves and get to work!
Weight categories
In order for the fights to be as fair as possible, the boxers are divided into weight categories. Thus, each boxer fights only with another boxer with a similar weight to him, making the fights much more correct and balanced.
The weight categories for men are as follows:
Light Fly - 48 pounds
Fly - 51 pounds
Rooster - 54 pounds
Value - 57 pounds
Lightweight - 60 pounds
Light medium - 64 pounds
Average value of - 69 pounds
Average - 75 pounds
Average weight - 81 pounds
Weight - 91 pounds
Super weight - + 91 pounds
How to train boxing at home?
Although you can train very well at home, we strongly recommend that you turn to a coach to make progress in the best conditions. If you are a beginner, it is a mandatory requirement to avoid the wrong skills, especially the technical ones.
Instead, home training is a good supplement to:
-Adding new training sessions to club meetings;
-Returning the movement in the rhythm of your skills or well-defined techniques;
-Intensification of certain aspects of the practice that you consider insufficient during the regular training period (eg cardio, physical training).
Boxing is one of the most popular sports in the world. Millions of people have flocked over the years to watch live matches in the sport considered "noble art", and names like Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather and Evander Holyfield will forever remain in the history of the sport. . In the next article we will show you what the blows allowed in boxing matches are.
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Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather faced YouTube star Logan Paul in an exhibition duel. The eight-round battle ended with the rivals failing to identify a winner, despite Mayweather's significant superiority.
One can speculate a lot about the fact that the fight for Floyd is a failure if it did not end with a knockout in a few minutes. In this regard, several points must be understood.
First, if Logan Paul was smaller, it probably would have happened. Secondly, in exhibition fights it is not customary to hack an opponent right away: after all, broadcast sales take the first place here. I remember that Floyd had the same situation with McGregor. Today, Mayweather, objectively looking at the situation, did not strain at all and raised his next $ 100 million.\
This was thinking everyone, so it happened. Bemorepanda collected some memes.
1.In a nutshell
2.Tonight
3.Post fight
4.Rich
5.A date
6.Love
7.Happy end
8.Hugs
9.Took it good
10.Pretty boys
11.It makes sense
12.Easy money
13.Amateur
14.For free
15.Think Logan
16.Lost
17.Facts
18.Update
19.Who else watched?
20.Small boy
Many people are into sports, including sitting on the couch or podium and watching their favorite team or athlete. But it's one thing to know everything about your favorites, and quite another - about everything that relates to the topic of sports, from the Olympic Games to well-known facts.
Quiz. Questions and answers about sports that will baffle even a school teacher
Bemorepanda has compiled a list of questions that may interest sports fans and provide an opportunity to show off their knowledge in this area. Don't be afraid; we are not going to ask something very complicated, like what is the national sport in Bangladesh. Our questions relate to more widespread sports worldwide, such as basketball, football, and others, or the Olympics. Although, to be honest, some questions will surely make you break your head.
1. What is the length of the marathon distance?
Answer: 42 km 195 m.
2. The French Open is played at the stadium named after which World War I pilot?
Answer: Roland Garros.
3. Who was the first British player to win league titles in four countries?
Answer: David Beckham.
4. What is the only country that has taken part in all the World Cups?
Answer: Brazil.
5. How many disciplines are there in men's gymnastics?
Answer: Six - jump, rings, floor, crossbar, uneven bars, horse.
6. How many rings are on the Olympic flag?
Answer: 5.
7. What is the record for the most red cards in one football match?
Answer: 36.
8. What is the Tour de France?
Answer: Cycling.
9. Which African country was the first to qualify for the World Cup?
Answer: Egypt.
10. Which city was the first to host the Olympics twice?
Answer: Paris.
11. What is the last competition in the decathlon?
Answer: 1500 meter run.
12. What is the national sport in Canada other than hockey?
Answer: Lacrosse.
13. How many dimples are on the average golf ball?
Answer: 336.
14. What does NBA mean?
Answer: National Basketball Association.
15. What part of the body in football cannot touch the ball?
Answer: hands.
16. What sport uses net, racket and shuttlecock?
Answer: badminton.
17. In what year were women allowed to compete in the modern Olympics?
Answer: 1900.
18. What winter sport uses the terms "stale fish" and "mule kick"?
Answer: snowboarding.
19. How long was the longest point draw in tennis history?
Answer: 29 minutes.
20. How many Olympic Games have been held in countries that no longer exist?
Answer: 3 (USSR, Yugoslavia and West Germany).
21. Name the athlete of the century, announced in 1999 by both the prestigious American magazine Sports Illustrated and the BBC?
Answer: Muhammad Ali.
22. At the 1971 Olympics, Nadia Comaneci became the first gymnast to score the highest score. What country did she represent?
Answer: Romania.
23. What is the only city in the US that has won three of the four major professional sports championships in the same year?
Answer: Detroit won the NFL, NBA and NHL.
24. Who is the youngest heavyweight boxing world champion?
Answer: Mike Tyson - 20.
25. The Olympic Games are held once every how many years?
Answer: Technically every 2 years, because the Summer and Winter Olympics are no longer held in the same year, as they used to be after 4 years.
26. Who has won more Grand Slam tennis titles, Venus Williams or Serena Williams?
Answer: Serena Williams.
27. How many medals did China win at the Beijing Olympics?
Answer: 100.
28. How many players are on the baseball team?
Answer: 9.
29. Who was the youngest player to score 10,000 points in the NBA?
Answer: LeBron James.
30. How old was the youngest professional footballer?
Answer: 12.
31. What was the fastest goal in World Cup history?
Answer: 10.8 seconds.
32. What do the rings symbolize at the Olympic Games?
Answer: Continents of the world.
33. Where were the first ancient Olympic Games held?
Answer: In Greece.
34. In which sport is the strongest identified in a circle with a diameter of 4.5-5 meters?
Answer: Sumo wrestling.
35. Who is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as
Answer: Pele is a Brazilian soccer player.
36. Who has won the most heavyweight boxing world title fights?
Answer: Joe Louis.
37. What do Indianapolis 500 winners traditionally drink in the winning circle?
Answer: Milk.
38. How many dogs are in a dog race?
Answer: six.
39. Which sport is best known as the "King of Sports"?
Answer: Football.
40. In car racing, which flag is waved to announce the winner?
Answer: Checkered.
41. How many holes are played in an average round of golf?
Answer: 18.
42. How big is an Olympic size swimming pool in meters?
Answer: 50 meters long and 25 meters wide.
43. What kind of sport is called the "sport of kings"?
Answer: Polo.
44. Who has won the most consecutive Wimbledon singles titles?
Answer: Martina Navratilova - six.
45. How many Olympic Games have been held in Africa?
Answer: Zero.
46. Which country last hosted the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in the same year?
Answer: Germany - 1936.
47. In cricket, how many points are scored if the ball hits the boundary without rebounding?
Answer: Six.
48. What is the only sport in which teams can be seen defending goals of different sizes?
Answer: Water polo.
49. What is the diameter of a basketball hoop?
Answer: 45 cm, and the maximum is 45.7 cm.
50. Which real-life boxer is the classic 1980 movie Raging Bull about?
Answer: About Jake LaMotta.
51. How long is a free program in figure skating?
Answer: Four and a half minutes for men, four minutes for women.
52. During the first modern Olympic Games, what were the first prize winners awarded with?
Answer: Silver medals.
53. Who won the first two FIFA Women's World Player of the Year awards?
Answer: Mia Hamm.
54. What is the name of the very center of the target in archery or darts?
Answer: Apple.
55. What were the first two women's sports included in the program of the modern Olympic Games?
Answer: Tennis and golf - 1900
56. Who is the youngest woman to ever win a tennis Grand Slam in singles?
Answer: Martina Hingis - 16 years 3 months.
57. At what Olympic Games did Mark Spitz win seven gold medals?
Answer: 1972 - Munich.
58. In what sport did famous pediatrician and writer Benjamin Spock win an Olympic gold medal?
Answer: Rowing.
59. What sports equipment is used to hit a tennis ball?
Answer: Tennis racket.
60. When an Olympic athlete wins first place, what color medal does he get?
Answer: Gold.
In the National Basketball Association, the Chicago Bulls , Illinois play in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team started in 1966.
It gained popularity due to the fact that it had one of the greatest dynasties in the history of the NBA. This dynasty was formed during the 1990s. Thanks to it, the team was able to win six championships in eight years. The Bulls also became famous for setting an NBA record of 72 games during the 1995-96 season. They are the only team in NBA history to win 70 games in the same season.
Throughout their stellar career, the team has been constantly involved in NBA propaganda and advertising around the world. It is also important to note the NBA Finals in 1998, when the Bulls won it, and it became the most popular and the most attended and watched championship in the history of NBA games. The names of the team's players are well known - Michael Jordan, Scotty Pippen and their coach Phil Jackson.
In Chicago history, the Chicago Bulls are the third team to enter the NBA. The first was the Peckers-Zefirs, who currently represent the Washington Wizards, and the second was the Stegs. Today, the Bulls sometimes wear red and blue Stegs jerseys to the game. Starting playing in 1966, the team managed to show character and became the best debut team in NBA history.
Before playing their home games at Chicago Stadium, the team initially played at the International Amphitheater for two seasons. Over the following years, the team of coaches managed to create a fairly strong team that did not want to give in to anyone on the playing field. It was a tough team whose main play patterns were built around forwards Chet Walker and Bob Love, and defenseman Jerry Sloan. But then the team did not acquire great achievements, they were able to win only one division title and never made it to the Final. Only over time the team has grown and become a worthy member of the NBA.
1.Wall and sad moment
2.Keep calm
3.Crab and robot
The Bulls' 72 wins and 10 losses in a season is a record that seemed to last forever. Only 20 years later, last season, this achievement was surpassed by the Golden State Warriors. Having won 73 matches out of 82 in the regular season, the California club even received public congratulations from the President of the United States.
But Stephen Curry and his team forgot to do the main thing - to become champions after that. In the title battle with Cleveland and LeBron James, Golden State did what no one had done before - lost the final series, leading it 3-1.
The 1995/96 Chicago was the greatest team in NBA history. By the way, the Bulls starting five earned $14.7 million that season, less than Timofei Mozgov alone in the 2016-17 Lakers.
There is no need to explain who Michael Jordan is - anyone who has heard the word "basketball" at least once in their life knows this name. But he was not always the greatest player of all time, and the 1996 title was the turning point.
On June 23, 1993, three days after Chicago became the NBA champion for the third time in a row, Michael's father was killed. The killers were quickly found - they turned out to be two teenagers, but the true motives were never found out. Only many years later, an unofficial version surfaced: James Jordan gave his life for his son's gambling debts.
A couple of months after the tragedy, Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA - and suddenly left for baseball. But after two years of torment in the minor leagues, he nevertheless returned to what he knew how to do best in the world. Chicago won three more league titles (1996, 1997, 1998), and Michael finally became an icon. And the debate about whether it's time to give the title of the best player of all time to LeBron James remains a debate.
Only two players from the legendary Bulls lineup saw their name and number under the arches of the club's home arena. Jordan is by far the greatest, but he's been waiting seven years for his first championship with Chicago. The Bulls became a serious force only after Pippen played at their core. In any other team, he would have been the main superstar, but he accepted a supporting role and was always in the shadows - his greatness is also in this. Michael and Scotty have never been friends, but the two are the perfect ingredients for a championship cocktail.
4.Welcome
5.This does
6.Best center
7.Before D-Rose
After the end of his career, Scotty Pippen came to Russia several times and even managed to fall in love with the Russian bath.
Kukoc did not catch the first three Chicago championships, but in 1996 he became the first European star to win the NBA championship. It was he who paved the way for Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitzki and Timofey Mozgov.
In the 1994/95 season, the Croat was already an established player in the Bulls' starting five, but in the next championship he mostly left the bench. And that was the added strength of the NBA's greatest team: when the leaders usually went to rest, Chicago had Kukoch on the court. That year, he easily won the title of the NBA's best backup, and then helped the Bulls go all the way to the top.
You don't have to know basketball to remember Rodman from Men in Black. The hero of Will Smith learns that the center of the “Chicago” is an alien, and says the phrase: “And this one doesn’t even disguise himself!”
Rodman was part of the legendary Bad Boys, a gang that won two championships with Detroit in 1989 and 1990. Despite the appearance of a bully and a rebel, Dennis was also a talented basketball player. For seven years in a row, he became the best rebounder in the NBA - and this is with a height of 201 cm! As soon as he came to Chicago in 1995, the team immediately won three championships in a row. And Jordan isn't the only one to blame.
Of all the Bulls' legendary roster, Rodman stood out the most. Not only bright hairstyles and piercings, but also behavior. He owes his popularity to five championship rings, and an affair with Madonna, and an addiction to alcohol. The reputation remained with him after the end of his career. In recent years, Dennis has actively trolled the US authorities when he became friends with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
8.Having fun
9.We got next
10.Lebron
11.Rondo
12.Next chapter
13.Awkward moment
14.Dead
15.Good guys
16.Splash brothers
17.Joke about us
18.Nice guy
19.Before..
20.Since 2003
21.Jordan
22.No matter what team
23.Break it
24.So bad
25.Chicago bulls
26.How many documentaries
27.Expectations
28.Bulls fans
29.Tony Snell
30.Cry baby
31.Fans be like
32.Can’t eat
33.Can’t unsee it
34.Good moment
35.Missed game
36.Trade MJ
37.Drunk
38.Get out
39.A change
40.Coincidence
41.Lost
42.Nigga
43.Holy Spirit
44.Golden state
45.After game
46.Go as expected
47.So old
48.Can’t we
49.Pretty boy
50.Preseason
Los Angeles Lakers. Team based in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers were founded and have been playing in the NBA since 1947. The first name of the team was the Minneapolis Lakers, the current one has been since 1960. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Los Angeles has reached the NBA Finals thirty-one times and won sixteen league titles.
The Lakers are not just the most successful club in the history of basketball in America, not just the club that managed to shine in all eras, not just the most popular and most hated organization. The Lakers are the only superclub in the NBA because they have always had the unique opportunity to get the best players of the era.
The history of the Lakers is not the story of talented management or wealthy owners, not the ability to draft brilliantly or lay championship rings on the table, not the attractiveness of sunny weather or affordable women.
The history of the Lakers is precisely the history of their endless superstars and the unique paths that have always taken them to the same place.
Bemorepanda collected some more interesting facts.
1. In 1990, the Los Angeles Lakers played a bunch of Predators at the end of Predator 2.
2. LeBron rested in the summer for the first time in a long time and appeared fresh and updated before the 2019/2020 season. With a long-awaited star next to him. Miami (like the Lakers) were in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings. A big step forward for both organizations that have not competed in the finals for several years.
3. It's unbelievable, but 75-year-old Miami President Pat Riley has made it to the NBA Finals in each of the past six decades.
4. Old Pat won as a player, and as a coach, and as a club leader. Surprisingly, many of the brightest moments of the Lakers are associated with Riley. Not only did he have some great seasons as a player, but he was a successful manager for the Lakers for a long time. After his departure to Miami, the organization from the east coast rose to a qualitatively new level.
5. It was Riley who managed to create the “Big Trio” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and play in the NBA Finals for four years in a row.
6. LeBron James reached the final for the ninth time in the last ten years. Space! This man just lives in the playoffs and blossoms for the most important matches. This will be his tenth career final. And in this he overtook 27 NBA clubs. LeBron is second only to the Lakers (32 finals), Boston (21 finals), and the Golden State Warriors (11 finals).
7. There is no clear leader in Miami. And this is their feature. The Heat became only the fifth team to reach the finals, replacing the best scorer in each of the series. If in the first round Goran Dragic was the best sniper, then in the games with Milwaukee Jimmy Butler led the team.
8. In the final series, Bam Adebayo became the leader in points scored. So now let the opponent think who to keep more carefully. By the way, four previous examples (twice the Lakers, Detroit and San Antonio) necessarily won the title.
9. Statistics in the NBA is built into a cult. And there is nowhere to hide from her. Especially if you're as big as Shaquille O'Neal. This giant changed so many teams, and his partners were so cool that for 37 years in a row one of his former teammates has been playing in the decisive series.
10. Lakers defenseman JR Smith predicted the finalists in the winter. It is clear that the chances of the Lakers were very high even then. But how did he know about Miami? It is curious that he answered in the stories of his Instagram account, but our American colleagues carefully save all the “moves” of such prominent people as Smith.
11. The Lakers were keen to sign free agent Andre Iguodala. The veteran, who could not be renewed by the Warriors, was badly needed by them in the playoffs. He won the 2015 Finals MVP award for his near-perfect defense against LeBron James. He understands the game, knows everything about it. But he was intercepted by Miami and the same cunning fox Pat Riley. He seemed to already know something.
12. It was Iguodala who became the X-factor of the sixth game in the series with the Celtics. The veteran came out and hit four times from behind the arc without making a single miss. His final "+20" in the usefulness column only says that he is ready for the final and LeBron should keep this in mind.
13. Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Dion Waiters became an NBA champion before the start of the series. Dion will receive the ring even if the team loses to the Heat in the final. Waiters started the season with Miami before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Andre Iguodala.
14. Memphis expelled Waiters, who then signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. Dion appeared on the court in just three games with Miami, but this is enough to receive the title of NBA champion. It is reported by "The Rambler".
15. The franchise that would become the Lakers was founded in 1946 as the Detroit Gems and played in the National Basketball League (NBL). The team moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1947 and its name was changed to the Lakers to reflect the state of Minnesota's nickname of "The Land of 10,000 Lakes".
16. That same year, the Lakers acquired George Mikan, who became professional basketball's first dominant "big man" and first in the Lakers' series of great centers. The Lakers joined the BAA (the official predecessor of the NBA) in the 1948–49 season and won the BAA Final Championship. \
17. The NBA was formed in 1949, and Mikan and the Lakers—which also included future Hall of Famers Jim Pollard, Slater Martin, Vern Mikkelsen, and (since 1953) Clyde Lovellett—won four of the first five league titles, creating the first dynasty of professional basketball.
18. The Lakers' game attendance dropped after Mikan's retirement in 1956, and the team moved to Los Angeles before the 1960–61 season.
19. The Lakers made the NBA Finals six times in the 1960s but lost to the Celtics in every game, despite the presence of all-time greats Elgin Baylor and Jerry West (who would later assemble a number of Lakers championship teams as the team's general manager).
20. However, in the 1971–72 season, the Lakers—led by West, Gail Goodrich, and Wilt Chamberlain—set NBA records for longest winning streak (33 games) and best regular season record (69–13; broken in 1995–96).
21. The Chicago Bulls are on their way to an NBA championship, the team's first title since the move. to Los Angeles.
22. The Lakers made the Finals again in 1972–73 but lost to the New York Knicks. After that season, Chamberlain retired and the team's fortunes took a turn for the worse as the Lakers missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history in 1974–75 and 1975–76.
23. The Lakers entered the most dominant period in their franchise history when they selected Magic Johnson with the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA draft. Johnson teamed with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and (since 1982) James Worthy to lead the Lakers to eight NBA Finals appearances over the next decade, leading to five NBA championships (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988).
24. This era became known as "Showtime" not only because of the flamboyant, often spectacular style of play hosted by Johnson and the impeccable head coach Pat Riley, but also because of the presence of Hollywood stars, most notably Jack Nicholson, at the courts. In addition, the renewed rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics—two teams that fought for the NBA title in 1984, 1985, and 1987, and more specifically, Johnson's battle with Bostonian Larry Bird—lifted the NBA to new levels of popularity in the 1980s. .
25. After the retirements of Abdul-Jabbar in 1989 and Johnson in 1991, the Lakers' fortunes deteriorated rapidly.
26. The team still made regular playoff appearances—the Lakers only missed a postseason game five times in the team's first 60 seasons—but failed to reach the NBA Finals for the longest period in team history.
27. However, that all changed in the 1999–2000 season when newly hired head coach Phil Jackson led the Lakers, leading Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to the first of three straight titles. O'Neal was traded in 2004, but a redesigned Lakers team with Bryant as coordinator made it to the 2008 NBA Finals, which they lost to Boston in six games.
28. The following season, the Lakers returned to the Finals, where they defeated the Orlando Magic in five games to clinch the 15th seed in the franchise championship. In the 2009–10 season, the Lakers made their third consecutive Finals appearance, where they defeated the Celtics in a dramatic seven-game streak.
29. The Lakers then entered a period of relative lack of success, which peaked in 2012–13. The team added perennial All-Stars Steve Nash and Dwight Howard in the preseason and were considered one of the favorites to win the championship, but in an inconsistent and injury-riddled campaign, the team was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round.
30. During the off-season, Howard went free-roaming, and Bryant and Nash missed most of the following season with injuries, which contributed greatly to the Lakers' loss in 2013–14. Bryant missed most of the following season with another injury, and the Lakers struggled to a 21–61 record. The team was even worse in the 2015–16 season, with a franchise-worst record of 17–65 in Bryant's final season before his retirement.
31. The team's record improved by nine wins in 2016–17, but the Lakers' record-breaking playoff drought extended to four seasons and led to a front office reshuffle, including Magic Johnson, who took over as team president of basketball.
32. Johnson helped lure free agent superstar LeBron James to the Lakers during the 2018 offseason, but the team failed to improve significantly and Johnson abruptly resigned at the end of the 2018–19 season. The next season was stormy.
33. In January 2020, Bryant was among those killed in a helicopter crash, and less than two months later, the NBA suspended play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, the season resumed but with a reduced schedule, with players largely isolated in a "bubble". Thanks to a stellar performance from James, who was named Finals MVP, the Lakers eventually defeated the Miami Heat to win the NBA championship.
34. The legendary NBA player got his name from the Japanese Kobe steak, which is made from premium quality beef, namely from bulls of the Japanese black breed of the Tajima variety. A kilogram of such meat can cost more than $500.
35. Kobe Bryant's father, Joe Bryant, is a professional basketball player who played in the NBA and in Europe. Joe spent seven years of his career in Italy, thanks to which Kobe knows Italian perfectly.
36. Kobe started playing basketball at the age of 3 and adored the game number #33, which was used by his father. Under the same number, Bryant performed at school.
37. The legendary NBA player got his name from the Japanese Kobe steak, which is made from premium quality beef, namely from bulls of the Japanese black breed of the Tajima variety. A kilogram of such meat can cost more than $500.
38. Kobe Bryant's father, Joe Bryant, is a professional basketball player who played in the NBA and in Europe. Joe spent seven years of his career in Italy, thanks to which Kobe knows Italian perfectly.
39. Kobe started playing basketball at the age of 3 and adored the game number #33, which was used by his father. Under the same number, Bryant performed at school.
40. Even as a child, Kobe Bryant made a serious bid to pass legendary: during his performances in high school, he scored 2883 points, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's Pennsylvania state record (2252 points).
41. Bryant didn't play at university. In 1996, he became the first defenseman in league history to enter the NBA from high school. According to Bryant, if he still had to go to university, he would have chosen Duke.
42. In 1996, Kobe spent pre-draft training with the Boston Celtics, the nemesis of the Los Angeles Lakers. But the team from Massachusetts, which had the 6th pick in the draft, did not dare to choose a 17-year-old basketball player.
43. The trade of Bryant for Vlad Divac from the Hornets to the Lakers on the day of the draft outraged Los Angeles fans. No one understood why the leadership of the Lakers gave up the starting center team for a schoolboy with dubious prospects. After 20 years, this exchange will be called one of the most successful in the history of the NBA.
44. In his rookie season, Kobe won the dunk contest. Among the defeated rivals were Ray Allen, Chris Carr, Michael Finley, Darwin Ham and Bob Sura.
45. Already at the age of 19, Bryant made his first All-Star Game. Despite the fact that he scored only 15 points per game and only 1 time in the season came out in the starting five of the Lakers.
46. Kobe's parents did not communicate with their son for two whole years, as they did not approve of his marriage to a 19-year-old dancer of Mexican origin. Because of this, Joe and Pam Bryant even missed the 2001 NBA Finals when their son won the championship.
47. Nickname Black Mamba Kobe Bryant came up with himself.
48. Bryant tried his hand at hip-hop and once even sang along with Tyra Banks on the same stage. The track was called "K.O.B.E".
49. From 1999 to 2009, Kobe owned a 50% stake in Milan basketball.
50. Years spent in Italy have taken their toll: Kobe Bryant is a big fan of Milan football as well, and his favorite player of all time is Marco van Basten.
