Kobe Bryant will end his career Wednesday against the Utah Jazz in Staples Center.
Here is a look back at some of the highlights from one of the greatest careers in pro basketball history.
PHOTOS: Classic Kobe moments we'll never forget | The retirement tour
June 13, 1996: Bryant is drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets. He’s later traded to the Lakers for center Vlade Divac, which ultimately helps free up cap space to sign Shaquille O'Neal. And so, a dynasty is born.
Feb. 8, 1997: Bryant has a big day in his first taste of NBA All-Star Weekend, scoring 31 points in the Rookie Challenge and winning the Slam Dunk contest.
May 12, 1997: Bryant puts up three airballs as the Jazz eliminated the Lakers in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Feb. 8, 1998: Bryant becomes the youngest NBA All-Star in history at age 19, starting for the Western Conference despite not being a starter with the Lakers. He scores 18 points while playing opposite Michael Jordan in Madison Square Garden.
June 19, 2000: Bryant win his first NBA championship as the Lakers defeat the Indiana Pacers in six games.
Feb. 10, 2002: Bryant gets booed in his hometown of Philadelphia after scoring 31 points and being named All-Star Game MVP.
June 12, 2002: The 23-year-old Bryant becomes the youngest player in NBA history to win three NBA titles as the Lakers sweep the Nets.
Feb. 2003: Bryant scores 40 or more points nine games in a row, and averages 40.6 points per game for the month.
Jan. 22, 2006: Bryant puts on the greatest scoring exhibition in NBA history outside of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point output, scoring 81 points in a 122-104 win over the Toronto Raptors. Bryant averages a career-high 35.4 points that season, the eighth highest average in NBA history.
2007-08 season: Bryant wins his first, and only, NBA MVP Award while leading the Lakers back to the Finals where they would lose in six games against the Boston Celtics.
Summer 2008: By this time in his career, Bryant has done just about everything except win an Olympic gold medal. He gets his chance as part of "The Redeem Team," which included LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade and a roster loaded with future Hall of Famers as Team USA cruises to the gold in Beijing.
June 14, 2009: Bryant wins his first NBA Finals MVP after leading the Lakers to the title by defeating the Orlando Magic in five games.
June 17, 2010: Bryant wins his fifth and final NBA championship as the Lakers hold off the Celtics in seven games.
Aug. 12, 2012: Bryant wins his second gold medal in London.
Dec. 5, 2012: Bryant becomes the youngest player in NBA history to score 30,000 career points at age 34.
Dec. 14, 2014: Bryant passes Michael Jordan (32,292 points) for third on the NBA's all-time scoring list behind Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Oct. 28, 2015: Bryant begins his 20th season with the Lakers, becoming the first player to play that long for one NBA franchise.
Nov. 30, 2015: Bryant announces he will retire from the NBA following the conclusion of the Lakers' season.