Kobe Bryant, one of basketball's biggest names, has impacted the game through his far-famed career with 20 years of accomplishments at the Los Angeles Lakers. His path to NBA stardom was unconventional and polarizing, as he skipped college and went straight from high school to the professional ranks. Though his choice wasn't unheard of, it was rather infrequent at the time and later influenced his career and legacy.

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Youth and Basketball Career

Long before Kobe Bryant stepped onto an NBA court, his path to basketball greatness had been laid out. Raised in basketball culture, Bryant's development progressed much like that of generational greats of the past, but it had enough subtle differences and seamless talent to suggest that a game-changing origin story may have played some part. His father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, played in the NBA for eight years before playing overseas.

Brought to Italy as a child, Kobe Bryant grew up in that country, developing his basketball dreams and working hard to become better. The Bryant family then moved back to the United States, where he played at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

Even as a high school prospect, Bryant had a rare talent. His play attracted national attention, and he was featured on CNN, CBS, and other stations. In 1996, he took Lower Merion to the Pennsylvania state championship.

But Bryant's high school career was about much more than how he performed on the court. His competitiveness and his work ethic were, of course, already legendary. During his days at Lower Merion, one of Bryant's high school coaches, John Osipowicz, remembered an anecdote that epitomized just how ahead the game Kobe had always been. In high school, Bryant wrote a short story about a player missing critical free throws and their team losing the game. "Everything was about winning for him; he won everything but at 17, knew you could lose," Osipowicz said of Bryant's advanced basketball IQ and mental edge even as an adolescent.

Decision to Skip College

Near the end of Bryant's high school career, he had a big choice: go to college or enter his name in the NBA draft. Although the NBA had included players with high school eligibility in its drafts since 1971 and Americans were still four years away from seeing a highly regarded player taken out of high school by an NBA team when the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Kevin Garnett after graduating from Chicago's Farragut Academy.

There were several reasons why Bryant opted to forgo college. The biggest thing is he was just that damn good and ready to go pro. His family could not remember anyone who dominated along the path he took all through high school and then tested well enough in front of NBA teams that, by now, they were certain Bryant would be capable of handling what awaited at this level.

On the flip side, Bryant saw other players go straight from high school to the NBA and succeed, clearly holding that in his mind. Guys like Kevin Garnett (1995) and Tracy McGrady (1996) had just entered the league right out of high school, but they were giving teams hope that more players could do exactly what they did.

Well, Bryant's decision was controversial, too. The NBA is going in on this age requirement debate that was already centered around whether or not players should be forced to do a year of college before they can enter the league. Some advocates of college basketball suggested the collegiate experience offered a crucial time for player development, both on and off the court; others said, like most professions, that exceptional talent should have had an early opportunity to chase their professional aspirations.

Transition to the NBA

Bryant made it into the NBA in the 1996 draft when he was drafted as the No. 13 pick by the Charlotte Hornets. But on draft day, Lakers GM Jerry West orchestrated a trade to acquire Bryant's rights, and he would go on to spend 20 years with the Lakers franchise.

As an 18-year-old rookie, Bryant had plenty of struggles adjusting to the NBA game. Playing professional basketball is physically demanding, and the speed and complexity of play and the pressure from performing on one of the sport's biggest stages are all challenges he faced.

Despite those difficulties, it did not take long for Bryant to show his talent and determination. While he wasn't the immediate sensation that he was believed to be, there were points where it appeared his potential would lift him onto a path of greatness. With a 7.6 points-per-game average during his rookie year, he laid the foundation for what it takes to outwork everyone around you and improve even when things seem unstoppable.

His NBA predecessors and even his coaches helped him with the shift. Coached by Del Harris and his staff, the Lakers helped mold Bryant's game to be better suited for professional basketball. In addition, Bryant's veteran teammates like Shaquille O'Neal also helped to bail him out a few times during his formative years in the league.

Impact and Legacy

Kobe Bryant opting to skip college and go straight from high school into the NBA was a huge part of his career, but he also left quite a legacy. Rather than attending college, Bryant jumped on the competition by turning pro early and honing his craft against seasoned NBA stars as one of its youngest rookies.

This early exposure to the NBA was a large part of Bryant's longevity and made his career numbers incredible. During his 20 seasons, Bryant racked up quite a resume with this honor:

• 5 NBA Championships
• 2 NBA Finals MVP awards
• 1 NBA MVP award
• 18 NBA All-Star selections
• 2 Olympic gold medals
• 33,643 career points

The fact that he succeeded right out of high school also helped change the NBA's stance on draft eligibility and who was ready for it at 18 years old. His success and the popularity of other prep-to-pro players who succeeded, like LeBron James, fueled a backlash against the NBA age limit rule.

The NBA created the one-and-done rule in 2005, making players ineligible to enter the draft until they are 19 and a year out of high school. The rule, known as the "one-and-done" rule that helped bring college stars like Kobe Bryant to one of the biggest stages in basketball, only further enforced their potential.

Kobe's legacy transcends the basketball court. He was notorious for his Mamba Mentality, which motivated many players and fans to work the way he did. This mentality, which defined a continually process-driven and ultra-competitive Bryant, would soon grow to be almost as synonymous with him as anything else.

One of the biggest reasons Kobe Bryant became great is that he never went through college but instead entered the NBA straight from high school. This brought seemingly endless challenges, especially in those early days, but it also gave him some of the greatest opportunities one could ask for to grow and learn as a professional basketball player.

Bryant's success as a high school player in the NBA showed that star prospects could play well in the league, from prep to pro. His career consisted of a recycling collection runner and is a testament to determination, work ethic, and an unrelenting strive for perfection.

But it's also worth recognizing that Bryant's road was not without its hardships. He decried that he could never go off and do his own thing as a college student, missing out on some personal and social development players get in their five years at school. Moreover, his precocity to play in the best basketball league on earth made him step into a whirlwind of pressure at an age where few teenagers have that much focus and maturity.

In the end, Kobe was not only an individual who humbly reached basketball god-like status straight out of high school; he created a story that can be seen as both advantageous and disadvantageous when it comes to becoming a professional athlete at such a young age. His influence is still being felt in the basketball universe to this day, an example of talent, drive, and excellence coming together.