Basketball: Bryant youngest to reach 30,000 points

NEW ORLEANS: Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to reach 30,000 career points in the NBA as he helped the Los Angeles Lakers to a 103-87 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.

With 1:16 left in the second quarter, Bryant drove into the lane and rose to connect on a jump shot, taking his tally for the contest to 14 and for his career to 30,001. “It’s a huge accomplishment,” said Bryant, 34, after becoming just the fifth player in NBA history to reach the milestone.

“It feels good. I’ve been very fortunate that I haven’t really had any serious injuries. It’s been a lot of sacrifice on my part and my family’s part — a lot of time away and just working extremely hard.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2012.