Star Status
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With the boost in Bryant’s playing time, the subsequent endorsements and “Madison Avenue” appeal began to develop as well. During 1998, the remarkable guard would unveil his very own signature model, the adidas KB8, along with securing a lucrative endorsement deal from Sprite, in which he was featured within a commercial starring future Hall of Fame forward Tim Duncan. In addition, the aforementioned year would witness Bryant become the youngest athlete to have a video game in his namesake as Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside was released for the Nintendo 64 gaming console.
However, while those endorsements were evident of Bryant’s growing status within the NBA, it was his selection for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game that caught the attention of many NBA enthusiasts. Not only was Kobe a non-starter for the Lakers, he became the youngest stater in NBA All-Star Game history and also became the fourth Laker to make the team of twelve All-Stars within the Western Conference– a feat that up until that point hadn’t been accomplished since 1983. This All-Star Game would ultimately say goodbye to one legend and introduce the world to another.
