Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 at 2:55 pm  |  27 responses

Photo Gallery: Kobe x SLAM

A history of the Black Mamba’s mag covers.

Over the past decade-plus, Kobe Bean Bryant has rapidly risen from high school stud to NBA All-Star to international superstar, and we’ve been there every step of the way. Need proof? Click through to see a bunch of the five-time champ’s SLAM covers, along with some dope photos we took at various points of his career. And for the most recent Kobe-covered issue, pick up SLAM 146, which is on newsstands nationwide right now.

Kobe at Lower Merion

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , , ,

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/category/blogs/farmer-jones/ Ryan Jones

    The triplets — Slam 66, page 9 — remains on a very short list for dopest cover in this magazine’s history. Argue with that.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/category/blogs/farmer-jones/ Ryan Jones

    Oh, and first! When was the last time anybody did that? I’m gonna bring that ish back!

  • http://slamonline.com/ Tzvi Twersky

    9, 12, 17 and 18 if I had to pick just four of them.

  • Silverselectjd

    How long before the haters come out of hiding? Or the tired “rapist” crap?

  • Silverselectjd

    Hey Ryan, any weight behind the Melo trade or is it just leverage?

  • http://yahoo mrwatson

    the best player ever in my opion and i seen mj both of them and kobe is the best to me

  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    Uhm…..hurray?

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/category/blogs/farmer-jones/ Ryan Jones

    Silverdlkj;ak;d: I think so. My guess is Fisher and Worthy for Melo and a future second-round pick.
    I kid. I have no idea, man.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Tzvi Twersky

    This post made me go back and flip through the complete covers archive (http://www.slamonline.com/online/tag/Cover-Archives/). I’m not sure who has a nicer set of covers: AI or KB. Either way, both are pretty complete.

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    We’re good.

  • logues

    im one of the ppl who complain about all the kobe covers, but 97 and 114 are pretty sick covers

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    12 is sick…love it.

  • Jer dawg

    Retro that cover 9 once Championship 6 comes around. SLAM is good for revisiting their classic covers.

  • http://nobulljive.com/ Enigmatic

    How ironic that Kobe was on the cover of Slam 24. Before he even switched numbers.

  • Jackie Moon

    I don’t recognize this Ryan Jones that does not take jabs at Kobe Bryant.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Ryan Jones

    I’d never let my feelings for Mamba interfere with my love for some beautiful covers.

  • jarrett

    SLAM 97, AND SLAM 126 are by far the best Kobe covers… I think SLAM 126 takes the cake. that was a really great cover.

  • howyalikemenow

    What about the How Ya Like Me Now cover after the first title post-shaq? guess the grimacing face didnt make the cut?

  • underdog

    old covers > new covers

  • chazz michael michaels

    where is A.I. in the rookies pic??? a.i. was better than any of those guys back in that day…

  • http://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

    O’neal looks like Greg oden.

  • Joe

    Yep. SLAM knew Kobe was going to be great. So did I. And he has some of the best all-time covers too.

  • nowyouknow

    Lamarcus Aldridge is in alot of issues with kobe on the cover..

  • mars

    SLAM 15 super official. Look at dem baby faces. they had so much to prove back then. Damn. Shareef Abdir Rahim was that deal.

  • dfortruth

    Great, I only buy slam when it a Kobe cover.

  • tuxo

    so cool

  • http://www.eric32woodyard.wordpress.com Eric Woodyard

    This is still the sickest SLAM cover ever to me! I remember buying the black Lakers uni because of this cover. I still have the jersey to this day and I plan on getting this cover framed.

Advertisement