It'd be hard to make the case that 2013 was one of Kobe Bryant's better years in the NBA. When it began, the Los Angeles Lakers' superteam was struggling to come together. Bryant led a late playoff push, only to be sidelined by a ruptured Achilles tendon and be forced to watch as the Lakers were swept in the first round. Dwight Howard bolted, and a makeshift Lakers roster awaited Bryant's return, only to see the star suffer a knee injury that will keep him sidelined for the next few weeks.
But in the space of social media, 2013 was nothing short of the Year of the Mamba. Prior to 2013, Bryant had maintained an official Facebook presence and his wife had been active on Instagram, but his social presence exploded quickly after he joined Twitter on Jan. 4.
The antisocial has become social #mambatweets
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 4, 2013
Bryant quickly endeared himself to fans when he responded to reports of a heated locker room exchange between himself and Dwight Howard with a comical photo tweet.
The mamba vs d12 !! It's on lol pic.twitter.com/cZQO5Avf
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 7, 2013
In late January, NBA TV re-aired Bryant's 81-point game to coincide with the game's anniversary, and Bryant live-tweeted the event.
I can't believe I've never watched this game till now
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 22, 2013
Watching the game now, the easy shots I missed, I could of had 100 pts! #countonkobe
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 22, 2013
After the 3rd quarter, @RealLamarOdom tells me "you can't get 60", then half way through he said "you can't get 70" #countonkobe
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 22, 2013
Bryant had some fun with his on-court image after averaging 11.2 assists per game in a five-game stretch spanning January and February.
Whatever it takes. 14 assist. 10 reb or 40 points. Gotta get it done by any means necessary #countonnoexcuses
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 26, 2013
Off to the D now. Good win tonight. The zone broke up our grove a lil bit but nothing we can't figure out. On to the next one. #magicmamba
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) February 2, 2013
Just finished team prep mtg. #Counton1assisttonight All jk aside I will make the correct play if it leads to assist then great #countonit
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) February 8, 2013
After Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban suggested the Lakers should consider using the amnesty provision on Bryant in the offseason, the All-Star guard dropped 38 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists on the Mavs, and he had the last word on Twitter.
Amnesty THAT
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) February 24, 2013
He also used Twitter to give himself a new nickname.
Amnesty THAT
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) February 24, 2013
After getting hurt in a game against the Hawks when he rolled his ankle on the foot of Dahntay Jones, Bryant gave his honest assessment of the play and gave fans an inside look at his rehab to quickly return to the lineup.
Compression. Ice. Django. Zero Dark Thirty. This is Forty and 1 hour of sleep. #countonwill #countonhaters. On to the next.
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 14, 2013
17yrs. Countless fades. This has happened TWICE. Jalen and Now Ankle still very swollen. Treatment all day #focus pic.twitter.com/yyDMRWEGd3
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 14, 2013
I've cried foul play enough Big boy pants time for me. #tweetvent what else is this thing for? Political correctness? Ha. #saywatufeel
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 14, 2013
Whirlpool ankle therapy before practice #countontherapy pic.twitter.com/keqUwaL3Yi
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 22, 2013
Ankle was a lil sore from practice yesterday but should be good to go tonight #mambaface
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 22, 2013
"Don't tell me how rough the water is. Just bring the boat in" Mambaism=No excuses
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 27, 2013
But Bryant's season came to an abrupt end on April 12, when he ruptured his Achilles against the Warriors. Despite the injury, he remained in good spirits on both Twitter and Facebook.
Random tears of devastation and doubt mixed with inner determination and will #countonfamily #countonprayer THANKU #vicodintweets comin ha!
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 13, 2013
Post by Kobe Bryant.
While out, Bryant live-tweeted his observations on one of the Lakers' playoff games against the Spurs.
Gotta keep the spurs offense in front of our d. They r great at penetrating and pitching to their shooters
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 21, 2013
Gotta milk pau in the post right now and d12. Will get good looks from it
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 21, 2013
After the game, Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni was asked about Bryant's tweets and said "He's a fan right now," prompting this response from Bryant.
A fan?? Lol #microphonetalk
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 21, 2013
I see my tweeting during the game is being talked about as much as the game itself. Not my intention , just bored as I guess #notagain
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 21, 2013
To tweet or not to tweet.. I CHOOSE not 2. Focus should be on the team not my insight. @georgelopez voice "Can't DO nothin!" #vinospeare
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 22, 2013
After the Lakers' season ended, Bryant continued to update fans on his rehab via multiple social platforms.
Really?? Me. Retire?? Soon, but not yet Vino still has work to do #35 #OG #kbvff
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) May 20, 2013
As the offseason approached, Bryant turned his attention to the Lakers' roster.
Interesting off season looming.. Will spend time with d12 #stay and talk with the Buss family in hopes that Pau stays as well #my2cents
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) May 21, 2013
Start of free agency is always interesting.. Many teams. Only one Lakers #goldenarmor #FreeAgency #LA #bleedgold
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) July 1, 2013
On July 5, Dwight Howard announced he was leaving the Lakers to sign with the Houston Rockets. Bryant quickly unfollowed Howard on Twitter and posted his immediate response on his Instagram account.
I wish d12 the best honestly. I just find it hard to follow players that wanna kick my teams ass #thatsjustme
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) July 9, 2013
When ESPN's Summer Forecast predicted the Lakers would finish 12th in the Western Conference, Bryant took notice.
12th I see..
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) August 14, 2013
Remember who got amnesia #gasoline #mambamentality
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) August 19, 2013
Not content to be a sensation just on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, Bryant sent his first Vine on Aug. 29, giving fans a first look at a #vinovine and another inside look at his progress in rehab.
If I can run. I can jump #justdoit #40+ #vinovine https://t.co/CcH3eUCJfl
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) August 30, 2013
When the Lakers opened training camp, Bryant still had ESPN's offseason prediction on his mind, as well as comments by Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan, who had said Bryant "stole" parts of Jordan's game.
12th
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) October 1, 2013
Domino effect. I stole some of his..this generation stole some of mine #thecycle
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) October 1, 2013
Bryant then changed his Twitter avatar to "1225," which he said was a reference to his pet's birthday, but many speculated was a reference to ESPN's 12th-place projection for the Lakers and Bryant's placement of 25th in #NBArank.
Fans continued to attempt to interpret Bryant's avatar changes when he switched to his current all-black avatar and sent this tweet.
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) November 5, 2013
Though there was speculation that Bryant's use of the #blackout and #bearhunt hashtags meant he would be returning in the Lakers' new "Hollywood Nights" jerseys for a Nov. 15 game against the Memphis Grizzlies, but that did not turn out to be true. The jerseys debuted Nov. 27 in Brooklyn, and Bryant's debut didn't come until December.
Before he hit the court at all in the 2013-14 season, Bryant signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him in Los Angeles through the 2015-16 season.
#Laker4Life pic.twitter.com/1hqyMllnoy
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) November 25, 2013
The contract was widely criticized by both fans and pundits, and Bryant took to Instagram and Twitter to respond.
The cap rules players have to be "selfless" on To "help" BILLIONAIRE owners R the same cap rules the owners LOCKED US out to put in #think
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) November 27, 2013
Don't just learn ur sport .. Learn the sports industry #futureathletes
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) November 27, 2013
Btw lakers have max cap space and then some #mitchissharp #bussfamsharp #lakers
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) November 27, 2013
On Dec. 6, the Lakers and Bryant announced his pending return with a Facebook video titled "Seasons of Legend."
My goodness it feels good to be back and playing! Easy to take it all for granted.. God I LOVE playing this game #blessed
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) December 11, 2013
But Bryant's good feelings wouldn't last long. He injured his knee on Dec. 17 against the Grizzlies, and it was announced he would miss four to six weeks.
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) December 19, 2013
Thank you my fellow nba brothers for all the luv and support #Respect
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) December 20, 2013
Despite not having joined the service until the start of 2013, Bryant finished the year with more than four million Twitter followers, ranking sixth among active NBA players behind LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony. He leads all active NBA players with more than 17 million Facebook fans.
