The alarm sounded right off the gate: this was a new Kobe Bryant who took the floor in 1998-99... improved even over the teenage NBA All-Star of the year before who was beginning to draw comparisons to, well, you know who. Starting the season without a double-double in his career Kobe ran off five straight when the bell rung. And he barely slowed down finishing among the top two Lakers in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots. At season's end Bryant was, at the tender age of 20, voted to the All-NBA Third Team.