Kobe becomes youngest with 16,000 points
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-04 15:36

Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to score 16,000 points in his NBA career on Friday, passing his latest scoring milestone in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' game at Golden State.

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant looks for a player to pass to in the first half of their NBA game against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, California, March 3, 2006. [Reuters]

Bryant was 27 years and 192 days old, four days younger than Wilt Chamberlain when the Hall of Famer scored his 16,000th career point on March 5, 1964. Michael Jordan was the third-youngest, reaching the mark at 28 years and 31 days.

Just two months earlier, Bryant became the youngest player to score 15,000 career points. But Bryant, who entered the NBA straight out of high school 10 years ago, did it in 657 games _ only the 29th-fastest in league history. He scored his 16,000th point in his 684th career game, 22nd-fastest in terms of games played.

Bryant is the NBA's leading scorer, averaging 34.9 points per game _ including 43.4 over 13 games in January, the eighth highest-scoring month in league history.

Bryant finished the first quarter with 12 points against the Warriors.