best kobe bryant biography

Kobe Bryant

Former pro basketball player Kobe Bryant won five NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers while establishing himself as one of the game's all-time greats. He died tragically in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.

(1978-2020)

Who Was Kobe Bryant?

Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Named after a city in Japan, Bryant is the son of former NBA player Joe "Jellybean" Bryant.

In 1984, after ending his NBA career, the elder Bryant took the family to Italy, where he played in the Italian League. Growing up in Italy alongside two athletic older sisters, Shaya and Sharia, Bryant was an avid player of both basketball and soccer. When the family returned to Philadelphia in 1991, Bryant joined the Lower Merion High School basketball team, leading it to the state championships four years in a row. With an eye on the NBA, he also started working out with the 76ers.

Though he boasted good grades and high SAT scores, Bryant decided to go straight to the NBA from high school. He was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick of the 1996 NBA draft and was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

NBA Career and Stats

In his second season with the Lakers, Bryant was voted a starter for the 1998 All-Star Game, becoming the youngest All-Star in NBA history at 19. The shooting guard then teamed up with superstar center Shaquille O'Neal to win three consecutive NBA championships and was voted first-team all-NBA from 2002-2004. He also inked multi-year endorsement deals with Adidas, Sprite and other top sponsors.

Although the Lakers struggled after O'Neal left in 2004, Bryant performed brilliantly. He scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006, the second-highest single-game mark in NBA history, and led the league in scoring that year and the next.

In 2008, Bryant was named Most Valuable Player and carried his team to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics. In the 2009 NBA Finals, the Lakers beat the Orlando Magic to win the championship. Shortly afterward, Bryant was part of the memorial service to honor friend and music superstar Michael Jackson . The following year, the Lakers won their second straight title by defeating the Celtics.

Bryant played on both the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic teams, winning consecutive gold medals with teammates Kevin Durant , LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony , among several other top players.

After suffering a torn Achilles tendon in April 2013, Bryant worked hard to return to the court before fracturing his knee just six games into the 2013-2014 season. The veteran All-Star surpassed Michael Jordan for third all-time on the NBA scoring list in December 2014, but his season ended due to injury for the third straight year when he sustained a torn rotator cuff in January 2015.

Although Bryant returned in time for the start of the 2015-2016 NBA season, he personally struggled alongside his young Lakers teammates. In November 2015, he announced that he would retire at the end of the season. "This season is all I have left to give," he wrote on The Players' Tribune website. "My heart can take the pounding. My mind can handle the grind but my body knows it's time to say goodbye."

The announcement drew a strong reaction, particularly from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "With 17 NBA All-Star selections, an NBA MVP, five NBA championships with the Lakers, two Olympic gold medals and a relentless work ethic, Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in the history of our game," Silver said in a statement. "Whether competing in the finals or hoisting jump shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the game."

On April 13, 2016, Bryant dazzled a sold-out crowd at the Staples Center and fans everywhere in the last game of his career, scoring 60 points and leading the Lakers to a win against the Utah Jazz. It was Bryant’s sixth 60-point game of his career.

After the game, Bryant spoke to the crowd. "I can't believe how fast 20 years went by," he said. "This is absolutely crazy ... and to be standing at center court with you guys, my teammates behind me, appreciating the journey that we've been on — we've been through our ups, been through our downs. I think the most important part is we all stayed together throughout."

An all-star lineup of Laker icons also paid tribute to Bryant, including O’Neal, Phil Jackson, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom and Magic Johnson . "We are here to celebrate greatness for 20 years," Johnson said. "Excellence for 20 years. Kobe Bryant has never cheated the game, never cheated us as the fans. He has played through injury, he has played hurt. And we have five championship banners to show for it."

Academy Award for 'Dear Basketball'

In November 2015, Bryant announced his upcoming retirement from the Lakers with a poem on The Players' Tribune website, titled "Dear Basketball." The athletic great soon sought the best in other fields to turn his poem into a short film, including Disney animator Glen Keane and composer John Williams .

The result was a beautifully rendered five-minute, 20-second film, which debuted at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival. Oscar voters took note, leading to the unexpected sight of Bryant accepting an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 2018 ceremony.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's short films and animation branch also extended an invitation for Bryant to become a member of the organization. However, in June 2018 it was revealed that the Academy's governors committee had rescinded the invitation, saying the retired basketball great needed to show more efforts in the field before being considered for membership.

Sexual Assault Charge

In July 2003, Bryant was charged with one count of sexual assault on a 19-year-old female hotel worker in Colorado. Bryant said he was guilty of adultery but innocent of the rape charge. The case against Bryant was dismissed in 2004, and he settled the civil lawsuit filed by the hotel worker against him out of court.

Philanthropy

Among his philanthropic endeavors, the basketball great partnered with the non-profit After-School All-Stars as part of the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation. He also ran an annual summer camp called the Kobe Basketball Academy.

Wife and Children

Bryant married 19-year-old Vanessa Laine in April 2001. The couple became parents to four daughters: Natalia Diamante (b. 2003), Gianna Maria-Onore (b. 2006, d. 2020), Bianka (b. 2016) and Capri (b. 2019).

On January 26, 2020, Bryant was onboard a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that crashed in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas. Nine people, including Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna "Gigi," died. The helicopter was on its way from Orange County to Thousands Oaks, California where Bryant was scheduled to coach a tournament game at Mamba Sports Academy .

"We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri," Bryant's wife Vanessa posted on Instagram . "There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon."

Bryant and his daughter were laid to rest in a private funeral on February 7, 2020. On February 24, they were honored in a memorial service at the Staples Center, with Beyoncé and Alicia Keys delivering musical tributes and Jordan, Shaq and wife Vanessa among those sharing emotional recollections of the basketball great and family man.

On April 4, 2020, Bryant was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

In February 2021, the National Transportation Safety Board ruled that pilot Ara Zobayan was “flying under visual flight orders, or VFR, which legally prohibited him from penetrating the clouds,” likely causing him to be disoriented.

QUICK FACTS

• Birth Year: 1978
• Birth date: August 23, 1978
• Birth State: Pennsylvania
• Birth City: Philadelphia
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Former pro basketball player Kobe Bryant won five NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers while establishing himself as one of the game's all-time greats. He died tragically in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.
• Astrological Sign: Virgo
• Lower Merion High School
• Death Year: 2020
• Death date: January 26, 2020
• Death State: California
• Death City: Calabasas
• Death Country: United States

We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

Black History

Jesse Owens

Alice Coachman

Wilma Rudolph

Tiger Woods

Deb Haaland

10 Famous Langston Hughes Poems

5 Crowning Achievements of Maya Angelou

Ava DuVernay

Octavia Spencer

Inventor Garrett Morgan’s Lifesaving 1916 Rescue

Get to Know 5 History-Making Black Country Singers

• Share full article

Kobe Bryant’s Brilliant and Complicated Legacy

Bryant, who died with his daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash on Sunday, was an unquestioned basketball great, but his legacy is not so straightforward.

The Lakers retired Bryant’s jerseys — Nos. 8 and 24 — during a ceremony on Dec. 18, 2017. Credit... Harry How/Getty Images

Supported by

By Marc Stein

• Published Jan. 26, 2020 Updated Feb. 25, 2020

Kobe Bryant , who made the leap directly from high school to a glittering 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers that established him as one of basketball’s all-time greats, was among nine people killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday north of Los Angeles. Bryant was 41.

The crash also killed Gianna Bryant , 13, the second oldest of Kobe Bryant’s four daughters with his wife, Vanessa. They were traveling from the family’s base in Orange County, Calif., to Thousand Oaks, 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles. A budding star herself, Gianna was scheduled to play an afternoon game with her travel team, coached by her father, at Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy.

News of Bryant’s death predictably rocked the N.B.A., which is filled with players who grew up watching Bryant as he won five championships with the Lakers and scored 81 points in a single game. Fueled by a seemingly endless reservoir of self-confidence, Bryant was a mammoth figure almost from the moment he arrived, at age 17, as the 13th overall pick in the 1996 N.B.A. draft.

The son of the former N.B.A. player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets on behalf of the Lakers and did not try — at all — to hide his ambition to surpass the accomplishments of the legendary Michael Jordan. Charlotte had agreed going into the draft to trade Bryant’s rights to Los Angeles in exchange for the veteran center Vlade Divac.

Over the next 20 seasons , Bryant earned 18 All-Star selections, a regular-season Most Valuable Player Award in 2008 and two N.B.A. finals M.V.P. awards to go with his five championship rings and two Olympic gold medals. Amid all of that, a sexual assault allegation against him in 2003 would change how many people saw Bryant, though he remained hugely popular among N.B.A. fans and especially Angelenos, for whom he increasingly became synonymous with the Lakers — the only team, despite a trade demand in 2007, that Bryant ever played for.

The trade that made Bryant a Laker was engineered by the team’s general manager at the time, Jerry West, who was instantly smitten by Bryant’s fearlessness and prodigious talent. A standout at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pa., outside Philadelphia, Bryant had auditioned for the Lakers in a predraft workout featuring a series of one-on-one drills against the former Lakers defensive ace Michael Cooper, then a 40-year-old assistant coach.

Only a few high schoolers had gone straight to the N.B.A. at that point — and Bryant would be the first guard to do so. But West left the workout early, declaring that he had seen enough. “He’s better than anybody on our team right now,” West famously told fellow Lakers staffers of Bryant’s performance.

As West envisioned, Bryant indeed helped restore the Lakers to glory — albeit with no shortage of turmoil along the way. He did so first alongside the Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal for three consecutive drama-filled N.B.A. championships in the 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons, then as the team’s unquestioned fulcrum for two more titles in 2008-09 and 2009-10. With a drive to rival Jordan’s and an ability to tune out critics who at times assailed his ball dominance and shot selection, Bryant was the central and enduring figure in one of the most gripping soap operas in modern professional team sports.

By the time he walked away from the N.B.A. in April 2016, after an unforgettable 60-point farewell game against the Utah Jazz, Bryant had built an unmatched legacy that persuaded the Lakers to retire both jersey numbers he wore over two 10-season stretches: No. 8 and No. 24. In perhaps the ultimate Bryant flourish, that 60-point game on the final day of the 2015-16 regular season — in which he hoisted 50 shots — upstaged the defending champion Golden State Warriors, who had defeated the Memphis Grizzlies on the same night to secure the best single-season record in league history (73-9).

Bryant is widely expected to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in late August, the first time he is eligible. He led the league in scoring twice and finished his career with 33,643 points in the regular season, which put him at No. 3 among N.B.A. scoring leaders, behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and Karl Malone (36,928) until the Lakers’ LeBron James passed Bryant on Saturday night in Philadelphia.

Bryant tweeted his congratulations to James on Saturday night, some 15 hours before the crash, writing: “Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother.”

As Bryant began his climb up the scoring charts, O’Neal nicknamed the brash teenager “Showboat,” but the term was not meant to flatter. Veterans on that Lakers team tried in vain to keep Bryant’s rookie ambitions modest — with O’Neal particularly determined to make it clear that he was the team’s true alpha.

But Bryant could not be harnessed. After some notable playoff failures, Bryant broke through as a champion in his fourth season, forming a devastating partnership with O’Neal under the coaching tutelage of Phil Jackson.

“Kobe didn’t care about night life or anything else,” Del Harris, who coached Bryant for his first two N.B.A. seasons and the start of his third, told The New York Times in December 2017 . “He only had one interest. His only focus was to be the best that he could be. And in his mind that meant challenging Michael Jordan.”

“People can argue,” Harris continued, “how close he actually came, but there’s no question that he fulfilled pretty much all of his dreams.”

Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006 to register the second-highest scoring output in league history, behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962. But Bryant’s reputation was more complicated than all his accolades would suggest.

He was charged with felony sexual assault in 2003 stemming from an incident at a Colorado hotel in which Bryant was accused of raping a 19-year-old woman who worked at the property as a front-desk clerk. Prosecutors eventually dropped the case when the woman told them she was unwilling to testify. Bryant later issued an apology, saying he understood that the woman, unlike himself, did not view their encounter as consensual. A lawsuit the woman brought against Bryant was later settled out of court.

In the closing stages of Bryant’s career, well beyond the days of “Showboat,” Bryant began giving himself nicknames, such as “Black Mamba” and, later, “Vino.” The frequent helicopter rides he took to games at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles — to avoid traffic and maximize time at home — only added to his mystique.

In addition to making his name as one of the sport’s most relentless competitors, Bryant was known for a special ability to play through injuries.

The one that managed to slow him the longest was a torn left Achilles’ tendon late in the 2012-13 season. Of course, stubborn as he was, Bryant did not want to accept the on-court diagnosis he received from Gary Vitti, the longtime Lakers athletic trainer.

“I told him it’s ruptured and he’s done,” Vitti told The Times in December 2017. “He said, ‘Can’t you just tape it up?’”

Given the intense focus that governed Bryant’s playing career, many league observers questioned how he would cope outside the game, without an outlet for his uber-competitiveness. But Bryant was flourishing in retirement, entering the world of storytelling and winning an Academy Award by transforming a poem to announce his retirement into an animated short film (“Dear Basketball”) that he wrote and narrated.

He had also been drawn back to the N.B.A. by his daughter Gianna’s love for it. On Dec. 29, Bryant sat with her courtside at Staples Center to watch the Lakers play the Dallas Mavericks and take pictures afterward with Luka Doncic, the Mavericks’ young Slovenian star.

“My friend, a legend, husband, father, son, brother, Oscar winner and greatest Laker of all-time is gone,” Magic Johnson, the Hall of Fame Lakers guard and Bryant’s boyhood hero, wrote on Twitter . “It’s hard to accept.”

Marc Stein is a sports reporter specializing in N.B.A. coverage, with occasional forays into soccer and tennis. He spent nearly 15 years at ESPN before coming to The Times. More about Marc Stein

Advertisement

Kobe Bryant

The making of a global superstar.

By Matias Grez, Patrick Sung and Ben Church, CNN

T he sporting world and beyond is mourning the death of Kobe Bryant, aged 41. The NBA legend and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among nine on board a helicopter that crashed on Sunday.

CNN looks back at 24 defining moments in the career of an NBA great, who mesmerized, broke records and transcended his sport.

The world reacts to Kobe Bryant's death 1:48

Kobe Bean Bryant is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Pam and Joe Bryant, who is a professional basketball player. Bryant is named after Kobe beef, a type of Wagyu steak from Japan’s Kobe region. His middle name – Bean -- is derived from his father’s nickname, Jellybean.

European adventure

After his father retires from the NBA in 1983, the Bryant family moves to Italy where his Dad continues to play basketball until 1991.

After being named National High School Player of the Year and the Naismith Player of the Year, Bryant is selected by the Charlotte Hornets as the 13th pick in the NBA’s first round of the draft. On July 11, 1996, Bryant is traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac.

Bryant plays in his debut NBA season -- mainly coming off the bench for the Lakers -- and becomes both the youngest player (18 years and 72 days) and the youngest starter (18 years and 158 days) in league history.

All-Star debut

After becoming the youngest ever Slam Dunk Contest winner in 1997, Bryant goes on to play in the All-Star game a year later to become the youngest All-Star starter in history.

First NBA title

Despite a frosty relationship, Bryant and Shaquille O’Neil form an unstoppable center-guard partnership to lead the Lakers to three successive NBA titles, which is dubbed the “Three-peat.” Bryant becomes the youngest player to win three championships.

All-Star MVP

Bryant leads The West to victory over The East in the 2002 All-Star game, scoring 31 points and recording five assists and five rebounds to be named All-Star MVP for the first time. He is to pick up that accolade again in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, gives birth to their first child, daughter Natalia. The couple have another three children, Gianna (pictured), 13, who died along with Bryant in Sunday’s crash, Bianca, three, and Capri, seven months.

Sexual assault case

Bryant is charged with one count of sexual assault in a case involving a 19-year-old hotel worker. The charge accuses Bryant of "sexual penetration or intrusion and (that) he caused submission of the victim through actual physical force," according to District Attorney Mark Hurlbert.

September 1

Charges dropped.

The criminal sexual assault charge is dropped.

Civil lawsuit

Bryant’s accuser agrees to settle her civil lawsuit. The terms of the settlement are not disclosed.

Bryant scores 81 points in the Lakers' 122-104 win over Toronto. To this day it remains the second-highest points tally in a single game, surpassed only by Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962.

After leading the Lakers to a 4-0 demolition of the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2007-08 playoffs, Bryant is named as the league MVP for the first and only time in his career.

An all-star Team USA -- with Bryant as captain -- sweeps aside all in its path to be crowned Olympic champion at Beijing 2008. It’s dubbed the “Redeem Team,” a play on the famous “Dream Team” nickname of the 1992 side, following the disappointing bronze medal in Athens four years prior.

Bryant leads the Lakers to a first NBA title since 2002 and is named Finals MVP for the first time in his career. He records 40 points, eight assists and eight rebounds in Game 1 as the Lakers go on to win 4-1.

For the second season in a row, Bryant is named the NBA Finals MVP as the Lakers win consecutive titles. The Lakers win Game 6 to avoid elimination against the Boston Celtics and recover from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter of Game 7 to take the title.

December 16

After staying with Bryant through the sexual assault allegations and after his public apology for cheating on his wife, Vanessa files for divorce citing “irreconcilable differences.” On January 11, 2013 the couple publicly announce their reconciliation and remain married up until Bryant’s death.

Second gold medal

Bryant helps Team USA win a second straight Olympic gold medal, beating Spain 107-100 in the final in a rematch of four years earlier.

December 14

Surpasses michael jordan.

In a 100–94 victory over Minnesota, Bryant reaches 32,310 career points to move into third on the NBA's all-time scoring list and overtake Michael Jordan’s tally of 32,310.

November 29

Announces retirement.

In a poetic post on The Players' Tribune, Bryant announces that he will retire at the end of the NBA season. He later tells reporters he is "at peace" with his decision.

Bryant scores an incredible 60 points in the final game of his career, helping the Lakers defeat the Utah Jazz 101-96. He is swarmed by players and coaches on court after the game.

December 18

Lakers retire jerseys.

Following his retirement, the LA Lakers retire both of Bryant's famous jersey numbers -- No. 8 and No. 24 -- during a ceremony at the Staples Center.

Bryant adds an Academy Award to his plethora of trophies, winning an Oscar for best short animated film -- "Dear Basketball" -- based on a poem he wrote.

Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna are among nine people killed when a helicopter crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, California. The news shocks the world with tributes pouring in for the NBA legend.

Design + development: Mark Oliver, Woojin Lee, Caitlin Clancy, Byron Manley and Sean O'Key

Additional images: Getty Images

• Milano Cortina 2026
• Brisbane 2032
• Olympic Refuge Foundation
• Olympic Games
• Olympic Channel
• Let's Move

Kobe BRYANT

Regarded as one of the best American basketball players of all time, Kobe Bryant played a decisive role in Team USA’s Olympic triumphs of 2008 and 2012. He died tragically in a helicopter crash, at the age of 41, on 26 January 2020.

Born to shoot hoops

Born in Philadelphia, Kobe Bryant is the youngest of three offspring of former basketball player and coach, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant. By the age of three, he was already at home on the basketball court. Having spent the early part of his childhood in Italy, where his father was playing for the Rieti club, in 1996, aged 18 and 158 days, Bryant became the youngest player in history to start a game in the NBA - the US professional basketball league - when he made his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers. He would remain with the Lakers for the rest of his career, helping them to win five NBA titles and notching a record 30,000 points in the process.

The ‘Redeem Team’

Nicknamed “the Black Mamba”, Bryant and his co-star LeBron James were the leaders of the USA’s ‘Redeem Team’, which went to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing tasked with exorcising the demons of Athens 2004, where the USA had been eliminated in the semi-finals by Argentina. Bryant was in brilliant form throughout the tournament, not least in the final against Spain. With Team USA clinging to the most fragile of leads (91-89) with eight minutes left, Kobe went into overdrive, making his presence felt on every inch of the court. In the final quarter, he scored 13 points, chipped in with three assists, and produced two vital blocks at the other end to help secure a 118-107 victory in what is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball matches of all time.

Kobe strikes gold again in London

In 2009 and 2010, Bryant clinched his fourth and fifth NBA titles and was voted MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the final each time. At the age of 34, he then focused his attentions on helping Team USA defend their Olympic crown at London 2012. “It’s a huge honour for me, because I’ve always wanted to play for [Team USA],” he said, before revealing that London would be his Olympic swansong. “This will definitely be my last Olympic Games so it has a lot of symbolism to it.”

As captain of Team USA, Bryant lit up the London stage with each one of his appearances. Among the numerous highlights was a personal haul of 20 second-half points against Australia, which included four consecutive three-pointers, several decisive actions in the semi-final against Argentina, and 17 valuable points in the final against Spain, which helped secure a 107-100 victory and a second consecutive Olympic gold.

Call to action for International Olympic Day

After beginning another fine NBA season for the Lakers, Kobe suffered a serious Achilles’ tendon injury in April 2013. During his recovery, he joined forces with the IOC ahead of International Olympic Day on 23 June, with a ‘call-out to people around the world to get involved: “I can’t run, I can’t jump and I can’t swim yet,” he said. “So I need you guys to pick up the slack for me and be doubly active.” It was a message that typified the boundless enthusiasm and civic spirit of this truly extraordinary athlete.

Glittering end to an illustrious career

The end of Bryant’s career was blighted by injury, but the appearances he did make on the court saw him surpass the 33,000-point mark in the regular season and rack up more than 6,000 career assists. In December 2015, he wrote a moving open letter, entitled “Dear Basketball”, to announce his retirement from the sport. In his final NBA match on 13 April 2016, Bryant scored 60 points (making 22 out of a career-high 50 attempted shots and bagging 6 out of 21 three-pointers) to help the Lakers claim a 101-96 victory over Utah Jazz. On 18 December 2017, he became the first player to have two jersey numbers retired by the same team, having worn 8 and 24 over the course of his 20-year career with the Lakers. Bryant’s poetic retirement letter was subsequently made into an animated short film, which won an Oscar in 2018. 

Tragic death

Tragedy struck the world of basketball and sport in general on 26 January 2020 when Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in California at the age of 41. All nine people on board, including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, died in the crash. National and international tributes came flooding in from sports stars, fans and celebrities. Bryant truly made his mark on the history of basketball, and his death leaves an immense void.

"The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great at whatever they want to do."

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet

Latest News

Kobe BRYANT Replays

Olympic Results

Athlete Olympic Results Content

You may like

Kobe Bryant Biography | Life, Lakers Career and Legacy

Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When Bryant was 6 years old his father Joe retired from the NBA and moved the family to Italy where he would continue his basketball career overseas.

Bryant played both basketball and soccer while in Italy becoming huge fans of the Los Angeles Lakers as well as the A.C. Milan soccer team. When Bryant was 13 his family moved back to Philadelphia.

Bryant attended Lower Merion High School, starting on the varsity team as a freshman. He was named Philadelphia Player of the Year as a junior and a fourth team All-American. In Bryant’s senior season he was named both Gatorade and Naismith High School Basketball Player of the Year as well as being a McDonalds All-American. He led Lower Merion to their first state championship in 53 years and was Southeastern Pennsylvania’s all-time leading scorer.

Despite scholarship offers from nearly every major college, Bryant decided to enter the 1996 NBA Draft.

LAKERS CAREER

Kobe was drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets and immediately dealt to the Lakers for starting center Vlade Divac. Then-GM Jerry West had become enamored with Bryant following a workout in which he dominated former NBA players Michael Cooper and Larry Drew in scrimmages. This move also freed up salary cap space which the Lakers used to sign Shaquille O’Neal.

Kobe spent his first two seasons mostly as a reserve behind Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel. He saw very limited minutes early on, but did become the youngest player to play in an NBA game when he made his debut, playing 6 scoreless minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bryant would score his first NBA point, a free throw, in the team’s next game against the New York Knicks.

As the season went on, Bryant gradually began to earn more minutes and became the youngest player to start an NBA game in a January 28 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. During All-Star Weekend Bryant would win the 1997 Slam Dunk Championship and his performance through the season earned an NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection.

The Lakers would make the second round of the playoffs that season, falling to the Utah Jazz 4-1. In the deciding fifth game, Bryant found himself on the floor down the stretch and in overtime, but airballed multiple shots as the Jazz would clinch the elimination.

Bryant remained a reserve for his second season, but his minutes increased and as a result, his scoring more than doubled. He would earn his first All-Star selection, along with teammates O’Neal, Jones, and Van Exel, and finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting to behind Toni Kukoc of the Chicago Bulls.

After the Lakers traded away Jones and Van Exel, Bryant became a full-time starter in his third season. He also signed a six-year, $70 extension with the Lakers during the season, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team.

Phil Jackson became the Lakers head coach ahead of the 1999-2000 season and his presence immediately paid dividends as he structured the famed triangle offense around Kobe and Shaq. The Lakers would win 67 games as O’Neal would win NBA MVP. Kobe grew immensely as well, being named to his first All-Defense First Team while also making All-NBA Second Team. He was also named to his second All-Star team, beginning a streak of 17 straight selections. On March 12, 2000, Kobe notched his first career 40-point game in a 109-106 win over the Sacramento Kings.

Kobe’s growth was even more evident in the playoffs. In Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers, Kobe led the Lakers with 25 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 block, as the Lakers came back from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to advance to the NBA Finals. He punctuated the victory with the famous alley-oop to Shaquille O’Neal.

Bryant also came up huge in those Finals, particularly in Game 4 where he scored 22 points in the second half and led the Lakers to a huge 120-118 road win in overtime after Shaquille O’Neal fouled out. The Lakers would go on to win the series in 6 games, winning their first NBA Championship since 1988.

The 2000-01 season saw more growth from Bryant as he raised his scoring to 28.5 points per game. He dropped his first 50 point game on December 6, 2000 and Kobe was named All-NBA Second Team again. The Lakers would go on arguably the most dominant playoff run ever, going 15-1 in route to their second straight NBA Championship.

In 2002 Bryant garnered his first All-NBA First Team selection as well as his first All-Star Game MVP award. Bryant’s all-around play continued and he set a new career-high with 56 points on January 12 against the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite their toughest playoff series to date, in the Western Conference Finals against the Sacramento Kings, the Lakers would push through, beating the Kings in a Game 7 on the road before sweeping the New Jersey Nets for their third straight Championship.

The 2003 and 2004 seasons saw Kobe’s individual play grow to even greater heights, but the Lakers team success faltered as friction between himself and Shaq grew. Kobe averaged 30 points per game for the first time in ’03, leading the Lakers, and finishing third in NBA MVP voting. He also went on a streak of nine straight 40-point games in February of that year but L.A. fell to the San Antonio Spurs in six games in the second round.

The team added future Hall of Famers Gary Payton and Kobe Bryant the following year, but the issues between Kobe and Shaq grew even greater. The Lakers returned to the Finals but were dominated by the Detroit Pistons in five games, as Kobe struggled mightily against the stout Pistons defense.

As a free agent that summer Bryant strongly considered signing with the Los Angeles Clippers, but would ultimately re-sign with the Lakers on a seven-yea max contract just one day after the team dealt away Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat. Head coach Phil Jackson also left that off-season with the Lakers choosing not to renew his contract.

The 2005 season marked the first time in Kobe’s career that his team failed to make the playoffs. He was still named All-NBA Third Team, but failed to make the All-Defensive Team as the Lakers finished just 34-48.

Phil Jackson would return as the team’s head coach in 2006 as Kobe would have best individual season, staking his claim as the best player in the league. Bryant averaged 35.4 points, becoming just the fourth player in history to reach that mark and the first since Michael Jordan in 1987. He famously scored 62 points in 3 quarters against the Dallas Mavericks on December 20, 2005, singlehandedly outscoring Dallas 62-61 during that stretch before sitting out the final period.

Just over a month later Bryant would score 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in a 122-104 victory, the second-highest scoring game in NBA history. This was also a Lakers franchise record, breaking Elgin Baylor’s 71-point night in 1960. Kobe would set Lakers single-season franchise records for total points (2,832) and 40-point games (27). He was also named to his first of eight straight All-NBA First Teams and six straight All-Defensive First Teams.

Kobe would finish fourth in NBA MVP voting this season, but had the second most first-place votes behind only eventual winner Steve Nash. He also led the Lakers back to the playoffs where they pushed the heavily favored Phoenix Suns to seven games before falling in the first round.

Then in 2007, Bryant changed his number to 24 before a season in which he again lead the NBA in scoring. This included a streak of four straight 50-point games, two of which were 60-point contests and ten 50-point outings in the season, but the Lakers again fell to the Suns in the first round of the playoffs.

The following offseason, Bryant publicly demanded a trade, but ultimately backed off his demand. Boosted by an in-season trade for All-Star big man Pau Gasol, Kobe led the Lakers to a 57-25 record, landing him his first and only NBA MVP award after averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.8 steals. The Lakers would march through the Western Conference playoffs setting up an NBA Finals meeting with the Boston Celtics which they lost in 6 games.

That summer Kobe starred on the USA Men’s National Team. In the Gold Medal game against Spain, Bryant scored 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to help USA pull away for a 118-107 victory, the country’s first gold medal since 2000.

Motivated by their failures the previous season the Lakers went on a tear in 2009, finishing 65-17. Kobe finished second in MVP voting to LeBron James, but the Lakers again blew through the Western Conference for their second straight NBA Finals appearance. This time facing the Orlando Magic the Lakers defeated them 4-1 with Kobe winning his fourth NBA Championship and first NBA Finals MVP after averaging 32.4 points, 7.4 assists, and 5.6 rebounds.

Despite dealing with numerous injuries throughout the regular season, Kobe missed just nine games as the Lakers again had the best record in the West at 57-25. On February 1, 2010 Kobe surpassed Jerry West to become the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer. Kobe would sign a three-year, $87 million extension during the season as well.

The Lakers had struggles in the playoffs with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns, but ultimately advanced to their third straight NBA Finals where they would have a rematch with the Boston Celtics. The teams would engage in a back-and-forth seven game series with the Lakers ultimately prevailing. Though Bryant struggled mightily against the Celtics defense, he still finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds in the final game, winning his fifth championship, and second straight NBA Finals MVP.

Bryant would continue to push for his sixth championship in the following years. Kobe won his fourth All-Star Game MVP and climbed up to sixth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list in 2011, but the Lakers were swept by the eventual NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks in the second round. This also marked Bryant’s final appearance on the All-NBA First Team. Following the season Phil Jackson would leave as Lakers head coach.

In 2012 Bryant struggled with minor injuries, missing 8 games, but remaining among the NBA’s elite players. He had his sixth career streak of at least four 40-point games and became the All-Star Game’s all-time leading scorer, but the Lakers again fell in the second round of the playoffs, this time in six games to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Bryant would play for the Men’s National Team for the final time this summer. Though no longer the best player on the team, Bryant took on the role as the team’s top perimeter defender and again helped lead USA to a Gold Medal.

The Lakers would acquire All-Stars Dwight Howard and Steve Nash in the offseason in an attempt to get Bryant one last championship, but the team never gelled as expected with Mike D’Antoni took over as head coach in the middle of the season. Nash missed 32 games due to injury while Kobe and Howard struggled to get along as the Lakers underachieved.

In an attempt to push the Lakers to the playoffs, Bryant took on a major load, scoring at least 30 points in six of 10 games. Unfortunately in the last of those contests, Bryant crumbled to the floor during a drive, rupturing his achilles tendon. Following a timeout, Bryant would slowly limp on the court and make two free throws before leaving the floor to a rousing ovation. Bryant was named to his final All-NBA First Team in 2013.

Due to the achilles tear Bryant missed the first 19 games of the 2013-14 season. He signed one last contract extension, a two-year $48.5 million deal before returning to the floor. He scored just nine points in his return on December 8, 2013, a 12-point loss to the Toronto Raptors. However, in just his sixth game back, Kobe suffered a lateral tibial fracture in his left knee, ultimately being ruled out for the remainder of the season.

2015 did not go much better for Bryant as he played in only 35 games. On December 14, 2014 Kobe surpassed Michael Jordan for third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with a free throw in a 100-94 win over the Timberwolves. Kobe suffered a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder in a January game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Once again showing his toughness, Bryant would return to the game, playing almost exclusively left-handed before being pulled out and eventually undergoing season-ending surgery.

On November 29, 2015, Bryant announced that the current season would be his last, penning a poem in The Players Tribune entitled ‘Dear Basketball.’ Though Bryant requested that no road teams have any on-court ceremonies for him, teams would honor Bryant with video packages and opposing fans showered him with raucous standing ovations. Bryant played in his final All-Star Game, finishing with 10 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds.

In the final game of his career on April 13, 2015, Bryant would put forth an incredible 60-point performance in a 101-96 win over the Utah Jazz. Bryant scored 23 points in the fourth quarter of the game and became the oldest player in NBA history to score 60 points in a game.

After a 20-year career spent entirely with the Lakers, Kobe Bryant retired as the franchise career leader in points, games, minutes, and steals as well as total field goals, three-pointers, and free throws made.

On December 18, 2017 the Los Angeles Lakers retired both Kobe Bryant’s no. 8 and 24 jerseys in a ceremony at Staples Center.

Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and 7 others were tragically killed in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. He and his daughter were buried in a private memorial on February 7 and a public memorial was held at Staples Center on February 24.

Lakers Rumors: Darvin Ham Expected To Be Head Coaching Candidate Elsewhere

• Matt Peralta
• 2 minute read
• Lakers News

Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving : Ask GMs & Presidents Why I Didn’t Reunite With LeBron James On Lakers

• Lakers History

This Day In Lakers History: Nick Van Exel Outduels Gary Payton To Eliminate SuperSonics From NBA Playoffs

• Corey Hansford

Lakers News: Rob Pelinka Releases Statement After On Darvin Ham

• Daniel Starkand

Kobe Bryant

• Small Forward
• Birthdate 8/23/1978
• Draft Info 1996: Rd 1, Pk 13 (CHA)
• Birthplace Philadelphia, PA

Career History

Career highlights, latest videos, kobe didn't flinch at fake pass from barnes, key numbers behind the mavericks-thunder nba playoff matchup, how the world looked the last time the timberwolves advanced in the playoffs, will the clippers' big 3 stay together next season, three bets for timberwolves-nuggets game 1, nba playoff picks: experts on wolves-nuggets, pacers-knicks conference semifinal matchups, paul george, james harden mum on future as clippers fall again.

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Disney Ad Sales Site
• Work for ESPN
• Corrections

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Kobe Bryant Elected To Hall Of Fame In Posthumous 'Peak Of His Career'

Colin Dwyer

Kobe Bryant, seen during a game in 2015, was selected for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, after he died in a helicopter crash with his daughter Gianna earlier this year. Matt Slocum/AP hide caption

Kobe Bryant, seen during a game in 2015, was selected for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, after he died in a helicopter crash with his daughter Gianna earlier this year.

Just over two months after Kobe Bryant's death shocked the world , his career has received his sport's highest honor: The Los Angeles Laker legend headlined the list of players selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The 2020 class announced Saturday may be one of the most superstar-laden crops of inductees in the sport's history. Along with Bryant, it includes: Tim Duncan , who won five NBA championships and two MVP awards as the face of the San Antonio Spurs; Kevin Garnett , who won his own title and an MVP award during a 21-year career mostly with the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves; and Tamika Catchings , who stands third on the the WNBA's list of all-time leading scorers .

#20HoopClass inductee, Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/aOcKFQ9EhR — NBA History (@NBAHistory) April 4, 2020

The class is rounded out by four coaches and an executive: Kim Mulkey of Baylor University; Barbara Stevens of Bentley University; Eddie Sutton , most notably of Arkansas and Oklahoma State University; Rudy Tomjanovich of the Houston Rockets; and Patrick Baumann , a longtime executive with the International Basketball Federation, or FIBA.

Thousands Attend Kobe Bryant Memorial In Los Angeles

What We Know: The Helicopter Crash That Killed Kobe Bryant And 8 Others

Still, of the nine illustrious names that are set to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in August, perhaps none stands out quite like Bryant's. That's partly for his time on the court, which included five NBA championships, an MVP award and the fourth-most points in league history — but also for the sudden way his life came to an end.

Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash in January in an accident that stunned the NBA , the city of Los Angeles and fans across the world who had closely followed the 41-year-old's career.

"It's an incredible honor and accomplishment, and we're extremely proud of him. Obviously we wish that he was here with us to celebrate, but it's definitely the peak of his career," his wife, Vanessa, told ESPN with their daughter Natalia sitting beside her Saturday. "And every accomplishment that he had as an athlete was a stepping stone to be here."

• Kobe Bryant
• Los Angeles Lakers

• The Midwest
• Reading Lists

The 10 Best Books on Kobe Bryant

Essential books on kobe bryant.

There are countless books on Kobe Bryant, and it comes with good reason, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, won five NBA championships, and spent his entire 20-year career with the storied Los Angeles Lakers.

“The mindset isn’t about seeking a result – it’s more about the process of getting to that result. It’s about the journey and the approach. It’s a way of life. I do think that it’s important, in all endeavors, to have that mentality,” he remarked.

In order to get to the bottom of what inspired one of history’s most consequential athletes to the height of his craft, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best books on Kobe Bryant.

The Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant

In the wake of his retirement from professional basketball, Kobe “The Black Mamba” Bryant decided to share his vast knowledge and understanding of the game to take readers on an unprecedented journey to the core of the legendary “Mamba mentality.” Citing an obligation and an opportunity to teach young players, hardcore fans, and devoted students of the game how to play it “the right way,” The Mamba Mentality takes us inside the mind of one of the most intelligent, analytical, and creative basketball players ever.

In his own words, Bryant reveals his famously detailed approach and the steps he took to prepare mentally and physically to not just succeed at the game, but to excel. Readers will learn how Bryant studied an opponent, how he channeled his passion for the game, how he played through injuries. They’ll also get fascinating granular detail as he breaks down specific plays and match-ups from throughout his career.

The Rise by Mike Sielski

In The Rise , readers will travel from the neighborhood streets of Southwest Philadelphia – where Kobe’s father, Joe, became a local basketball standout – to the Bryant family’s isolation in Italy, where Kobe spent his formative years, to the leafy suburbs of Lower Merion, where Kobe’s legend was born. The story will trace his career and life at Lower Merion – he led the Aces to the 1995-96 Pennsylvania state championship, a dramatic underdog run for a team with just one star player – and the run-up to the 1996 NBA draft, where Kobe’s dream of playing pro basketball culminated in his acquisition by the Los Angeles Lakers.

In researching and writing  this hallmark among books on Kobe Bryant , Mike Sielski had a terrific advantage over other writers who have attempted to chronicle the legend’s life: access to a series of never-before-released interviews with him during his senior season and early days in the NBA. For a quarter century, these tapes and transcripts preserved Kobe’s thoughts, dreams, and goals from his teenage years, and they contained insights into and told stories about him that have never been revealed before.

This is more than a basketball book. This is an exploration of the identity and making of an icon and the effect of his development on those around him – the essence of the man before he truly became a man.

Showboat by Roland Lazenby

Eighteen-time All-Star, scorer of 81 points in a single game, MVP, and one of the best shooting guards in NBA league history: Kobe Bryant is among basketball’s absolute greatest players, and his importance to the sport is undeniable. Third on the NBA career scoring list and owner of five championship rings, he is an undisputed all-time great, one deserving of this deep and definitive biography.

Even within the flashiest franchise in all of sports – the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played his entire career – Bryant always took center stage, and his final game captivated the basketball world, indeed the country. Roland Lazenby delves deep to look behind this public image, using classic basketball reporting and dozens of new interviews to reveal the whole picture, from Bryant’s childhood through his playing years.

Three Ring Circus by Jeff Pearlman

In the history of modern sport, there have never been two high-level teammates who loathed each other the way Shaquille O’Neal loathed Kobe Bryant, and Kobe Bryant loathed Shaquille O’Neal. From public sniping and sparring, to physical altercations and the repeated threats of trade, it was warfare. And yet, despite eight years of infighting and hostility, by turns mediated and encouraged by coach Phil Jackson, the Shaq-Kobe duo resulted in one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history. Together, the two led the Lakers to three straight championships and returned glory and excitement to Los Angeles. In the tradition of Jeff Pearlman’s other bestsellers,   Three-Ring Circus is a rollicking deep dive into one of sports’ most fraught yet successful pairing.

The Gold Standard by Mike Krzyzewski

In his previous bestselling books, Coach K has guided readers to success the way he has guided his teams at Duke University – with the power of his inspirational words and phenomenal leadership skills.

But that was with college kids. Now, Coach K has stepped up to take on an entirely new challenge: volunteering to coach the US Olympic Basketball team.

Comprised of some of the biggest NBA stars, Coach K had to work with huge egos and personal rivalries in order to create an American team that could win against the best competition in the world and restore Team USA to the gold standard of basketball.

This is more than a celebratory book – it’s Coach K’s first-hand account of how he dealt with such stars as Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and all the rest to buy into his “total team” play.

The Last Season by Phil Jackson

For the countless basketball fans who were spellbound by the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2003–2004 high-wire act, this book is a rare and phenomenal treat. In  The Last Season , Lakers coach Phil Jackson draws on his trademark honesty and insight to tell the whole story of the season that proved to be the final ride of a truly great dynasty. From the signing of future Hall-of-Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton to the Kobe Bryant rape case/media circus, this is a riveting tale of clashing egos, public feuds, contract disputes, and team meltdowns that only a coach, and a writer, of Jackson’s candor, experience, and ability could tell. Full of tremendous human drama and offering lessons on coaching and on life, this is a book that no sports fan can possibly pass up.

The Soul of Basketball by Ian Thomsen

The Soul of Basketball tells the story of an NBA prodigy, his league and their sport in the throes of crisis during the pivotal 2010-11 season. It began with The Decision , that infamous televised moment when uber-star LeBron James revealed that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers – thereby distancing himself from his role model Michael Jordan – to pursue his first championship with his former opponents on the Miami Heat.

To the great fortune of LeBron, the NBA, and basketball itself, the mission didn’t work out as planned. Veteran NBA writer Ian Thomsen portrays the NBA as a self-correcting society in which young LeBron is forced to absorb hard truths inflicted by his rivals Kobe Bryant, Doc Rivers, and Dirk Nowitzki, in addition to lessons set forth by Pat Riley, Gregg Popovich, Larry Bird, David Stern, Joey Crawford and many more.

This is about the making of a champion. Brimming with inside access,  The Soul of Basketball tells the inspiring story of LeBron’s loneliest year, insecure and uncertain, when his ultimate foe was an unlikely immigrant who renewed the American game’s ideals. From Miami to Boston, Los Angeles to Dallas, Germany to the NBA’s Manhattan headquarters, the biggest names in basketball are driven by something more valuable than money and fame  – a quest that will pave the way for Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and future generations to thrive.

Relentless by Tim S. Grover

Direct, blunt, and brutally honest, Grover breaks down what it takes to be unstoppable: you keep going when everyone else is giving up, you thrive under pressure, you never let your emotions make you weak. He details the essential traits shared by the most intense competitors and achievers in sports, business, and all walks of life.

Relentless   shows you how to trust your instincts and get in the Zone; how to control and adapt to any situation; how to find your opponent’s weakness and attack. Grover gives you the same advice he gives his world-class clients – “don’t think” – and shows you that anything is possible.

One of the few books Kobe Bryant has ever written an editorial review for, Bryant tells readers, “Tim Grover is the master of mental toughness. This book is the blueprint for discovering what you are capable of achieving, getting results you never imagined, reaching the highest level of success – and then going even higher.”

Remembering Kobe Bryant by Sean Deveney

When he entered the NBA in 1996 as a high-school star from Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, Kobe Bryant faced enormous expectations. No one can deny that he rose to the challenge. Today Bryant’s status as a future Hall of Fame player is assured. During his stellar career, Bryant won five NBA championships; was a seventeen-time All-Star, NBA MVP, and two-time NBA Finals MVP. He led the league in scoring in 2006 and 2007.

Now for the first time, hear stories from opponents, teammates, and players about what it was like to go against The Black Mamba in this absolute gem among books on Kobe Bryant.

Legacy and the Queen by Annie Matthew; Created by Kobe Bryant

GAME. SET. MAGIC.

Game – Tennis means life and death for the residents of the magical kingdom of Nova, and for twelve-year-old Legacy, it’s the only thing getting her through the long days taking care of the other kids at the orphanage. That’s all about to change when she hears about Silla’s tournament.

Set – Silla, the ruler of Nova, hosts an annual tournament for the less fortunate of her citizens to come and prove themselves and win entrance to the Academy, where they can train to compete at nationals. The prize is Silla’s favor and enough cash to keep open the orphanage, and Legacy has her heart set on both.

Magic – What Legacy has yet to know is that the other players have something besides better skills and more money than she does. In Nova, tennis can unlock magic. Magic that Silla used to save the kingdom long ago and magic that her competitors have been training in for months already.

Now, with the world turned against her and the orphanage at stake, Legacy has to learn to use her passion for the game to rise above those around her and shine.

If you enjoyed this guide to essential books on Kobe Bryant, check out our list of The 10 Best Books on Michael Jordan !

• Sports & Outdoors
• Biographies

Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Amazon Prime includes:

Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.

• Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
• Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
• Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
• A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
• Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
• Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access

Important:  Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.

Buy new: .savingPriceOverride { color:#CC0C39!important; font-weight: 300!important; } .reinventMobileHeaderPrice { font-weight: 400; } #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPriceSavingsPercentageMargin, #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPricePriceToPayMargin { margin-right: 4px; } -46% $21.74 $ 21 . 74 FREE delivery Friday, May 10 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35 Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com

Return this item for free.

Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges

• Go to your orders and start the return
• Select the return method

Save with Used - Good .savingPriceOverride { color:#CC0C39!important; font-weight: 300!important; } .reinventMobileHeaderPrice { font-weight: 400; } #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPriceSavingsPercentageMargin, #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPricePriceToPayMargin { margin-right: 4px; } $10.23 $ 10 . 23 $3.99 delivery May 14 - 15 Ships from: gdwil Sold by: gdwil

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play Hardcover – Audiobook, October 23, 2018

Purchase options and add-ons

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play is Kobe Bryant’s personal perspective of his life and career on the basketball court and his exceptional, insightful style of playing the game―a fitting legacy from the late Los Angeles Laker superstar. In the wake of his retirement from professional basketball, Kobe “The Black Mamba” Bryant decided to share his vast knowledge and understanding of the game to take readers on an unprecedented journey to the core of the legendary “Mamba mentality.” Citing an obligation and an opportunity to teach young players, hardcore fans, and devoted students of the game how to play it “the right way,” The Mamba Mentality takes us inside the mind of one of the most intelligent, analytical, and creative basketball players ever. In his own words, Bryant reveals his famously detailed approach and the steps he took to prepare mentally and physically to not just succeed at the game, but to excel. Readers will learn how Bryant studied an opponent, how he channeled his passion for the game, how he played through injuries. They’ll also get fascinating granular detail as he breaks down specific plays and match-ups from throughout his career. Bryant’s detailed accounts are paired with stunning photographs by the Hall of Fame photographer Andrew D. Bernstein. Bernstein, long the Lakers and NBA official photographer, captured Bryant’s very first NBA photo in 1996 and his last in 2016―and hundreds of thousands in between, the record of a unique, twenty-year relationship between one athlete and one photographer. The combination of Bryant’s narrative and Bernstein’s photos make The Mamba Mentality an unprecedented look behind the curtain at the career of one of the world’s most celebrated and fascinating athletes.

• Print length 208 pages
• Language English
• Publisher MCD
• Publication date October 23, 2018
• Dimensions 9.35 x 1 x 11.3 inches
• ISBN-10 0374201234
• ISBN-13 978-0374201234
• See all details

Frequently bought together

Similar items that may ship from close to you

From the Publisher

The Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant

“When it came to basketball, I had no fear.” —Kobe Bryant

“From the beginning, I wanted to be the best.” —Kobe Bryant

“From day one, I wanted to dominate.” —Kobe Bryant

“It’s just me and the basket, the court and my imagination, dreams.” —Kobe Bryant

photo by Andrew D. Bernstein

Editorial Reviews

“Warning: Be prepared for an adventure in high-level basketball … This book is a window into the mind of someone who mastered the game.” ―Phil Jackson “Kobe knew that to be the best you need a different approach from everyone else … Enjoy this magnificent book. I have no doubt that you will be inspired.” ―Pau Gasol “Revealing...beautifully captured...candid.” ― Los Angeles Times “The future NBA Hall of Famer explores his process and craft … From training to practice to recovery to mental preparation to highly technical descriptions of his mechanics―and those of his opponents―he delves into it all. The book will appeal to die-hard basketball fans intrigued by one of the game’s brightest minds … An ideal gift for the Lakers fan in the house.” ― Kirkus Reviews “Bryant is inarguably among the top 20 basketball players of all time: five-time champion, 18-time all-star, the list goes on. But overshadowing all the achievement is his legendary work ethic, drive, and devotion to the craft of basketball … Bryant offers plenty of anecdotes about teammates and opponents. What sets this book apart from the competition is Bernstein’s photography. It’s wonderful.” ― Booklist (starred review) "The next best thing to a courtside seat watching Bryant drive to the basket during his glory days with the L.A. Lakers." ―USA Today "Revealing, candid, inspirational." ―A mazon Book Review " This book will inspire you to live a "Mamba Mentality" way of life moving forward. The mindset of not relying on others for your own success, taking responsibility for your actions, moving according to the plan, and of course, living life to the fullest. All of this while inspiring others to push themselves to their limit as well."― Enstars " Bryant has an incredibly detailed approach to preparation...not just a physical approach; it's also mental, [and it] can be applied outside of the game...Inspiring, informative, and entertaining." ―Chris Schleup, The Amazon Book Review "Whether someone is trying to become the next NBA great or achieve some sort of semblance of success, Bryant’s dedication to being a cut above the rest is sure to help encourage readers to meet their own goals." ―L.A. Taco "Perfect to help the aspiring basketball player in your life learn how to excel both mentally and physically." ―ESPN

About the Author

Kobe Bryant (1978-2020) was one of the most accomplished and celebrated athletes of all time. Over the course of his twenty-year career―all played with the Los Angeles Lakers―he won five NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, eighteen All-Star selections, and four All-Star Game MVP awards, among many other achievements before retiring in 2016. In 2018, Bryant won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film as writer of Dear Basketball , which he also narrated. He was the first African American to win the award as well as the first former professional athlete to be nominated and win an Oscar in any category. As a philanthropist, Bryant founded the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation (KVBFF) and the Kobe Bryant China Fund, organizations dedicated to providing resources for educational, social, and sports programs to improve the lives of children and families in need, and encourage cultural exchanges between Chinese and U. S. middle school children. He was also an official ambassador for After-School All-Stars (ASAS), a nonprofit organization that offers after-school programs to low-income children in more than a dozen U. S. cities. With entrepreneur Jeff Stibel, Bryant co-founded Bryant Stibel, a company designed to offer businesses specializing in technology, media, and data strategies, capital, and operational support. Throughout his post-professional basketball career, Bryant claimed he’d never been beaten one-on-one.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ MCD; Illustrated edition (October 23, 2018)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0374201234
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0374201234
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.05 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.35 x 1 x 11.3 inches
• #3 in Basketball Biographies (Books)
• #3 in Basketball (Books)
• #57 in Memoirs (Books)

Videos for this product

Click to play video

Watch Before Buying This Mamba Mentality Book

Swizzle Finds

An amazing book

Different Ways To Use This Book

Scott Morrison

Amazing book for any Kobe Bryant fan

Homegrown How To

Customer Review: The GOAT 🐐Black Mamba🐍!

The Perfect Book If You Are A Kobe Fan - Mamba Mentality

Beauty And The Gains

Packed With Insights From The Mind Of The MAMBA

Caroline & Ty

Review of the Kobe Bryant Mamba Mentality Book

Family Finds for Less

Customer Review: Estado del libro

Estado del libro

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play

ISMY MINIER

About the author

Kobe bryant.

Kobe Bryant is an Academy Award winner, New York Times best-selling author and CEO of Granity Studios, a multi-media content creation company. He spends every day focused on creating stories that inspire the next generation of athletes to be the best versions of themselves. In a previous life, Kobe was a five-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, NBA MVP, and two-time Olympic gold medalist. He hopes to share what he’s learned with young athletes around the world.

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Reviews with images

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

5 Documentaries And Specials About Kobe Bryant To Watch Streaming

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

It is hard to believe that it has already been a year since Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant ’s life was cut tragically short when he, his daughter Gianna, and seven others perished in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. The loss of “The Black Mamba” sent ripples through the sports and entertainment world, resulting in various tributes , specials, and remembrances of one of the best to ever lace up a pair of sneakers and take to the court. But even before his death on January 26, 2020, there were multiple Kobe Bryant documentaries and features about his life on and off the court he dominated all those years.

So, as we look back on the life and legacy of Kobe Bryant, his five NBA Championships, and the forces that drove him to be not only the best basketball player but father and human, here are just a few of the tremendous documentaries, long-form interviews, and other features about one of the absolute greatest to ever play the game of basketball.

Kobe Bryant’s Muse (2015)

There are few sports documentaries that are as introspective as the 2015 Showtime original Kobe Bryant’s Muse . Filmed during “The Black Mamba’s” return from injury in the twilight of his record-breaking career, the documentary is more of a series of contemplations by Bryant than anything else. With dramatically lit interview segments combined with various games and training sessions from throughout the 2014-2015 NBA season, Kobe Bryant’s Muse goes into what made made one of the most driven, intense, and competitive athletes tick and want to continue to push himself (and his teammates) to be best they could be.

Even with his body failing him and no longer having the physicality that made him such a dominating force in his youth, Kobe Bryant goes into great detail about having that drive to continue pushing forward, no matter how difficult it may be. This is abundantly clear when Bryant talks about his return to form following a serious foot injury, letting out a boyish smile as he talks about his motivations in that moment.

Stream it on Showtime here .

All The Smoke: Kobe Bryant (2019)

Shortly before his death in January 2020, Kobe Bryant gave one of his final interviews to Showtime’s All The Smoke video podcast. Sitting down with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Bryant opens up about his career, looks back on some of his toughest competitors, and then finally his life after basketball, a new chapter that was just beginning before that tragic helicopter crash stole the creator from the world and left the book unfinished. Bryant spends a great deal of time talking about his Oscar-winning short film Dear Basketball (more on that later), and how excited he to continue with the art form in the future.

CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER

Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

Following Kobe Bryant’s death, the All The Smoke podcast took the interview from months earlier and combined it with their reactions to his passing as well as those from some of Bryant’s fiercest competitors from his historic 19-year run at the top of the NBA. Part tribute and part catharsis, this special tribute gives us a chance to look back on one of the greatest while finding ways to continue his legacy.

HBO Real Sports’ Kobe Bryant Retrospective (2020)

There are plenty of reasons to get an HBO subscription, but one that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough is the long-running sports program Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel which has covered every major sporting event and controversy since taking the air in 1995. Over the years, the program’s reporters visited with Kobe Bryant on two occasions — 2000 when he was in the middle of three-peat with the Los Angeles Lakers and 2016 after his retirement from the NBA — and were able to get inside the head of “The Black Mamba” and find out what made him tick.

In the weeks following his death in 2020, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel combined portions of these two segments and added a new introduction and other information regarding Kobe Bryant’s accident and where the sports world goes from here. Equal parts touching and enlightening (especially hearing Bryant talk about his production company), this look at No. 24’s life is a must-watch, more so now than ever before.

Stream it on the HBO Real Sports Facebook page here .

Spike Lee’s Lil’ Joints: Italian Imports (2015)

A part of Kobe Bryant’s life that came up a lot following his death was his upbringing in Italy where his father continued his professional basketball career. From the age of 6 until he was 13, Bryant lived and fell in love with Italy, becoming fluent in the language and continuing his love of basketball. Bryant opens up about this chapter of his life in the 2015 documentary series Spike Lee’s Lil’ Joints in an episode called “Italian Imports” with WNBA star Tamika Catchings who grew up alongside the future NBA legend in Italy.

There is something about the relaxed nature of this one-on-one conversation that is able to break down the steely exterior of Kobe Bryant. Watching him reminisce about spending a large portion of his youth with a longtime childhood friend creates one of the most enjoyable experiences you’ll see from the Lakers legend.

Stream it on the ESPN 30 for 30 Facebook page here .

BET & ET Present: Kobe: Father, Husband, Legend (2020)

Shortly after his death, ET and BET collaborated for a tribute to Kobe Bryant which spent a great deal of time focusing on his legacy off the court. In Kobe: Father, Husband, Legend , viewers are walked through some of the five-time NBA champion’s accomplishments outside of sports, with a major portion dedicated to the love he had for his wife and daughters as well as the steps he took to ensure they lived the best life possible.

The special also goes into great detail concerning the Kobe Bryant’s more creative side with an emphasis put on his work in the young adult fiction genre as well as his Academy Award winning short film Dear Basketball . Speaking of which…

Stream it on BET+ here .

Dear Basketball (2017)

This last entry isn’t technically a documentary, but Dear Basketball , the Oscar winning animated short film directed by Glen Keane and scored by John Williams , is not only based on a poem that Kobe Bryant wrote shortly before his retirement from the NBA (it’s also narrated by the late athlete), it also best documents his love for the game. Clocking it at just five minutes, Dear Basketball was Bryant’s way of saying goodbye to sport to which he dedicated most of his life, but also a signaling of the beginning of the next chapter in his life. And while we never got to see everything Bryant had in store for the world in terms of his Granity Studios production company, this beautifully written and animated short film is a perfect reminder of the love and determination that kept him going all those years.

Purchase it on Amazon here .

In the coming months and years, there will surely be even more great documentaries about Kobe Bryant, his impact on the game of basketball, and the way he continues to inspire athletes, artists, and the rest of us with his body of work. And if word is to be believed that Bryant brought a camera crew with him for the entirety of his final season in the NBA, we should be seeing another feature, one like The Last Dance at some point in the future.

Philip grew up in Louisiana (not New Orleans) before moving to St. Louis after graduating from Louisiana State University-Shreveport. When he's not writing about movies or television, Philip can be found being chased by his three kids, telling his dogs to stop barking at the mailman, or chatting about professional wrestling to his wife. Writing gigs with school newspapers, multiple daily newspapers, and other varied job experiences led him to this point where he actually gets to write about movies, shows, wrestling, and documentaries (which is a huge win in his eyes). If the stars properly align, he will talk about For Love Of The Game being the best baseball movie of all time.

10 Billie Eilish Red Carpet Looks That Challenged Norms For Women’s Fashion

The 32 Best LGBTQ+ Movies As Ranked By Rotten Tomatoes

Star Trek: Discovery’s Mary Wiseman Knows She And Sonequa Martin-Green Looked Miserable In 'Whistlespeak,' But Told Us Why It Was 'Actually So Freaking Fun'

Most Popular

• 2 Fans Are Outraged Over Kim Kardashian's Latest SKIMS Drop For Multiple Reasons
• 3 The Pants-Free Movement Is Making A Comeback Ahead Of National No Pants Day, But I Didn’t Expect Matthew McConaughey And Camila Alves To Be The Ones Championing It
• 4 Unfrosted Marks The Third Time Hugh Grant's Played An Orange Character Recently, And He Had A Funny Answer When I Asked Him About It
• 5 The Cast Of Grey's Anatomy Is Going Viral On TikTok After Revealing They Actually Scrubbed Into Surgeries To Prep For The Show, And Fans Are Baffled

Kobe Bryant

• Occupation: Basketball Player
• Born: August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Died: January 26, 2020 in Calabasas, California
• Nicknames: Black Mamba, Mr. 81, Kobe Wan Kenobi
• Best known for: Winning 5 NBA championships with the LA Lakers
• Yes. Kobe won 5 NBA championships with the LA Lakers. The first 3 championships were early on in his career (2000-2002). All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal was his teammate at the time. After Shaq was traded, it took some time for the Lakers to rebuild, but they won two more championships, one in 2009 and another in 2010.
• His high school team won the state championship his senior year.
• He won two Olympic Gold medals for basketball in 2008 and 2012.
• He was the NBA slam dunk champion in 1997.

• Kobe scored 81 points in an NBA game, which is the second most points scored in a single game.
• He holds the record for the most career points scored by a Los Angeles Laker.
• He is the youngest player to score 26,000 career points. He actually held a lot of the "youngest" records in the NBA, but LeBron James is catching him in many categories.
• Kobe was the NBA scoring champion in 2006 and 2007.
• He was selected to the All-NBA Team fifteen times and the All-Defensive Team twelve times.
• At the time of the writing of this article he was third on the all-time NBA scoring list.
• Kobe was the first guard to be drafted by the NBA out of high school.
• Kobe played for the Los Angeles Lakers his entire professional career.
• He was the youngest player to start an NBA game.
• Kobe's mom's brother, John Cox, also played in the NBA.
• He was named after the Japanese steak "kobe".
• His middle name is Bean.
• He spent a lot of his childhood in Italy where his father played professional basketball. He learned how to speak Italian and played a lot of soccer.

‘He Was Going to Do Great Things.’ Why Many Believed the Best Was Ahead of Kobe Bryant

J erry West saw something the other basketball mavens didn’t. Everyone around the league was intrigued by the slender high school senior with NBA genes and confidence to spare. But could Kobe Bryant really go directly from leading the Lower Merion High School Aces in suburban Philadelphia to guarding Michael Jordan? It took West, then executive vice president of the Los Angeles Lakers and one of the best players in NBA history, less than a half hour to know the answer. As part of a workout ahead of the 1996 draft, Bryant played one-on-one against the recently retired defensive specialist Michael Cooper. The GM ended the session early. “I was embarrassed for Michael to watch a 17-year-old just basically demolish him,” West tells TIME, “and enjoy doing it.”

West acquired Bryant in a draft-day deal, pairing the teenager with the towering Shaquille O’Neal and launching one of the most decorated careers in professional sports. Over 20 seasons–all of them with the Lakers–Bryant won five NBA championships, two scoring titles, a pair of Olympic gold medals, one MVP award and was named to 18 All-Star teams. More than merely guarding Jordan, Bryant emerged as his heir, a scoring assassin who could rip a defender’s heart out by way of a devastating dunk or an elusive fadeaway jump shot from the baseline, his singular work of athletic art. His ascent coincided with the development of social media and basketball’s embrace around the world, which turned Bryant into one of the game’s first truly global stars. Back home, he inspired a generation of high school phenoms like LeBron James to follow his lead from high school to the NBA.

“You said Kobe, and everyone knows who that is: a one-word name,” says Quentin Richardson, who played against Bryant in the 2000s.

Driven by a focus and intensity that he would come to call–and trademark–Mamba Mentality, Bryant had the rare combination of elite talent and preternatural fire seen only in the true greats. “Kobe played the game,” says West, “like it was war.”

When Bryant retired in 2016, he had scored 33,643 points, good for fourth on the NBA all-time scoring list. He was in third until Jan. 25, when James passed him. Bryant called James and sent a congratulatory tweet.

The next day, Bryant was gone . The helicopter he was taking to his daughter’s youth-basketball tournament crashed in the hills near Calabasas, Calif. All nine people on board were killed, including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna, known as Gigi, and two other young girls. Bryant had begun using helicopters as a player to avoid L.A. traffic on his commutes to home games, and to give him more time with his wife Vanessa and their children. The crash is still under investigation, though the National Transportation Safety Board said the helicopter was not equipped with a terrain-warning system that could have alerted the pilot to danger.

The loss was one of the most stunning in the history of sports and global celebrity that Bryant had done so much to fuse. To many, it was as if a vein had been opened. NBA players wept publicly. On Weibo, one of China’s largest social networks, the hashtag for Bryant’s death drew nearly 2.5 billion views in a day. Former President Barack Obama said, “Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act,” and world leaders from Israel to Venezuela shared their own condolences. Murals of Bryant with his daughter appeared in states from Texas to Massachusetts. Across the Philippines, skyscrapers lit up in tribute.

In Los Angeles, thousands gathered to cry and light candles outside the downtown Staples Center–“the house that Kobe Bryant built” as host Alicia Keys called it at the top of a notably subdued Grammy Awards held in the arena that night. It has become a gathering place for Bryant’s legions of fans, who come bearing jerseys and balls much the way Buckingham Palace overflowed with flowers following the death of Princess Diana.

Reactions to Bryant’s death have deepened to reflect the dimensions and sometimes confounding complexity of his life. Though not cut down in the prime of his basketball career, Bryant, at 41, was well into a second act that gave him more prominence than many active players. He had already written an Oscar-winning animated short film, launched a production company, created a sports academy and become a vocal champion of women’s sports. “I absolutely believe he was going to do great things,” says Richardson, “and write another chapter of greatness after basketball.”

And he died being a parent. As word emerged that Gigi had been killed with him, queasiness was compounded by recognition. Every weekend, parents travel with their children to organized youth-sporting events, just like Bryant was doing with the second of his four daughters. Suddenly people who did not know Bryant, or particularly care for him, could picture themselves in his place, and choke up. To toggle between Instagram and Twitter in the days after Jan. 26 was to experience the social-media version of a wake: Gigi dangling from her father’s shoulders, or parked above them, her hands resting on his head. The two sitting courtside, exploring the nuances of the game.

Bryant’s biography included another critical element: in 2003, he was arrested and charged with sexual assault . The criminal case was dropped after Bryant’s accuser refused to testify in court. A civil suit ended with a settlement. Bryant issued a statement of apology, which read in part: “After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.”

The case failed to derail Bryant’s career, and by the time he retired, it tended to be mentioned reluctantly, if at all, in assessments of his legacy. In the era before #MeToo, an NBA superstar could commute between games and court appearances without apparent consequence.

Bryant was the son of former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant and Pamela Bryant. He spent part of his childhood in Italy, where his father played professionally and where he learned both the language and a love of soccer. The family eventually settled outside Philadelphia, where Bryant grew into a phenom.

He was self-confident, and solitary, which disarmed teammates. At the 1998 All-Star Game in New York, Bryant, then 19, went right at Jordan in what was a clear generational shift. After Jordan retired from the Bulls, the Lakers of Shaq and Kobe won three straight NBA titles, from 2000 to 2002. Bryant and O’Neal had an inevitable falling-out: not even L.A.’s sprawl could contain those two alpha egos. When, in 2004, O’Neal was traded to Miami, many blamed Bryant, painted as a selfish ball hog and whose reputation was tainted by his criminal case.

Bryant chose to embrace the role of villain, creating the Mamba Mentality pop philosophy. It was an approach to life that required extreme focus, discipline and enthusiasm for taking on all comers. Magic Johnson’s perpetual smile didn’t fit Bryant’s style. Like Jordan, Bryant embraced brutal honesty and could be cruel to underperforming teammates.

The Lakers suffered some down years in the mid-aughts, but Bryant’s displays of individual excellence continued to make noise. In 2006, he scored 81 points in a game, the second highest point total in league history. Around that time Jerry Colangelo, the head of USA Basketball, told Bryant that if he wanted to play for his first Olympic team, he’d have to serve primarily as a passer, not a shooter. Bryant, though surprised, still promised Colangelo he’d do whatever was needed to bring a gold medal back to the U.S. Winning was always paramount. Colangelo was testing Bryant; the pair then shared a laugh, knowing that asking Bryant not to score was like asking a dog not to bark.

At an early training camp for those Beijing Olympics, Bryant arrived in the weight room before 6 a.m. Younger superstars like James and Dwyane Wade, according to Colangelo, learned to follow Bryant’s example. In China, where Bryant first hosted a clinic in 1998, hordes of people would greet the U.S. team bus. “They didn’t want to see us,” says Colangelo. “They wanted to see Kobe. They just kept chanting, ‘Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!'” The U.S. won gold in Beijing.

A Lakers renaissance followed. Los Angeles won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010, and Bryant was MVP of both finals. He continued to produce, but injuries plagued the last few years of his career. The 2015–2016 goodbye season served as both farewell and affirmation of his basketball greatness. In a full Mamba showing that was replayed on national television, in prime time, a day after his death, Bryant scored 60 points, on 50 shots, at the Staples Center in the final game of his career.

Rather than jump to TV or hawk products after his playing days, Bryant embraced the clean slate. He dedicated time to his venture-capital firm, created a musical podcast for children and won his Oscar for “Dear Basketball,” an animated film based on the poem he used to announce the end of his playing career. In addition to supporting women’s sports–Bryant was a regular presence at and cheerleader for the WNBA and U.S. women’s national soccer and gymnastics teams, among others–he became a devoted coach for his own daughters. He embraced the role, telling Jimmy Kimmel that his goal was to give the girls “a foundation of the amount of work and preparation that it takes to be excellent.”

“We lost a big advocate for women’s sports,” soccer icon Mia Hamm tells TIME. “But we’re all inspired by his belief in equality, and it’s our job to continue to move forward.”

She is among the many who believed Bryant’s best was ahead of him, which only added to the despair over his death. When athletes hang up their uniforms, they’re supposed to return to mortal life and age with the rest of us. They show up at ceremonies, hair a little more salty but the applause as raucous as ever. “I had a brother killed in Korea and honestly,” says West, “it affected me in the same way.”

The NBA’s silhouette logo is modeled after West in his playing days. A petition to change it to Bryant’s likeness has since received close to 3 million signatures.

–With reporting by Andrew R. Chow/New York

More Must-Reads From TIME

• The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
• How Far Trump Would Go
• Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
• Saving Seconds Is Better Than Hours
• Why Your Breakfast Should Start with a Vegetable
• 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
• Welcome to the Golden Age of Ryan Gosling
• Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time

Write to Sean Gregory at [email protected]

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Entertainment

One of Kobe Bryant's Reading Recommendations Was Inspired by Daughter Gianna: See the List Here

The basketball star picked a YA series for a summer reading recommendation after his daughter Gianna "came home, ranting and raving about it," he explained last May

The late Kobe Bryant was a prolific reader — and so was his teen daughter Gianna. Before their tragic deaths in late January , the basketball legend often gave book recommendations on social media and in interviews — once even selecting a book series that was introduced to him by his 13-year-old daughter.

In a Goodreads video that was posted just eight months before the crash, Bryant explained that his reading pick for summer 2019 — Jason Reynolds’ Track series —excited Gigi so much, she couldn’t stop “ranting and raving” about the books.

“The book is about a group of middle-school kids that are track-and-field athletes. It’s about the challenges that they face, not just on the track while competing, but also off the track,” Bryant said in the video that was posted in May 2019, as part of Goodreads’ celebrity summer reading picks series . “I’m recommending the book because the book is about dealing with challenges and the adversity that comes with that. And digging deep and fighting through those challenges and fighting through those obstacles.”

He continued: “It actually came to me recommended by my 12-year-old daughter at the time, Gianna, who is now 13. She read the book, absolutely loved it, and came home, ranting and raving about it and saying, ‘Dad, you should definitely read this book.’ ”

The world has been mourning the athlete since the news broke that Bryant, Gigi, and seven others died in a helicopter crash on their way to a game at his sports academy on Jan. 26.

Tributes have subsequently flooded public spaces and online — including libraries. On Jan. 28, the Los Angeles Public Library compiled a list of books Bryant has recommended over the years, titling it “Kobe’s Bookshelf.”

“As one would expect from a passionate storyteller, Bryant also appreciated reading a good book,” wrote Keith Kesler, the social media librarian for the library.

The list includes books that range from Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell to the hit fantasy novel The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. (Bryant deeply admired Coelho. The former Lakers player planned on writing a book with the writer, but Coelho deleted the draft after he learned of Bryant’s death.)

Kesler also included books written by Bryant and his production company, Granity Studios.

“I enjoy stories and creating content that’s going to move people,” Bryant told Sports Illustrated in March 2019, while discussing his book, The Wizenard Series: Training Camp , the first book in his inspirational YA series. On Thursday, the New York Times announced that three of Bryant’s books took the top three spots on its middle grade hardcover best-seller list.

Bryant added: “I enjoy creating things that you can look at and say, ‘That forced me to look inward and challenge myself, or challenge others.’ ”

Here’s a look at some of the books Bryant has recommended over the years — from fantasy novels and children’s books to inspirational psychology studies.

Bryant’s reading recommendations:

Black leopard, red wolf by marlon james.

“I am a big fan of epic fantasy series and the world-building by James is excellent. It’s immersive and makes for a powerful story,” Bryant explained, according to Amazon’s November 2019 “Celebrity Book Picks” list. James’ novel was one of four that Bryant selected for his favorite books of 2019.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

“Here’s the book I recommended to the @Chargers today. Add this to your #musecage #greatread,” Bryant wrote on Twitter in July 2017 .

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Bryant recommended this classic to fellow basketball player, Kyrie Irving, according to The Athletic .

Range by David Epstein

“This book looks at how an emphasis on specialization can actually hamper our ability to really excel at something,” the athlete-turned-author told Amazon. “It aligns with what I try to do when I am coaching, in my stories, and what we’re doing with Mamba Sports Academy — create all-around athletes who can think critically and make assessments in real time to enhance their play rather than rely only on a narrow set of skills.”

Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin

“I loved Team of Rivals , and Leadership really built on the things I had taken away from that book,” he explained, according to Amazon. “Moving from basketball to building a company, I needed to learn new and different leadership skills, and Goodwin outlines the different skill-sets of Lincoln, both Roosevelts, and Lyndon Johnson, accessibly.”

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

“Jackson’s book is a great study in how to build character, the strength and importance of friendship, and excellent writing,” said Bryant. “It’s tense like a horror story and yet very real and utterly compelling.”

30 Rooms to Hide In by Luke Longstreet Sullivan

“Still not feeling well, it’s a day in bed for me,” Bryant wrote on Facebook in November 2012. “Nothing like a good book to take my mind off last night’s tough loss. I’m lovin this one!”

A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin

“Thank you mamacita @vanessabryant for my all time favorite Christmas gift! #gameofthrones #georgerrmartin #muse,” Bryant captioned a photo of the book series on Christmas Day 2016. The photo revealed that Martin had signed a copy of the book for Bryant. “To Kobe, Fly high, burn bright,” the author wrote.

Books Created by Kobe Bryant and Granity Studios:

The mamba mentality: how i play by kobe bryant.

“For me, it started with a dream,” the star wrote while promoting his book on Instagram in October 2018. “The only way to achieve that dream was to adopt a winning mentality and focus deeply on the mental aspects of the game I loved. Learn how I did it.”

Legacy and the Queen by Annie Matthew and Kobe Bryant

“It’s an amazing feeling to have an idea, work that idea over and over and over again for 3 years to see it come to life for readers to enjoy,” Bryant wrote on Instagram in September 2019. “I hope #legacyandthequeen inspires you to find that magical light within to guide you thru the dark #liveyourdream.”

Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof by Ivy Claire and Kobe Bryant

“I created @Granity Studios as a way of teaching valuable life lessons to the next generation,” the star wrote while promoting the book on Instagram in November 2019. “Our stories represent a competitive mindset about being the best at what you do. The principles built within #EPOCA: The Tree of Ecrof inspire, motivate, and encourage those who are looking to harness their inner magic.”

The Wizenard Series: Training Camp by Wesley King and Kobe Bryant

“To all the young athletes and eager minds, I created this book for you to learn the lessons that were once passed down to me,” Bryant captioned a photo of himself with the book on Instagram in March 2019.

The Wizenard Series: Season One by Wesley King and Kobe Bryant

“Basketball legend Kobe Bryant presents this illuminating follow-up to the #1 New York Times bestseller The Wizenard Series: Training Camp, ” reads the description of the book, which will be released on March 31, “a story of strain and sacrifice, supernatural breakthroughs, and supreme dedication to the game.”

Related Articles

Patrick Ewing Biography: Inspiring Journey From Georgetown To The NBA

• Patrick Ewing dealt with racism in high school
• Ewing ignored the hate to have a great college career at Georgetown
• Ewing was the face of the New York Knicks during the 1990s

Patrick Ewing is a name that is synonymous with basketball greatness. A towering presence on the court, Ewing made a name for himself at Georgetown University before going on to have a legendary career in the NBA.  

But what many people don't know is the story behind Ewing's rise to fame. Born in Jamaica, Ewing moved to the United States as a child and faced many obstacles in his journey to becoming a basketball star.

Despite facing racism, language barriers, and financial struggles, Ewing persevered and became one of the most dominant players of his time. In this article, we will take a closer look at the inspiring journey of Patrick Ewing, from his early years to his time at Georgetown, to his unforgettable NBA career.

This is the biography of New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing.

Patrick Ewing's Early Life

Patrick Ewing was born on August 5, 1962, in Kingston, Jamaica, and he grew up with six siblings. When he was 12 years old, his family moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.

Ewing was already over six feet tall when he arrived in Cambridge, and he quickly gained attention from the basketball coaches at his new school. Despite being relatively new to the game, Ewing's height and coordination made him a natural on the court.

Ewing's talent continued to grow, as did his height, reaching seven feet before leaving high school. At Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, Ewing led his school to an incredible 77-1 record, including a 25-0 record as a senior.

Ewing put up averages of 22.7 points and 15.0 rebounds while shooting 72% as a senior, helping to lead his school to three state titles. Despite his success on the court, things weren't easy for Ewing, as he often had to deal with racism.

Opposing crowds would tell all types of racist remarks at Ewing, but this wasn't all. One time rival fans rocked Ewing's team's bus when they arrived to play an away game.

Ewing's high school coach, Mike Jarvis, spoke about the racism Ewing faced in high school.

"We had bricks thrown through the windows of our yellow school bus," Jarvis explained in an interview . "We had tires slashed. We had fights -- it seemed like in every game. There were fights in the stands. There were people at times dressing up in gorilla outfits and throwing banana peels on the floor. And it got really, really ugly when he chose Georgetown over Boston College."

Ewing ignored the racism and pure hate that fans threw at him and just played his game. His success on the court led to offers from top college programs around the country, but he ultimately chose to attend Georgetown University, where he would become one of the most iconic players in college basketball history.

Ewing Becomes A College Star

Patrick Ewing's college career at Georgetown University was nothing short of legendary. He was a dominant force on both ends of the court, known for his impressive scoring ability, rebounding prowess, and shot-blocking skills.

In his first year at Georgetown, Ewing became one of the first freshmen to start on the varsity team. Ewing led Georgetown to a 30-7 record and led his school to Big East tournament championship.

After the Big East Tournament ended, Ewing's Georgetown Hoyas entered the NCAA Tournament as the number one seed. It would be in this tournament where Ewing and his Georgetown Hoyas would fall at the hands of a freshman Michael Jordan's game-winning shot in the championship game.

Despite losing 63-62, Ewing played great in the championship game. He finished the game with a team-high 23 points on 10-15 shooting while adding 11 rebounds.

Ewing may have been denied an NCAA championship in 1982, but by 1984, he'd get another chance, and this time. This time he and his team wouldn't let anything stop them.

In 1984, Ewing led Georgetown to the NCAA championship game against the University of Houston. Ewing didn't play the same dominant game as he did in the 1982 championship game, as he finished with just 10 points on 4-8 shooting.

Still, Ewing's tough defense on another future NBA center, Hakeem Olajuwon, was enough to give Georgetown the 84–75 victory. Ewing was rightfully named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

For his entire collegiate career, Ewing averaged 15.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 62.0% from the field. Ewing's list of achievements in college is highly impressive and it led to him being the top choice for every NBA team in the 1985 NBA Draft.

Here's the list of Ewing's college awards and achievements:

- 1982 Big East Freshman of the Year

- 1982 Big East Defensive Player of the Year

- 1982 Second Team All-Big East

- 1982 NCAA Tournament West Regional Team

- 1982 NCAA All-Tournament Team

- 1983 Big East Defensive Player of the Year

- 1983 First Team All-Big East

- 1983 Consensus First Team All-American

- 1984 Big East Championship MVP

- 1984 Big East Defensive Player of the Year

- 1984 First Team All-Big East

- 1984 Big East Player of the Year

- 1984 NCAA Tournament West Regional Team

- 1984 Final Four Most Outstanding Player

- 1984 NCAA All-Tournament Team

- 1984 National Champion

- 1984 Consensus First Team All-American

- 1985 Big East Championship MVP

- 1985 Big East Defensive Player of the Year

- 1985 First Team All-Big East

- 1985 Big East Player of the Year

- 1985 NCAA Tournament East Regional Team

- 1985 NCAA All-Tournament Team

- 1985 Naismith Men's College Player of the Year

- 1985 Consensus First Team All-American

- 1980s NCAA Tournament All-Decade Team

- Named one of the top 15 players in the 75 Years of March Madness Celebration

Even today, Ewing is remembered as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time and an icon of the sport. As you can see from his list of achievements, there's no denying this fact.

Up next for Ewing was the NBA, and as mentioned earlier, every NBA team wanted to draft Ewing. The only question remaining was: which NBA team would get the first pick in the 1985 NBA Draft?

Ewing Becomes The Face Of The New York Knicks

The 1985 NBA Draft was the first draft to hold the lottery. In previous years, the two teams with the worst record in each conference would flip a coin, with the winner receiving the first pick.

This time, the NBA used the lottery, and teams with the worst win percentage had the best chance of landing the number one pick. This led to teams losing on purpose to try and get the first pick.

The New York Knicks were one of those teams and they secured the rights to draft Ewing first overall in 1985. This, they certainly did.

When Ewing first joined the Knicks, the team was struggling, not having a true identity as a team, ever since the Willis Reed and Walt Frazier era ended. Ewing's arrival signaled a new era for the Knicks, and he quickly established himself as the team's best player.

In his first season, Ewing was named Rookie of the Year, despite playing in just 50 games. Ewing averaged 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game.

By his third season, Ewing led the Knicks to the playoffs behind 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game. The Knicks finished with a 38-44, which earned them the eighth seed.

In the opening round of the playoffs, New York had to take on the mighty Boston Celtics, led by Larry Bird. At this point in time, New York simply didn't have the firepower to compete with Boston, losing the series 3-1.

This didn't stop Ewing from showing the world how good he really was and would become. In Game 4, Ewing grabbed 20 rebounds and in Game 3, Ewing dropped 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

For the series, Ewing averaged 18.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. Not bad for his first playoff series. Ewing would reach the NBA Playoffs for the next 12 seasons with New York, including the NBA Finals twice.

After Ewing and the Knicks struggled to beat the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls in the playoffs, losing to Chicago in the 1989, 1991, 1992, and 1993 NBA Playoffs. Then, in the 1994 Semifinals, with Jordan retired, the Knicks finally defeated the Bulls 4-3.

The Knicks made the 1994 NBA Finals and played Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets. Ewing battled Olajuwon, just as he did in college, but this time, Ewing's team would end up on the losing end.

The Knicks fell to the Rockets 4-3, despite Ewing averaging 18.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 4.3 blocks per game. Ewing's numbers were solid, but his shooting was his only letdown. In the seven-game series, Ewing shot just 36.3% from the field.

Ewing would be a part of the Knicks returning to the 1999 NBA Finals, but he'd unfortunately not play a single game after sustaining an injury in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Indiana Pacers. Ewing suffered a partial tear of his left Achilles' tendon, and this ended any chance the Knicks had at defeating the San Antonio Spurs.

The Knicks fell 4-1, and this series loss still haunts Ewing to this day.

“It definitely would have been a tougher series for them [if I was healthy],” Ewing said . “Marcus [Camby] and myself would have been a formidable duo to go against both Tim [Duncan] and David [Robinson], but that was tough because to have to sit there and listen to all the noise that those fans were talking about, it was hard to take.

“I actually broke down. I didn’t want anybody to see me, so I went on the team bus and I broke down because I wasn’t able to play in it and we were losing.”

Ewing would play one more season with the Knicks before being traded to the Seattle SuperSonics before the 2000-01 season. Ewing would play one season in Seattle and one with the Orlando Magic after signing with them in free agency before the 2001-02 season.

Ewing averaged 21.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game over his 17 years of playing. Even without winning a championship, Ewing is still regarded as one of the greatest centers to ever play in the NBA.

Ewing's Coaching Career

After retiring from the NBA in 2002, Patrick Ewing decided to pursue a career in coaching. He started as an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards, where he worked from 2002 to 2003.

Ewing left Washington and served as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets from 2003 through 2006. In 2007, Ewing became an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic, where he worked for five seasons. Ewing was an assistant on the Magic that would reach the 2009 NBA Finals but lost 4-1 to the Los Angeles Lakers.

In 2013, Ewing joined the Charlotte Bobcats as an assistant coach. Ewing helped lead the team to the playoffs for the first time in four years in the 2013-14 season.

In 2017, Ewing was hired as the head coach of his alma mater, Georgetown University. This was a dream come true for Ewing, as he had always wanted to return to Georgetown and lead the basketball program. In his second season as head coach, Ewing led the team to the 2019 National Invitation Tournament, their first postseason tournament since 2015.

Ewing would lead Georgetown to the Big East Tournament from 2020 to 2023. The 2023 season would be the end of Ewing's head coaching career at Georgetown after he was fired.

Ewing's coaching career has shown that he is just as passionate and dedicated to the game of basketball as he was during his playing career. He has proven to be a great mentor and leader to his players, and his knowledge and experience have helped him to become one of the most respected coaches in the NBA and college basketball.

Patrick Ewing's impact on the game of basketball is immeasurable. He was a dominant force in the league for over a decade, and his game helped pave the way for future generations of big men.

Ewing's skill set was unique for a player of his size and position. His footwork, shooting touch, and post moves were all top-notch, and he had a natural ability to score from anywhere on the court.

Ewing was also a tenacious defender and a ferocious rebounder, using his size and strength to dominate opponents. Of all this makes Patrick Ewing one of the greatest players in NBA history.

We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.

Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.

Wilt Chamberlain Biography: The Life, Career, And Legend Of The Most Dominant NBA Player Ever

Magic johnson biography: how the nba's greatest passer defeated a deadly illness to become a successful businessman, the biography of the g.o.a.t.: michael jordan, lebron james: the biography of the nba's king, kobe bryant biography: the life of the black mamba.

site categories

Kobe bryant’s former friend labels late legend a “piece of sh*t,” and explains why.

"This is when I really found out he was a piece of sh*t."

By Marc Griffin

Marc Griffin

Staff Writer, News

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Pinit
• + additional share options added
• Print this article
• Share this article on Print

Kobe Bryant ‘s former friend, Kevin Sanchez, has labeled the late athlete “a piece of sh*t.”

During an interview with  Blood on the Razor Wire , Sanchez opened up about his complicated friendship with Bryant, recalling a moment when he was released from prison and needed to get back on his feet.

Kevin claims he waited outside in the rain for the Los Angeles Lakers bus to arrive at their practice facility in Philly to talk to Kobe. After a “weird” conversation, the athlete allegedly gave him his number and told him he would be in touch. 

Vanessa Bryant Celebrates Late Daughter Gianna's 18th Birthday With Capsule Collection

However, the number Bryant gave Kevin led to an assistant, and Bryant never spoke directly to him again. 

“This is when I really found out he was a piece of sh*t,” Sanchez recalled. 

Kobe Bryant's former best friend, Kevin Sanchez, calls Kobe Bryant a "piece of sh*t" and goes off on Kobe Bryant for not helping him financially after he was released from prison. Also, Kevin Sanchez expresses his disdain for Kobe Bryant for not coming to court to testify on his… pic.twitter.com/FzQinZozzP — The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) April 29, 2024

Later, Sanchez claimed to have spoken to one of the icon’s cousins during his last game. Kevin claimed his cousin echoed his sentiments of Bryant being a “piece of sh*t,” while alleging that Bean “never did nothing for nobody”—including his family members. 

According to  Grantland , Kobe and Kevin go back years, with Sanchez being an integral part in Bryant’s old rap aspirations . The two met at Lower Merion High School after Kobe returned from living abroad in Italy. Anthony Bannister introduced the two after adding them both to his rap group that became CHEIZAW. Sanchez “[molded] Bryant into an MC,” but unfortunately, their dreams as a rap group were derailed.

Five eyewitnesses failed to identify Kevin, but he was still found guilty and sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison. The outlet reports that a juror told him that Bryant’s testimony could’ve swayed the jury. And in 2013, Sanchez said he didn’t blame Bryant. 

“It wasn’t Kobe’s fault I went to jail. I don’t blame him,” he recalled. “We didn’t think we’d need him. It was a false ID. There was no way we were going to lose.”

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox

Vibe is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Vibe Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

optional screen reader

News expand news menu.

• Movies & TV
• Entertainment

Music Expand music menu

• Music Premieres

Features Expand features menu

• Digital Covers

Lifestyle Expand lifestyle menu