kobe bryant biography early life

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

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: ‘Growing Sentiment’ Donovan Mitchell Will Sign Extension With Cavaliers

• Corey Hansford
• 2 minute read
• Lakers News

Lakers Almost Traded Kobe Bryant To Pistons In 2007?

• 3 minute read

Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan Again Doesn’t Rule Out Playing For Hometown Lakers

• Matt Peralta

Lakers Head Coaching Rumors: JJ Redick Considered Early Favorite

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

Kobe Bryant Biography Facts, Childhood, Life, Death

Once a vibrant force in the game of basketball, a man who thrilled NBA fans with his various antics in the courts for over 20 years, even after retirement was still a prominent figure in the NBA, Kobe Bryant’s relevance continues to survive the Oblivion of retirement. Among the various players in the 21st century who helped redefine the game of basketball and propelled it to greater heights, Kobe Bryant stands confidently tall. We review the rise of Kobe to basketball stardom and noteworthy moments in his 20 years career in this Kobe Bryant biography facts, childhood, career, personal life and death.

Table of Contents

Kobe Bryant Biography Facts, Age, Nickname, Family, Wife

• Full Name: Kobe Bean Bryant
• Nickname: Employee #8, Kob-me, The Dagger, Izzo, Mr. 81, Black Mamba, KB8, Three rings, KB-24
• Born: August 23, 1978
• Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Died: January 26, 2020 ( at age 41 )
• Nationality: American
• Height: 6 feet 5 inches
• Shoe Size: 14
• Weight: 210 lb (96 kg)
• Education: Lower Merion High School
• Parents: Joe Bryant  (father), Pam Bryant (mother)
• Spouse: Vanessa Laine Bryant
• Siblings: Shaya Bryant (sister), Sharia Bryant (sister)
• Children: Capri Kobe Bryant, Bianka Bella Bryant, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, Natalia Diamante Bryant
• Net worth: $500 million
• Occupation: Ex-Basketball Player
• Retired Team: Los Angeles Lakers
• Jersey Number: #24
• Playing Career: 1996–2016

Kobe Bryant Childhood Story & Early Life

Born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Bryant is the youngest amongst the three children born to his father, Joe Bryant and mother, Pamela Cox Bryant. Bryant was named after a Japanese beef, Kobe, while his middle name Bean originates from his father’s nickname ‘jellybean’. When Bryant was at the age of six, his father retired from active play in the NBA and relocated to Italy where Bryant learnt Italian. During summer, Bryant returned to the USA to play basketball. His love for basketball may have been passed down from his father when he began playing at the young age of three.

Bryant became known nationally after an incredible high school performance at Lower Merion High School, he went on to play for Lower Merion Varsity team and became the first freshman to start for the Lower Merion Varsity team. Bryant earned Pennsylvania Player of the Year honour in his junior year, which brought him offers from various college recruiters. He also participated in the Adidas ABCD Camp where he received a senior MVP award in 1995. Bryant led the Lakers after a 53-years drought, to their first state championship while in the senior year.

He concluded his high school career on a remarkable note as Southeastern Pennsylvania’s all-time highest scorer with 2,883 points. He won several awards which include Men’s National Basketball Player of the Year, Naismith High School Player of the Year, and a McDonald’s All-American. Despite scoring 1080 in his SAT, Bryant decided to go pro after high school.  

Kobe Bryant NBA Career, Achievements & Honours

Los angeles lakers (1996–2016).

Following the Hornets agreement to trade their number #13 draft in the 1996 NBA draft to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Hornets we’re told to pick Bryant as it’s #13 pick minutes before the draft. The trade seemed not likely to go through when Divac threatened that he will rather retire than be traded. He retracted on his words and the trade went as planned. Bryant signed a three-year contract with the Lakers worth $3.5 million.

Bryant debuted for the Lakers in the Summer Pro League with an amazing performance. He went on to become the youngest NBA starter, playing limited minutes which increased as the season went on. He participated in the Rookie Challenge during the All-Star weekend where he won the Slam dunk contest. After an amazing rookie season, Bryant was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. 

In his second season at Lakers, Bryant earned more playing time and became the youngest NBA All-Star starter in the history of the NBA. He emerged runner-up in the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award. In the 1998–99 season he became established as the number one guard in the NBA. He also signed a 7-year deal worth $60 million with the Lakers. 

The next season saw Bryant rise to become the no #1 shooter in the NBA, earning All-NBA, All-Star and All-Defensive honours. The Lakers won three consecutive NBA championship (2000, 2001, 2003) which made Bryant the youngest player to achieve the feat at 23 years. After setting an NBA record for three-pointers in a game, Bryant received honours while ranking third in the league MVP voting.

The following season, Bryant was arrested for sexual assault and thus missed several games as a result of a court appearance. He, however, led his side to the NBA final where they lost to the Detroit Pistons. Bryant went on to sign that another seven-year deal with the Lakers. The 2004/05 season was a hard one for Bryant as he was criticized majorly by ex Lakers coach Jackson who referred to him as ‘uncoachable’, Bryant had feuds with teammates Karl Malone and Ray Allen. He was also demoted to the All-NBA Third Team.

Bryant changed his jersey number from 8 to 24 in the 2006–07 NBA season. In December 2007, Bryant became the youngest player to score 20,000 points at the age of 29. He went on to win the MVP and was unanimously selected to the All-NBA team. The next season Bryant received All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team honours. In the 2008/09 season, Bryant won his fourth NBA title and his first NBA Finals MVP. In April 2010, Bryant signed a three-year deal worth $87 million with the Lakers. Bryant went on to win the NBA championship for the fifth time and the NBA Finals MVP.

In the 2010/11 season, Bryant became the youngest player to score 27,000 points and earn the All-Star MVP. The following season Bryant became the youngest player to score 30,000 points. 

In November 2013, Bryant signed a two-year contract extension worth $48.5 million. His season was hampered by a knee injury. In November 2015, Bryant announced that he will retire at the end of the season. He was voted to the 2016 All-Star game with 1.9 million votes and became the oldest player to score 60 points or more in an NBA game.

Kobe Bryant National Team Career

After missing several National team championships contests, Bryant debuted for the USA Basketball National side in 2007, at the FIBA Americas Championship Team where they won gold. He played in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, where he won gold on both occasions but later retired.

Kobe Bryant Net Worth, Endorsements & Sponsorship

Kobe Bryant’s net worth as at December 2019 was estimated at $500. He has had endorsement deals with Turkish Airlines, Nike, Addidas, Coca Cola, McDonald’s and Ferrero SpA to mention a few, who cancelled their deals with him, following the rape allegation against him.

Kobe Bryant Personal Life & Trivia

Bryant met his then wife-to-be Vanessa Lainein in November 1999 and they got married in April 2001, despite opposition fro Bryant’s parents who didn’t attend the wedding. His first daughter born in 2003, ended his quarrels with his parents over his marriage. His wife suffered a miscarriage in 2005 but gave birth to their second child in 2006. His third child was born in 2016, and in 2019 they announced a fourth child was on its way.

Bryant’s reputation suffered significantly after he was charged with sexual assault in 2003, but the charges were dropped in September 2004 when the accuser refused to testify.

Bryant was an ambassador for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Bryant released his first single titled K.O.B.E in 2000.

Kobe Bryant China Fund founded by Bryant and backed by the Chinese government promotes education and health programs in China.

Kobe Bryant Death

Kobe Bryant, alongside eight others, died in a helicopter crash on 26 January 2020, in Calabasas California, according to TMZ Sports . It was also reported that his daughter, Gianna Maria Onore, was also on board and died in the helicopter crash. Bryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa and their three daughters – Natalia, Bianca and Capri, their newborn.

• 20 Amazing Kobe Bryant Facts You Should Know
• Biography facts and profile of famous basketball/NBA stars

Facts Check

At SportyTell.com, we strive for fairness and accuracy.

If you have concerns about something that doesn’t look right in this Kobe Bryant Biography Facts, Childhood, Life, Death, please don’t hesitate to contact us .

About The Author

SportyTell Editors

This article was created by a combination of a few writers and editors from Sporty Tell. It's not rare for our writers and team members to collaborate and work together to create the articles you read on the site. This is just one of these examples. This is why you don't see just one author for this article.

Related Posts

Ben Simmons Biography Facts, Childhood And Personal Life

The news about Kobe Bryant and his daughter’s death makes me feel so sad. My hearth aches. May their soul rest in peace. My thoughts are with the rest of the family (wife and kids) who survived him. Kobe’s legacies will live on!

Guess what? I am representing him in my school. I love you kobe. By Jeremiah Akinola

I was a big fan of Kobe Bryant. He made me love basketball. Am the CEO of BuzzingPoint. I wrote about his success rules in an article: 125 Inspiring Business Quotes & Advice from Successful Entrepreneurs, where I referenced this article. It will surely inspire young entrepreneur.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Kobe Bryant Biography (Basketball– United States): Early Life, Career, Family, Wife, Kids, Girlfriend, Awards, Achievements, Records, Social Media

Kobe Bryant Biography : Kobe Bryant born on 28th August 1978 is a former American basketball player who died in a helicopter crash along with seven others and his daughter, Gianna on 26th January 2020 while flying over Calabasas , California . He is the most influential and highly recognized basketball player who won five NBA championships in his 20 years of basketball career with the Los Angeles Lakers and two gold medals in the Summer Olympics of 2008 and 2012 representing the national team of the USA . Kobe played for the Lakers as a shooting guard and became the first guard to play 20 seasons. He also holds two MVP in NBA-Finals and was regarded as the 2008 Most Valuable Player of the NBA. Kobe started his NBA career in 1996 with the Lakers and announced his retirement in 2016 after facing several injuries.

Let’s dive deep into Kobe Bryant’s life and talk about  Kobe Bryant’s Biography .

Kobe Bryant’s Early Life

Kobe was the third child in the family after two elder siblings. He was born on 28th August 1978 in a Catholic sport blood family with his father, Koe Bryant being a former NBA player, and Pamela Coz Bryant (mother). He was highly manifested by the basketball sport getting inspired by his father and uncle who played NBA. Kobe started practicing the sport from the age of three and moved to Italy after his father’s retirement at the age of six.

Los Angeles Lakers were the dearest for Kobe and started practicing the sport dedicatedly from the age of six while living in Reggio Emilia . At starting, he practiced the sport taking lessons from his grandfather and NBA videos. To take part in the Basketball Summer League , he returned to Philadelphia along with his family and took admission at Bala Cynwyd Middle School . He played for Lower Merion High School , Ardmore , and soon became the basketball champion of the high school. 

While representing the basketball team as a freshman, he came under huge recognition for his highly skilled performance. He was invited by different college recruiters of Duke , North Carolina , etc. for his unbelievable performance for the college team in the junior year with 31.1 ppg and being adjudged as the Pennsylvania Player of the Year . With Kobe, his college team grabbed their first state championship after struggling constantly for 53 years. 

In his school career, he became the leading scorer on the high school level with 2,883 points in total. His performance was awarded Naismith High School Player of the Year and grabbed the attention of NBA recruiters becoming the 6th NBA player to do so. In the 1996 draft, he was included in the team of Charlotte Hornets .

Also Read:- Michael Jordan’s Biography .

Kobe Bryant’s Career

• Kobe was signed with Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 draft but was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
• During his first season with the Lakers, he was benched most of the time but became the youngest NBA starter player to play a match in NBA. As a rookie of the NBA, he also became the youngest slam dunk champion aged 18. In the season, the Lakers were conquered by Utah Jazz in the conference semi-finals.
• With an extraordinary performance in the first season, the Lakers extended his opportunities providing him an increase in appearances. In the season, Kobe became the youngest All-Star starter and doubles his scores with 15.4 ppg becoming the player to score the highest ppg as a non-starter in the season.
• In the 1998-1999 NBA season, the Lakers were defeated in the conference semi-finals by San Antonio Spurs but Kobe emerged as the highly skilled and successful shooting guard. Before the season, he signed a contract with the Lakers for being a part of with team for six years with $70 million worth.
• He was shelved for half a year before the starting of the NBA 1999-200 season for getting injured in his hand. Kobe returned as a fortune player along with O’Neil for the Los Angeles Lakers defeating Portland Trail Blazers in the Conference finals and reaching the NBA finals to fight against Indiana Pacers. In the finals, Kobe scored the winning shot securing the NBA championship for the Lakers after 12 years.
• Kobe had an astonishing performance in 2000-2001 becoming NBA All-Star for the third time, All-NBA Defensive Team , an All-NBA Second Team for the second time in a row. His performance led the Lakers to their 2nd NBA championship defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA finals.
• In the 2001-2002 season, Kobe had a manifesting performance and secured All-Star MVP Trophy with a 46.9% shooting percentage. Kobe was suspended from playing matches after getting in a fight with the player of Indiana Pacers , Reggie Miller in a playoff match. In the season, the Lakers secured their third NBA championship in a row, and Kobe becoming the youngest player to secure three NBA championships.
• Lakers performed astonishingly in the 2002-2003 playoffs but unfortunately were defeated in the Conference Semi-Finals by the San Antonio Spurs .
• Before the beginning of the 2003-2004 NBA season, Kobe was arrested in a sexual assault case filed by a 19-year-old hotel employee. Kobe’s absence led to the suffering of the Lakers, they were defeated in the NBA finals by Detroit Pistons .
• After the season, O’Neil was traded to Miami Heat and Kobe resigned a contract with Los Angeles Lakers for seven years after rejected the offer with Los Angeles Clippers.
• In the 2004-2005 NBA season, Kobe faced his career’s extreme downfall after not qualifying for the playoffs. During the season, he was greatly criticized for the instances that occurred in the previous year.
• Kobe astonished everyone with his performance in the next NBA season. The Lakers reached the First Round but were defeated by Phoenix . He scored 81, the second-highest points game after Chamberlains 100 points game in NBA history. In the season, he became the first player to eclipse the score of 45 points for the consequent four games. He was adjudged the league’s scoring title for his high skilled performance.
• Similar to the previous season, Kobe secured his second scoring title and the Lakers were wiped out by Phoenix in the First Round. In the season, he finished the season with eclipsing 50 points in 10 games becoming the second player of Chamberlain to do so.
• Kobe won his fourth NBA championship in the NBA season of 2008-2009 securing ALL-NBA Defensive First Team and All-NBA First Team for the seventh time in his entire career. The Lakers defeated Orlando Magic in the NBA finals winning five games against them and Kobe secured his first NBA finals MVP with an average of 32.4 ppg.
• In the next season, the Lakers secured their fifth NBA championship paving their way viciously through the playoffs. The Lakers conquered Boston Celtics and Kobe making a 6 pointer to win the game. In the season, he became the youngest NBA player to eclipse the mark of 25,000 points surpassing the NBA champion, Chamberlain .
• The same year, he signed a contract for three seasons with the Lakers for $87 million.
• The next NBA seasons were a low pace in Kobe’s career, he was unfortunate to grab any NBA championship to equalize the numbers with Michael Jordan . Further, he faced many injuries which resulted in Kobe’s retirement from NBA in 2016.

Also Read:- Julius Erving’s Biography .

Kobe Bryant’s Family

• Kobe was born in a  Catholic  family of three children to  Kobe Bryant  (father) and Pamela Cox Bryant (mother).
• His father was a former NBA player and took retirement from the championship at the age of 30.
• He was the third child and the only son to Joe Bryant after Sharia and Shaya .

Kobe Bryant’s Wife and Kids

• Kobe married Vanessa Laine on 18th April 2001 without the approval of his parents and family members.
• The couple is blessed with four daughters, Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri.
• Kobe and Laine announced their divorce in December 2011 with shared custody of their daughters.

Kobe Bryant’s Brand Endorsements

• McDonald’s .
• Mercedes-Benz.
• Turkish Airlines.

Kobe Bryant’s Awards and Achievements

• NBA Championship  (5 times) – 2000, 2001,2002,2009,2010.
• NBA MVP – 2008.
• NBA All-Star (18 times).
• NBA Slam Dunk Champion – 1997.
• NBA Finals MVP (2 times) – 2009, 2010.
• Basketball Hall of Fame  – 2020.
• Summer Olympics  (2 times) – Gold in 2008, Gold in 2012.

Kobe Bryant’s Records

• In 2006, he scored the 2nd highest points in a game with 81 points.
• He is the only player to be adjudged with Best NBA Player ESPY Award Winner twice.
• Kobe is the youngest NBA player to make 1,000 NBA appearances and also secure three NBA championships.
• In his first season with the Lakers, he became the youngest player to win the Slam Dunk Contest .
• He holds the most points in NBA as a guard with 33,643 points.

Kobe Bryant’s Social Media

• Instagram – @kobebryant .
• Twitter –  @kobebryant .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant)

“I had to focus on my own running, jumping and throwing to become the best basketball player I hoped I could be.” USATF is collaborating with @kobebryant 's #GranityStudios on behalf of new sports fantasy novel, #EPOCA : The Tree of Ecrof! Available Tuesday, 11/12. pic.twitter.com/WmJg5UCzHq — USATF (@usatf) November 11, 2019

Prakash Israni

Sandeep dhull biography (kabaddi - jaipur pink panthers): early life, career, pro kabaddi league, family, wife, kids, awards, achievements, records, social media, pramod bhagat biography (para-badminton – india): early life, career, paralympics 2020, family, wife, kids, awards, achievements, records, social media, related articles.

BAS Vampire Cricket Bats: Everything You Need To Know About

What Should I Choose For Power Hitting- The BAS Vampire or SS Ton?

Where To Play Cricket In Gurgaon During Weekends?

Is There Any Club In Pune For Cricket Where One Can Play Daily Or At least On Weekends?

What Are The Best WhatsApp Status Based On Cricket?

Claudia Gadelha Biography, Wiki, Net Worth, Height, Record, UFC, Career

Adblock detected.

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, 'go ny go': behind the song pumping up the knicks' garden, mavericks try to secure series victory over the thunder, nuggets' jamal murray hopeful elbow feels better by game 7, anthony edwards credits jaden mcdaniels for huge wolves win, ant edwards, wolves dismantle nuggets to force game 7, jamal murray explains lack of response against wolves in game 6.

• 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

BlackPast is dedicated to providing a global audience with reliable and accurate information on the history of African America and of people of African ancestry around the world. We aim to promote greater understanding through this knowledge to generate constructive change in our society.

Kobe bryant (1978-2020).

Professional basketball superstar Kobe Bryant played for the Los Angeles ( California ) Lakers since 1996 when he came to the team as an eighteen-year-old, the youngest player in National Basketball Association (NBA) history, until his retirement in 2016. Bryant was a long-time philanthropist, using his well-known name to raise funds for a number of causes.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 23, 1978, Bryant was the youngest of three children born to former NBA player and WNBA head coach Joe “Jellybean” Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant. His parents named him after the popular Japanese steak of the same name. In 1983, Bryant’s father left the NBA and moved his family to Italy to play professional basketball. Young Kobe quickly adapted to his environment, learning to speak fluent Italian and Spanish. Besides learning to play basketball at an early age, Bryant also became a skilled soccer player. Following his father’s retirement from basketball in 1991, the family returned to Philadelphia.

While in high school, Bryant became a top basketball prospect at Lower Merion High School in suburban Philadelphia. In his senior year, Bryant led his team in scoring and to a state championship. He finished his high school career as Southeastern Pennsylvania’s all-time leading scorer with 2,883 points. In 1996, he earned the USA Today National High School Player of the Year and Naismith Player of the Year awards among other honors. Although his academic success in high school led to numerous college scholarship offers, seventeen-year-old Bryant decided to forgo college and enter the NBA draft in 1996. The Charlotte Hornets drafted him thirteenth overall, but he was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

During his fourteen-year professional career, Bryant won five NBA Championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010). He also earned the league’s Most Valuable Player award during the 2007-2008 season and the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2009 and 2010. In 2008, Bryant led a young United States basketball team to a gold medal in the Beijing ( China ) Olympics .

Bryant’s basketball skills earned him millions in endorsements from numerous companies, including Coca Cola, Nike, Adidas, and Spalding. In 2010, Forbes ranked Bryant as the highest paid NBA player at $48 million. That same year, Bryant signed a two-year endorsement with Turkish Airlines.

As a philanthropist, Bryant was an official ambassador for After-School All-Stars (ASAS), an American non-profit organization that provides after-school programs to children in several cities throughout the U.S.  He also served as a spokesperson for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Center for Abused Children, Make-a-Wish Foundation, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights , and Plaza de la Raza, a Latino cultural center in L.A.  In 2006, Bryant founded the VIVO Foundation, a non-profit designed to improve the quality of life of children through educational, cultural, and financial support.

In 2001, Bryant married Vanessa Laine. The couple had four daughters, Natalia Diamant, Gianna Maria-Onore, Bianka Bella, and Capri Kobe.

Bryant’s accomplishments on and off the court were tarnished however during the summer of 2003 when he was arrested by the Eagle County, Colorado sheriff’s department for an alleged sexual assault filed by a nineteen-year-old hotel employee. Bryant admitted to the sexual encounter but denied raping the young woman. Prosecutors dropped Bryant’s case in 2004 after the accused refused to testify. Following the trial, Bryant settled a civil suit against him out of court for an undisclosed amount.

Kobe Bryant retired from the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of the 2015-2016 season. He was thirty-eight. Unusual for NBA players, Bryant had spent his entire twenty years in the NBA with one team, the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California on January 26, 2020, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others. He is survived by his wife Vanessa and daughters Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. He was forty-one years old.

Do you find this information helpful? A small donation would help us keep this available to all. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone.

BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Your donation is fully tax-deductible.

Cite this entry in APA format:

Source of the author's information:.

Jeffrey Scott Shapiro and Jennifer Stevens, Kobe Bryant: The Game of His Life (Portland, Oregon: Revolution Publishing, 2004): http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kobe_bryant/ ; http://www.afterschoolallstars.org/ ; http://www.forbes.com/2010/11/04/nba-best-paid-players-business-sportsmoney-nba-top-paid-players.html .

Your support is crucial to our mission.

Donate today to help us advance Black history education and foster a more inclusive understanding of our shared cultural heritage.

• Gangwon 2024
• 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

Last updated: Jun 26, 2023

Kobe Bryant Bio And Facts

Sports require discipline, especially if you want to be a professional athlete. Achieving greatness in a sport requires obsession and a love for the nitty-gritty. It requires an individual to muster whatever willpower they have in order to finish the last repetition, catch, or shot. If you were lucky enough to watch the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996-2016, you know that Kobe Bryant was the epitome of pushing past your own self-perceived boundaries. He was a basketball player, a businessman, a husband, and a father, and his impact on the sport continues to grow, even in the wake of his tragic passing in 2020.

Table of Contents

Kobe bryant, kobe bryant high school, kobe bryant career stats, kobe bryant olympics, kobe bryant injuries, awards and honors, kobe bryant personal life and family, kobe bryant hobbies, business ventures.

• Born : August 23, 1978
• Died : January 26, 2020
• Education : Lower Merion High School
• Net Worth : $400 million
• Occupation : Former NBA player and commentator
• Height : 6’6’’ (1.83 m)
• Weight : 212 lbs (96.16 kg)
• Position : Shooting Guard/Small Forward
• Years Active : 20 (1996-2016)
• Career Wins : 819
• Career Losses : 388
• Nicknames : Black Mamba
• Teams : Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant entered the NBA at 17 years old, right after high school, and spent the rest of his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.  Kobe is known for having changed his jersey number in the middle of his career from #8 to #24. He started his career with #8 because it was the number he wore when he played basketball in Italy, and it is a nod to his number in the Adidas ABCD camp, 143, which adds up to 8. During his early high school career, Kobe wore 24 before switching over to 33. He said he wanted to switch because, “It is kind of a clean slate. I started new.” This started a new era of growth, an era where he would continue to grow on and off the court.

Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  It is in this city where his roots run deep. Before there was Kobe Bean Bryant, there was Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, Kobe’s father, who was a famous basketball player in Philadelphia for decades. Initially, Joe Bryant was drafted by the Golden State Warriors, but they could not come to an agreement about his contract, so the Philadelphia 76ers took full advantage. They signed Bryant to a $800,000 contract in 1975 and the rest was history.

While playing in high school, Joe Bryant met another star player, John Cox. He became fond of John’s sister, Pam Cox, and eventually, the two were married. Their first son, Kobe, was born in 1978.

At the age of six, Kobe Bryant moved to Italy after his father finished an eight-year career in the NBA. There his father played for five seasons with Lazio, Calabria, Tuscany, and two seasons with Reggio Emilia. While growing up in Italy, Kobe played for Pallacanestro Reggiana, a youth basketball team, and became fluent in Italian.  

Kobe returned to the United States when he was 14 years old, and he already had his sights set on playing basketball. He enrolled in Lower Merion High School, where he would be one of the most dominant players in the country and was the first freshman to play on a varsity team in many years.

After his family returned to the United States from Italy, Kobe Bryant attended Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. His constant curiosity about the game of basketball, along with a few helpful tips from his father, helped him become a dominant force right off the bat. Upon his enrollment, he was the first freshman to be on the varsity basketball team in decades.

During his first year, the team had a horrible record of 4-20. However, in the next three seasons, the Lower Merion Aces had a record of 77-13. Bryant contributed by playing all five positions.  In his senior year, Kobe averaged 30.8 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4 steals, and 3.8 blocks a game.  Lower Merion went 31-3 that year and won their first state championship in over 50 years. Kobe was named the Gatorade High School Player of the Year and was a McDonald’s All-American. His stardom was officially rising.

After a successful high school career, Kobe decided in May of 1996 that he would enter the NBA Draft.  The Charlotte Hornets drafted him with the 13th overall pick, but he was quickly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, a trade that proved to be fateful.

Upon entering the NBA, Kobe Bryant became the sixth player to ever be in the NBA without playing a college game.  In the first couple of years, his stats were subpar at best. In his rookie season, he averaged 15.5 minutes per game with 7.6 points per game. He then became a starter at the age of 19 in 1998, and that is when things began to ramp up. That year he averaged almost 20 points a game, made the All-Star Team, and was the youngest starter.

Just two years later, Kobe would win his first championship with the Lakers.  That team ended up winning three in a row (2000-2002). Then he would win his fourth and fifth championships in back-to-back years from 2009-2010. Kobe was a natural shooter and finisher who was known for his competitiveness. His extremely high basketball IQ and work ethic, mixed in with a talented group of players, are what led the Lakers to these championships. Many people would not have guessed that this 17-year-old kid would have the most points in Lakers’ history (32,670).

His career averages are as follows:

• Games Played : 1,346
• Points : 25.0
• Rebounds : 5.2
• Assists : 4.7
• Steals : 1.4
• Field Goal Percentage : 44.7
• Three-Point Percentage : 32.9

Here are some of his career highs:

• Points : 81 vs. Toronto on January 22, 2006 (second-highest behind Wilt Chamberlain )
• Rebounds : 16 vs. Toronto on January 24, 2010
• Assists : 17 vs. Cleveland on January 15, 2015
• Steals : 7 vs. Utah on February 13, 2006
• Field Goals Made : 28 vs. Toronto on January 22, 2006
• Free Throws Made : 23 vs. New York on January 31, 2006; vs. Cleveland on January 30, 2001
• Three-Pointers Made : 12 vs. Seattle on January 7, 2003
• Blocks : 5 vs. Charlotte on February 02, 2001; vs. Philadelphia on February 20, 2000; and vs. Vancouver on December 11, 1999

Finally, here are some rankings from his illustrious career:

• Points : Third (33,583)
• Games Played : 11th (1,345)
• Field Goals Made : Fifth (11,697)
• Three-Point Field Goals : 11th (1,821)
• Free Throws Made : Third (8,368)
• Assists : 29th (6,302)
• Steals : 14th (1,943)
• 50-Point Games : Third (24)
• Points-Playoffs : Third (5,640)

Kobe made his Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Games.  In the previous Olympics, the United States basketball team was knocked out by Argentina. In 2008, a new team came to play: the Redeem Team. Kobe, along with other world-class athletes like Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James, and Dwayne Wade, led the team to win a gold medal against Spain in the finals. They beat Spain again in London 2012 and Kobe’s name continued to be written in history books.

After his retirement, he continued to stay active in the Olympic community.  He attended the 2016 United States Olympic Trials for women’s gymnastics and met all the competitors. He also spoke at the Los Angeles Olympic bid presentation in 2018. Bryant expressed that having the Olympics in Los Angeles would be a beautiful thing because of the number of cultures that will be represented. 

The Black Mamba was notorious for the amount of pain he could endure. He constantly pushed his own limits, but sometimes his injuries were severe enough to keep him sidelined. Here is a timeline of Kobe’s injury history:

1999-2000 : A broken wrist caused him to miss the first 15 games of Phil Jackson’s first year as a Laker head coach.

2000 NBA Finals : Bryant suffered a sprained ankle and had to miss Game 3 in the championship against the Indiana Pacers. In game 4, Shaq fouled out, but Kobe scored 28 points and gave the Lakers a 3-1 lead in the series.

2003-2004 : He underwent shoulder surgery in the middle of the season.

2004-2005 : Kobe sprained his ankle and is out for a month. The Lakers failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 1993-1994 season.

2007-2008 : Kobe led the Lakers to a Western Conference title with an injured back. He had also been playing with an injured index finger for the last couple of seasons, and it did not heal properly because he refused to sit out.

2010 : Kobe had his knee drained several times and still won a second consecutive championship. He later said that he was rarely practicing in the middle of the season because he had little to no cartilage in his knee.

2011-2012 : Bryant tore a ligament in his shooting wrist in an exhibition game against the Clippers. He still played the first 10 games.

2013 : Kobe tore his left Achilles tendon while playing his 80th game against the Golden State Warriors. He was fouled while trying to drive around a player with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Bryant knew something was wrong right away. In an interview, he talked about how he went to feel for his Achilles to see if it was there, and it was not. Kobe being Kobe, he tried to pull the tendon up (which is not possible). He got up anyways, sunk the two free throws, proceeded to the locker room, and the Lakers ended up winning 118-116.

2015 : He tore his rotator cuff. Kobe later disclosed that he had been apparently playing on a torn labrum “for a long time.”

Kobe Bryant is a walking accolade. His accomplishments stand out amongst his peers. However, he has won awards outside of basketball as well. Here is a list of those awards.

Basketball :

• 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player
• 1997 All-Rookie Second-Team
• Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist
• Two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
• Four-time NBA All-Star Most Valuable Player
• Five-time NBA Championships
• 12-time All-Defensive Team
• 15-time All-NBA
• 17-time NBA Player of the Month
• 18-time All-Star
• 32-time NBA Player of the Week
• Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film: Dear Basketball (2018)
• Golden Telly, Telly Awards: Dear Basketball (2018)

The film Dear Basketball is based on Kobe’s retirement letter that was published in the Players Tribune in 2015. It is essentially a love letter to the game of basketball, where Bryant expresses his passion for the game. It is a nostalgic piece that reflects on Kobe’s very first time he picked up a basketball. This planted the seed that would bring him all the accolades listed above.

After his retirement, Kobe was known for being more involved with his family, including his wife Vanessa, and his four daughters Natalia (born 2003), Gianna (2006-2020), Bianka (born 2016), and Capri (born 2019). Bryant and his wife met on the set of a music video in 1999, and they got married in 2001.

Bryant’s two eldest daughters were heavily involved with sports. Natalia played high school volleyball, and Gianna loved playing basketball, just like her dad. Kobe was heavily involved with coaching Gianna’s basketball team at Mamba Sports Academy. They went there often for practices and tournaments. If you look at her highlight tape, you will notice Kobe’s patented fade-away jumper in her arsenal of moves. Kobe was proud of having daughters. In an interaction with an ESPN reporter Elle Duncan, the reporter asked him if he would have another daughter and said, “I would have five more if I could.”

Kobe Bryant has two older sisters, Sharia and Shaya. Sharia Washington lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is currently working at Fit Body Boot Camp as a personal trainer and faculty leader. She also works as a director of sales for SUN50, a sun protection apparel brand. Sharia studied at Temple University from 1993-1998 and received her bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Shaya Bryant-Tabb also lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and she is a Group Dining and Events Manager at ARIA Resort and Casino. She studied international business at La Salle University, which is also her father’s alma mater.

Kobe Bryant was an amazing basketball player, but he also had interests in other areas. One hobby he dipped his feet into was hip-hop.  His most well-known song is called “Hold Me,” and he was featured on it with Brian Mcknight. Bryant also made an appearance in the Destiny's Child “Bug-A-Boo” music video. The scene at 2:09 in the video shows Kobe getting ready for practice (most likely five hours early) while the group runs through the men's locker room.

He also rapped with his friend Kevin Sanchez, who was a well-known rapper from Philly in the 1990s. Together, they’d hang out and work on writing some rhymes. They would find rap battles in the local mall, at Temple University, or in his local barbershop. Kobe would travel with Kevin to see him battle other people in the Philadelphia area. The two started to get more serious about their craft when they started the rap group called Cheizaw and signed a record deal with Sony. Kobe did not make it big in hip-hop, but he made an impact on the culture because of how synonymous basketball is to the music genre.

Kobe was also a huge fan of soccer .  Kobe immersed himself into Italian culture by not only playing basketball but soccer too. He has even said that learning about spacing in soccer helped him utilize similar techniques that translated into basketball. Before his family left Italy in the early 1990s, he had already decided on AC Milan as his favorite team. Eventually, he befriended soccer legends Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi, and this turned his fandom towards FC Barcelona.

Not only was Kobe Bryant an extremely talented basketball player, he was also a businessman.  He looked past his NBA career and realized that in order to sustain his wealth, he must invest in assets, and that is exactly what he did.

Before even retiring from the NBA, Kobe co-founded the venture capital firm Bryant Stibel. Today, they have more than $2 billion in assets, and have successful exits such as Dell and Alibaba. They have also invested in Epic Games, which is the creator of Fortnite.

Bryant then went on to found Granity Studios, a media company that focuses on storytelling in sports. This is the same company that helped make Dear Basketball, his Oscar-winning animated film. They have also released books, including the autobiography The Mamba Mentality: How I Play. Another documentary called Kobe Bryant’s Muse was created when he partnered with Alibaba Group to make the film. Kobe also invested in Body Armor and made millions when Coca-Cola bought a stake in the company.

Bryant was famous for his iconic shoes and partnership with Nike.  By the time he retired, he had 11 different models of shoes with Nike. In 2017, he partnered with Nike and the Los Angeles Boys and Girls Club to launch the Mamba League and give children access to free sports. Kobe then got into a partnership with Sports Academy to create Mamba Sports Academy, which is a training center for local people and athletes.

How did Kobe Bryant die?

Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people died in a helicopter accident  on January 26, 2020, in Calabasas, CA. Bryant and his daughter were all headed to a basketball tournament being held at Mamba Sports Academy. There were foggy conditions on the day of the crash, but everybody was still given permission to fly. Kobe’s death was unexpected and a tragedy that was felt all throughout the world, especially in Los Angeles, California, where he spent all 20 years of his NBA career.

What is Kobe Bryant’s legacy?

Kobe Bryant transcended the boundaries of what it means to be an athlete.  His “Mamba Mentality” developed into a way of life for millions, maybe even billions, across the world. It is the willingness to be uncommon amongst uncommon people, to be so passionate about what you are doing that you lose track of time, and are willing to go the extra mile to test your limits.

Pages Related to Kobe Bryant Bio And Facts

• Magic Johnson Bio And Facts
• Julius Erving Bio And Facts
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bio And Facts
• John Wooden Bio And Facts
• Michael Jordan Bio And Facts
• LeBron James Bio and Facts

• 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

• 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.