Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant was a professional basketball player who played his entire career for the Los Angeles Lakers. His professional career began with the 1996 NBA draft when the Charlotte Hornets selected Bryant with the 13th overall pick and then traded him to the Lakers. During his 20 years in the NBA, Bryant earned numerous accolades, including regular-season and NBA Finals MVP awards and two gold medals in the Olympics.
Bryant ended his career in 2016. He scored 60 points against the Utah Jazz in his final NBA game. Kobe Bryant died in January 2020 in a helicopter crash. He was one of several engers, including his daughter Gianna. He was honored with a private funeral in Newport Beach, California, a public memorial service, and an outpouring of people keeping his memory alive.
Bryant was born in Philadelphia but moved to Italy at the age of 6. He returned to the United States in the summer to play basketball. At 13 years old, he moved back to Philadelphia. As of May 15, 2021, Kobe Bryant is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Full name: Kobe Bean Bryant
- Birthday: August 23, 1978
- Died: January 26, 2020 (age 41)
- Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Spouse: Vanessa Bryant (married in 2001)
- Children: Natalia, Gianna, Bianka and Capri
- Height: 6’6”
- Nickname: Black Mamba
- High school: Lower Merion in Philadelphia
- Number of NBA Championships: 5
- Position: Shooting guard
- Jersey numbers: 8 and 24
- Net worth: $600 million
Read the latest articles on Kobe Bryant:
Kobe Bryant was a fierce competitor, but he could also impress an opponent with the most simple of gestures. Glen Davis experienced that reality firsthand.
If you want a piece of NBA history, get ready to open up your wallet and shell out some serious cash. MJ, Kobe, and LeBron don’t come cheap.
Ron Artest recently confirmed that he did meet Kobe Bryant in the shower once, but the conversation didn’t go as you might have thought.
Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant almost came to blows back in 2003, and three superstar teammates were called on to calm Shaq down.
Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss traded Shaquille O’Neal in 2004, but the die was cast the preseason before during a game in Hawaii.
Over the years, Kobe Bryant has received plenty of compliments. In a recent interview, Grant Hill paid him another piece of high praise.
Grant Hill says he could have teamed up with Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he chose to ignore Phil Jackson’s numerous calls.
Kobe and Shaq were a lot like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson in one specific way and Phil Jackson knew how to best manage that dynamic.
He doesn’t like to talk about it, but Larry Bird had a big impact on the careers of NBA stars Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Durant.
Gilbert Arenas opines on why most NBA players didn’t like Kobe Bryant during his playing days.
