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 passengers, 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 an unstoppable force on the basketball court, but things were a bit different when he hit the golf course.
Kobe Bryant faced plenty of basketball legends, but he learned some early lessons from a relatively anonymous name.
As soon as Robert Horry learned of the death of Kobe Bryant, he immediately thought of Bryant’s parents.
When Kobe Bryant sat alone with the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2001, there were some painful, personal thoughts running through his mind.
Although Kobe Bryant became a global superstar during his time in the Association, his competitive fire started burning before he turned pro.
Check out an entirely new way of looking at some of Kobe Bryant’s greatest achievements with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kobe Bryant credits Bill Russell for helping him win two championships with the Lakers.
When Jerry West brought Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers, he knew that he had something special brewing.
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.
