Basketball fan or not, Kobe Bryant is a household name that is synonymous with the sport. It’s rare to see the number 24 or the wave of an L.A Lakers flag without instantly thinking about the late basketball legend. Considered to be one of the best of all times, Kobe’s off and on-court behavior led to him becoming one of the most beloved sports stars of our times. There is a lot to know about him, and few people will know all the facts mentioned in this article. Enjoy the read, which will hopefully help to keep Kobe’s memory alive.
Born in America, Raised in Europe
Although he was born in Philadelphia, Kobe’s family ended up relocating to Italy when he was still a child. Joe Bryant, his father, had retired from the NBA and wanted to pursue international opportunities. Nine years later, the family would move back to the US in a bid for Kobe to start playing high school ball in the States. Learning how to play basketball in Europe would teach him different fundamentals to his US counterparts, but he often attributed his athleticism to his American training. Other players with similar stories have claimed the same.
Born In America, Raised In Europe
A Polyglot In The Making
Basketball aside, Kobe was also well known for being bilingual. Growing up in Italy, learning the language was an important priority, not only for making new friends, but also to continue to advance his education. At the time of his death, Kobe was fluent in English and Italian, and had a proficiency for languages as a whole.
A Polyglot In The Making
The Significant Meaning Behind “Kobe”
Many people are curious about the origins of his name. The story goes that his parents were big fans of a Japanese steakhouse named Kobe. They were regulars at the restaurant, and soon jokes about calling their baby-to-be “Kobe” became a reality. Kobe actually refers to Kobe beef, a Japanese black cattle. Joe Bryant joked with media outlets about the then rumor about the name being related to the restaurant, citing “mums the word” partly because of a lighthearted fear that they may come after him for rights to the name.
The Significant Meaning Behind Kobe
Keeping It In The Family
Joe Bryant is well known for paving the way for Kobe, especially as he had a long career as an NBA player in his heyday. His career spanned 8 years across the Golden State Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers and the Houston Rockets. Coaching became a top priority for him after, and these days he acts as head coach for a Japanese team. Kobe and Joe had an interesting relationship, often coming to boils on the basketball court. It would take turning 16 for Kobe to finally beat his dad in a one-on-one game, and needless to say, some elbows and a split lip was involved in the heated game.
Keeping It In The Family
Kobe Music?
In his time before professional Basketball, Kobe had many questions about his future, as most of us do. Rapping was going to be his overall career goal initially, and in his youth, he produced a debut single called “K.O.B.E”, released by a major label and with the video produced by well iconic director Hype Williams. The song ended up getting a ton of fallout for being cheesy, and Sony canceled any future releases. Basketball was now on the horizon, as well as a love affair with a beautiful young woman called Vanessa Laine, who he met on the set of his music video.
Kobe Music
A Different Destiny
Music career on hold, Kobe at least got to live out his fantasy of being in a music video for a successful track by being asked to star in Destiny’s Child hit release, “Bug a Boo”. Getting sultry with none other than Beyonce, then three years into his NBA career, Kobe’s appearance was a hit with executives, fans and critics.
A Different Destiny
Kobe Goes To Prom
Sometimes we forget that superstars also had to go to prom at some point. While attending Lower Merion High School, Kobe to singer and actress Brandy Norwood to prom. Brandy was already a star, with a lead role in ‘Moesha’ and Kobe was in the midst of a deal with Adidas, in the lead up to the 1996 NBA draft. Brandy expressed her thanks to him in the media after, with the pair dating briefly after he got drafted that year. Until his death, the pair remained close friends.
Kobe Goes To Prom
Getting His Big Break
A lot of people wonder about how Kobe got his big break. The early signs of superstardom were there, with Kobe being the first guard ever to be drafted straight out of finishing his high school diploma. The L.A Lakers knew his potential and took him in right then and there. Rookies fail, legends succeed. Kobe was up to the challenge, although he did struggle in his first season. Tireless training would lead to a monumental breakthrough the year after, with his stats increasing significantly. The rest, as they say, is history.
Getting His Big Break
Unlucky Number 24?
Kobe began high school playing with the number 24, although he switched numbers for his last three years of high school ball. Initially adamant to keep number 33, the NBA had to break it to him that the number was already owned by legendary pro-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The number was officially retired with Kareem’s departure from the sport in 1989. This meant Kobe started with the number 8, and kept it for his entire career. Kobe spoke very highly about Kareem as someone who he looked up to, and the pair were even good friends later in his life.
Unlucky Number 24
NBA League Infancy
Kobe was not only the first guard to be drafted straight out of high school, he was also the youngest player ever to star in the NBA league. At just over 18 years old, this was a record nobody anticipated him to break, but destiny had big plans for his life. Over time, new names have taken over the record, although many will remember his memorable debut on November 3rd 1996, playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Six minutes he surely never forgot in his lifetime.
NBA League Infancy
Superstar Pet Peeves
Everybody has something that makes them tick. For you and me, it may be someone cutting us off in traffic, a partner not closing a cupboard at home, or people arriving late for a meeting. Kobe also had pet peeves, albeit in a different context. He shared his biggest one with Complex Magazine, mentioning that he has a big problem with dog poop. He had once even sued a cleaner over doc feces! If the battle takes you to court, you know that it’s a bigger problem than usual. Woof!
Superstar Pet Peeves
Starring in a Famous Documentary
Kobe had several acting roles throughout his life. In 2012 he was featured in I Am Bruce Lee, a feature showcasing the legendary Lee Jun-fan, more widely known as the legendary martial arts fighter Bruce Lee. Kobe loved martial arts and said Bruce Lee was one of his primary career influences. This is largely because of the Chinese energy concept of ‘Qi’, which roots itself into basketball too. Kobe’s fascination for Lee’s fighting style would translate into his decision making on the court, too.
Starring In A Famous Documentary
On Court Antics
Kobe’s on-court antics often left fans wondering about his quirky personality. Ons specific tick involves keeping his jersey in his mouth, a ritual that many youngsters have started emulating. Explaining why he does this, Kobe told the LA Times that he learned it from his father. He explained that when the mouth is dry, sucking up sweat from his jersey can help with extra hydration. Fairly gross, but champions have to do what they have to do!
On Court Antics
Paving The Way Through Hard Work
Kobe’s dedication helped him to achieve greatness in his lifetime, largely attributed to a good work ethic and taking the opportunities presented to him when they did. This paid if at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, where he won gold medals with the US Olympic basketball team. In preparation for both events, he trained tirelessly, putting in extra hours to give his country the best shot at the gold. This included waking up at 4am, as well as practicing jump shots when his trainer took naps ahead of practice. Motivation is an understatement!
Paving The Way Through Hard Work
Once a Laker, Always a Laker
Kobe’s career could have taken many twists and turns, and the offers surely poured in, but he opted never to be traded, only playing for the Lakers, for over 20 seasons. Only a couple of names in history have been able to match or surpass that, including Kevin Garnett and Robert Parish, who have 21 seasons under their belt. Kobe was committed to the Lakers and needless to say, there are rumors that the logo may be changed to include his silhouette in the future.
Once A Laker, Always A Laker
Shoes and Style
Endorsement deals are a big part of any professional athlete’s career, and Kobe’s Nike deal involved creating his own line for the brand. The original design is based on soccer cleats, but his most popular design involved high top design. Low tops traditionally don’t protect you as well from ankle injuries, but Kobe’s shoes were engineered to perfection to ensure this wouldn’t be a problem like it was in the 1960’s. In 2014 his range made $105m, earning him around $8m a year for the twelve-year deal, which only ended with his unforeseen death in 2020.
Shoes And Style
Love and Basketball
The music video for “K.O.B.E” may have been something fans want to forget about, but a big positive that came from the experience was that Kobe met his future wife Vanessa on the set. It is well known now that Vanessa finished her senior year from home, citing issues that her relationship with Kobe was attracting unwanted attention, and causing disruption to the school curriculum. Even at such a young age, she knew her relationship had great potential, as indicated by her willingness to complete her education in a more unconventional manner.
Love And Basketball
Family First
Kobe and Vanessa became engaged when she was just 18, and he was 22 years old. The two would eventually tie the knot on April 18th, 2001. A little known fact is that Bryant’s parents weren’t too thrilled about the idea, with both refusing to attend the nuptials. In spite of this, the family remains his top priority, and his daughters became a focal point in his life all the way through to his untimely demise. All of his children have Italian names, mostly because Kobe’s was raised in Italy. While the media attention has not always been overly positive, the couple remained together right until the end of his life.
Family First
Mainstream Media
Kobe shared a connection with the editors at GQ magazine, gracing the cover more times than anyone can recall. Only once did the feature involve a story about his marriage being in trouble, with Bryant remarking that “didn’t have a perfect relationship”, albeit that he was just as determined to make his personal life work as well as his professional life does. He referenced his kids as a key motivator, and fans saw him in a more relatable way after reading the article.
Mainstream Media
Kobe The Legend
In his life, Kobe was credited as one of the best basketball players of all time. His list of awards are wide-reaching, including the following: A former MVP recipient, five-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, 18-time NBA All-Star, two-time scoring champion, two-time Olympic Gold medalist, nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team nominations, 11-time First Team All-NBA’er and a Slam Dunk title. He scored over 33 000 points in his NBA career, swiftly making himself a part of a legendary legacy.
Kobe The Legend
Kobe’s Other Name
Kobe had an unofficial middle name or nickname, namely “Bean”, after his father. This relates to what his father was called while he was playing for the NBA, where he was often referred to as “Jellybean”. Some fans even went as far as to start calling him this during meet and greets, which was usually somewhat awkwardly received.
Kobe's Other Name
Young and Married
At just 23, Kobe tied the knot with his eventual life partner. Him and Vanessa had met when Kobe was 21 and she was just 17, with their whirlwind romance involving just six months together before they got engaged. The wedding was scheduled for eighteen months later and they eventually tied the knot in front of friends and some family
Young And Married
Facing Family Opposition
Kobe’s family was not too keen on a young marriage, especially since his career was just beginning to take off. As with most parents, they want their children to get married, but just not too early. There was also some resentment towards his partnership being mixed race, resulting in some more narrow-minded members of the family not attending the wedding at all.
Facing Family Opposition
Black Mamba Forever
Kobe was the first to dub himself the “Black Mamba”, in reference to the snake species known for its accuracy, speed and agility. This was not the only reason the nickname ended up sticking, however. He also enjoyed Tarantino’s classic Kill Bill, in which the nickname referred to a code word for one of its multiple deadly missions. Kobe was more creative than most people think!
Black Mamba Forever
Excelling at School
Kobe was an excellent student, scoring good grades in high school and excelling on his SATs. His ambitions to go to college would need to be put on hold, however, as his draft into the NBA changed things up for him substantially. Needless to say, fans agree that it was the right choice. We’ll never know whether he had planned to further his studies at some point in his life, but in the time he was getting an education, it was clear that he placed a lot of emphases and focus on doing well.
Excelling At School
The Olympic Arena
Kobe represented the US in the Olympics twice, both times walking away with a gold medal while playing alongside other legends like Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James and others. One secret trick to his success at the Olympics involved purposefully losing weight before the event. This was due to the demands of his basketball schedule that year, especially with the added commitments, so he was taking precautions to reduce the stress on his knees, to avoid unexpected injury. The master!
The Olympic Arena
Introverted Player
Kobe was said to have improved his game by taking on “his own shadow”, so to speak. This helped to learn new moves and assisted in increasing his reaction ties. Never one to claim he knew it all, throughout his life, Kobe always preached that there was always more to learn.
Introverted Player
MVP All The Way
With five titles under his belt in the early 2000’s, a pivotal part of his career included earning the “Most Valuable Player “ award from the NBA, which was awarded to him once throughout his entire career, back in 2008. This is a standout moment that he spoke of fondly in later interviews towards the end of his life.
MVP All The Way
Deal After Deal
Kobe paid more than $8 million to get out of his Adidas deal at the turn of the new century back in 2002. Why? Because Nike was waiting in the wings, with an offer that was even sweeter, allowing him to catapult his fame into even bigger territory.
Deal After Deal
The Poem and the Oscar
Kobe penned a poem called “Dear Basketball” back in 2015, which was turned into a short story two years later. Narrated by the legend himself, the piece was nominated (and won) an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film shortly after, putting Bryant into a league of his own as a creative, and an athlete.
The Poem And The Oscar
Putting Pen To Paper
‘Mamba Mentality: How I Play’, Kobe’s first published book, was an instant bestseller back in 2018. The book details how he went about playing basketball, giving new insights into his career and the mentality of one of the best athletes of all time. The book title is a nod to his long-standing nickname, and more books were expected to be written in the future. Bryant had a co-authored book on the cards with famous Brazilian author Paulo Coehlo, who said he burned the drafts after his death.
Putting Pen To Paper
Career Earnings To Boot
In his lifetime, Kobe earned over $325 million from his NBA contracts alone. It is estimated that his net earnings are double that. Forbes referenced this well, citing that “the only athletes to earn more are in individual sports and include Tiger Woods, Michael Schumacher, and Floyd Mayweather”. Talk about being in good company!
Career Earnings To Boot
25 Points and Counting
As his career was drawing to a close, insiders speculated whether he would retire averaging 25 points per game. He earned a whopping 60 points in the final game he played for the NBA, which meant that his average would be just that. As a whole, this made him the 12th best basketball player of all time, though this doesn’t factor in his contribution for the sport off the court as well.
25 Points And Counting
Beyond The Call of Regular Duty
Zack Braff joined Kobe at the Call of Duty: Black Ops launch in Santa Monica in 2010. This was not because the two were big fans of the game, but rather because they were there to present a cheque for $1 to the Call of Duty Endowment, a non-profit organization benefiting war veterans in their efforts to transition to civil careers once they returned from service. Boss!
Beyond The Call Of Regular Duty
Kobe’s Sisters
Many people wrongly believed that Kobe was an only child, especially with all the attention his parents were giving to him as a rising athletic star early in his career. This is further from the truth, as Kobe actually had two sisters too, named Sharia and Shaya. Both a little older than him, they followed his career closely. Kobe loved them dearly, further illustrating his true nature as a family man.
Kobe's Sister