Facts About The Legendary Late Kobe Bryant You May Not Have Come Across Before

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.

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.