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

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.

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.