185 Facts About Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bean Bryant was an American professional basketball player.

Widely regarded as one of the sport's greatest and most influential players, Bryant won five NBA championships and was an 18-time All-Star, 4-time All-Star MVP, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team, the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and two-time scoring champion.

Kobe Bryant was posthumously voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

The son of NBA player Joe Kobe Bryant, Kobe Bryant was born in Philadelphia and partly raised in Italy.

On January 22,2006, Kobe Bryant scored a career-high 81 points, the second most scored in a single NBA game behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game.

Kobe Bryant led the team to championships in 2009 and 2010, and was named NBA Finals MVP both times.

The all-time leading scorer in Lakers history, Kobe Bryant was the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons.

Kobe Bryant gave himself the nickname Black Mamba in the mid-2000s, and the epithet became widely adopted by the public.

Kobe Bryant won gold medals on the 2008 and 2012 US Olympic teams.

In 2018, Kobe Bryant won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for Dear Basketball.

Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23,1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Kobe Bryant's father named him after the Kobe beef from Japan, which he saw on a restaurant menu, whereas his middle name, Bean, was derived from his father's nickname "Jellybean".

Kobe Bryant's family was Catholic and he was brought up with this faith.

Kobe Bryant started playing basketball at the age of three, and the Lakers were his favorite team when he was growing up.

When Kobe Bryant was six, his father retired from the NBA and moved his family to Rieti in Italy to continue playing professional basketball.

Kobe Bryant became accustomed to his new lifestyle and learned to speak fluent Italian.

Kobe Bryant was especially fond of Reggio Emilia, which Kobe considered a loving place and where some of his best childhood memories were made.

Kobe Bryant began to play basketball seriously while living in Reggio Emilia.

Kobe Bryant's grandfather mailed him videos of NBA games for him to study.

Kobe Bryant worked at the games as a ball and mop boy and practiced shooting at halftime.

Kobe Bryant earned national recognition during a spectacular high-school career at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, located in the Philadelphia suburb of Lower Merion.

Kobe Bryant played on the varsity basketball team as a freshman.

However, after high schooler Kevin Garnett went in the first round of the 1995 NBA draft, Kobe Bryant began contemplating going directly to the pros.

At Adidas ABCD Camp, Kobe Bryant earned the 1995 senior MVP award while playing alongside future NBA teammate Lamar Odom.

Kobe Bryant finished his high-school career as Southeastern Pennsylvania's all-time leading scorer at 2,883 points, surpassing both Wilt Chamberlain and Lionel Simmons.

Kobe Bryant received several awards for his outstanding performance during his senior year at Lower Merion.

Kobe Bryant's varsity coach, Greg Downer, commented that he was "a complete player who dominates" and praised his work ethic, even as the team's top player.

Ultimately, the 17-year-old Kobe Bryant decided to go directly into the NBA, becoming only the sixth player in NBA history to do so.

Kobe Bryant's news was met with a significant publicity at a time when prep-to-pro NBA players were not very common.

In 2012, Kobe Bryant was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans for his high school play as well as his later accomplishments.

Kobe Bryant was the first guard drafted directly out of high school.

Since Kobe Bryant was still 17 at the time, his parents had to co-sign his contract with the Lakers until Kobe Bryant was able to sign his own when he turned 18 before the season began.

Kobe Bryant debuted in the Summer Pro League in Long Beach, California, scoring 25 points in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

Kobe Bryant scored 36 points in the finale and finished with averages of 24.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in four games.

The Lakers advanced to the Western Conference semifinals in the playoffs against the Utah Jazz, when Kobe Bryant was pressed into a lead role at the end of Game 5.

Kobe Bryant first missed a game-winning two-point jump shot in the fourth quarter, and then misfired three three-point field goals in overtime, including two tying shots in the final minute.

Kobe Bryant was the runner-up for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award, and through fan voting, he became the youngest NBA All-Star starter in NBA history.

Kobe Bryant was joined by teammates O'Neal, Van Exel, and Jones, making it the first time since 1983 that four players on the same team were selected to play in the same All-Star Game.

Kobe Bryant's fortunes improved when Phil Jackson took over as coach of the Lakers in 1999.

The duo of O'Neal and Kobe Bryant backed with a strong bench led to the Lakers winning 67 games, tied for fifth-most in NBA history.

Kobe Bryant threw an alley-oop pass to O'Neal to clinch the game and the series.

Kobe Bryant did not return to the game, and he missed Game 3 due to the injury.

In Game 4, Kobe Bryant scored 22 points in the second half and led the team to an overtime victory as O'Neal fouled out of the game.

Once again, Kobe Bryant led the team in assists, with five per game.

Kobe Bryant ended up making the All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team for the second year in a row.

Kobe Bryant was voted to start in the NBA All-Star Game for the third year in a row.

Kobe Bryant continued his all-round play by averaging 25.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.

Kobe Bryant was suspended for one game after he punched Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers after the Lakers' March 1,2002, victory over the Pacers.

Kobe Bryant's play was notable and praised for his performance in the fourth quarter of games, specifically the last two rounds of the playoffs.

Kobe Bryant set an NBA record for three-pointers in a game on January 7,2003, when he made 12 against the Seattle SuperSonics.

Kobe Bryant averaged 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, all career-highs to that point.

Kobe Bryant was voted to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive First Teams, and came in third place in voting for the MVP award.

Kobe Bryant made two buzzer-beaters to win the game and the Pacific Division title.

The year signified a drop in his overall status in the NBA, as Kobe Bryant did not make the NBA All-Defensive Team and was demoted to the All-NBA Third Team.

Kobe Bryant endorsed the move, and by all appearances, they worked well together the second time around, leading the Lakers back into the playoffs.

Kobe Bryant's individual scoring accomplishments resulted in the finest statistical season of his career.

On December 20,2005, Kobe Bryant scored 62 points in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks.

Kobe Bryant won the league's scoring title for the first time by averaging 35.4 points per game, becoming just the fifth player in league history to average at least 35 in a season.

Kobe Bryant wore 143 at the Adidas ABCD camp and chose 8 by adding those numbers.

The basis given for the suspension was that Kobe Bryant had performed an "unnatural motion" in swinging his arm backward.

Kobe Bryant finished the year with a total of 10 50-plus point games, surpassed only by Chamberlain.

On May 27,2007, ESPN reported that Kobe Bryant stated that he wanted to be traded if Jerry West did not return to the team with full authority.

Kobe Bryant later confirmed his desire for West's return to the franchise, but denied stating that he would want to be traded if that did not take place.

Kobe Bryant was later shown in an infamous amateur video saying that center Andrew Bynum should have been traded for All-Star Jason Kidd.

On December 23,2007, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000 points, in a game against the New York Knicks, in Madison Square Garden, after scoring 39 points to go along with 11 rebounds and eight assists.

The Lakers swept the Denver Nuggets in the first round and on May 6,2008, Kobe Bryant was officially announced as the league MVP.

In Game 1, Kobe Bryant, who said he made himself a decoy through most of the game, scored 18 of his 32 points in the final eight minutes to keep Los Angeles safely ahead.

The Lakers won the next game as well, but dropped Games 3 and 4, even with Kobe Bryant putting up 33.5 points per game.

In early September 2008, Kobe Bryant decided not to have surgery to repair his right pinkie.

Kobe Bryant was runner-up in the MVP voting behind James, and was selected to the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team for the seventh time in his career.

Kobe Bryant was awarded his first NBA Finals MVP trophy upon winning his fourth championship, achieving series averages of 32.4 points, 7.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks.

Kobe Bryant became the first player since West in the 1969 NBA Finals to average at least 32.4 points and 7.4 assists for a Finals series and the first since Jordan to average 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists for a title-winning team in the Finals.

Five days after his finger injury, Kobe Bryant made another game-winning shot, after missing on an opportunity in regulation, this time against the Milwaukee Bucks in an overtime game.

Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to reach 25,000 points in his career during the season, surpassing Chamberlain.

Kobe Bryant continued his dominant clutch plays making yet another game-winning three-pointer against the Sacramento Kings, and what would be the game-winning field goal against the Boston Celtics.

Kobe Bryant finished the regular season missing four of the final five games, due to injuries to his knee and finger.

Kobe Bryant suffered multiple injuries throughout the season and missed nine games as a result.

In Game 2, Kobe Bryant finished the game with 13 assists, setting a new playoff career-high; it was the most assists by a Laker in the playoffs since Magic Johnson had 13 in 1996.

Kobe Bryant won his fifth championship and earned his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP award.

Kobe Bryant said that this was the most satisfying of all of his five championships.

On January 30,2011, against the Celtics, Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to score 27,000 points.

Two days later, Kobe Bryant became one of seven players with at least 25,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, and 5,000 assists.

Kobe Bryant received experimental platelet-rich plasma therapy called Orthokine in Germany to treat the pain on his left knee and ankle, and Mike Brown replaced the retired Jackson as coach of the Lakers in the off-season.

Kobe Bryant went on to score 40,42, and 42 in his next three games.

At the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, Kobe Bryant scored 27 points to pass Jordan as the career scoring leader in the All-Star Game.

Kobe Bryant returned three games before the end of the regular season.

Kobe Bryant sat out the season finale against Sacramento, foregoing the chase for a possible third NBA scoring title, having needed 38 points to surpass Kevin Durant.

On November 2,2012, Kobe Bryant scored 40 points with two steals, and he passed Magic Johnson as the Lakers career leader in steals.

Kobe Bryant was replaced by Mike D'Antoni, whom Bryant knew as a child when Bryant's father was playing in Italy and D'Antoni was a star player there.

Kobe Bryant had grown close with D'Antoni during their time with Team USA.

Kobe Bryant acknowledged he was a more focused defender after having a challenging defensive assignment as opposed to when Kobe Bryant played off the ball against weaker players.

Kobe Bryant's defense disrupted opponents and freed Nash from unfavorable matchups.

Kobe Bryant was leading the league in scoring through much of the first 42 games.

Kobe Bryant missed a triple-double in each game with nine rebounds twice and eight in the other.

Kobe Bryant surpassed Chamberlain to become the fourth-leading scorer in league history in a March 30,2013, victory over Sacramento.

Two days later, Kobe Bryant suffered a torn Achilles tendon against the Golden State Warriors, ending his season.

Kobe Bryant's injury came while he was playing seven consecutive quarters and at least 40 minutes for seven consecutive games.

The 34-year-old Kobe Bryant was averaging his most minutes in six years, and only Portland rookie Damian Lillard was averaging more minutes.

Kobe Bryant was dubbed "Magic Mamba" after the passing skills of Magic Johnson.

Kobe Bryant remained the league's highest-paid player, although he accepted a discounted deal; Kobe Bryant had been eligible to receive an extension starting at $32 million per year.

Kobe Bryant's contract became a polarizing topic, with detractors arguing that stars should take less money to allow their team more financial freedom, while supporters countered that the NBA's biggest stars were being paid less than their true value.

Kobe Bryant had played six games since returning from his Achilles injury, which included time at point guard after injuries to Nash, Steve Blake, and Jordan Farmar.

Kobe Bryant was averaging 13.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds.

Kobe Bryant did not feel he was deserving of the selection, and some likened it to a career achievement award for his past performance.

However, Kobe Bryant missed playing in the game, still hampered by his knee.

At age 36, Kobe Bryant became the oldest NBA player to achieve 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game.

Kobe Bryant played in the first 27 games of the season, averaging team-highs with 26.4 points and 35.4 minutes per game while leading the league with 22.4 shots per game.

Kobe Bryant was suffering from soreness in his knees, feet, back, and Achilles tendons, and Scott planned to reduce Bryant's workload going forward as a result.

Kobe Bryant had exceeded 40 minutes in a game thrice, and the coach blamed himself for overloading Kobe Bryant after he started the season in such great shape.

On January 21,2015, Kobe Bryant suffered a rotator cuff tear in his right shoulder while driving baseline for a two-handed dunk against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Kobe Bryant underwent season-ending surgery for the injury, finishing the season averaging 22.3 points but shooting a career-low 37.3 percent, well below his 45.4 percent career mark to start the season.

Kobe Bryant scored just four points in 25 minutes on 1-for-14 shooting, matching the worst-shooting game of his career in which he attempted at least five shots.

On November 29,2015, Kobe Bryant announced via The Players' Tribune that he would be retiring at the end of the season.

At the time of his announcement, Kobe Bryant was second on the team in minutes behind Jordan Clarkson and leading the team with 16.7 field goal attempts per game, while averaging just 15.7 points and shooting a career-low 31.5 percent.

Kobe Bryant's free throw attempts had dropped from his career average, and his game had become over-reliant on pump fakes and long-range shots, making a league-worst 19.5 percent from three-point range while attempting seven a game, almost double his career average.

Kobe Bryant requested that opposing teams on the road not hold any on-court ceremonies in his honor or present him any gifts in public.

However, Kobe Bryant was still honored around the league with video tributes and fan ovations, including arenas that historically jeered him such as TD Garden in Boston, Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Moda Center in Portland, Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, and Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City.

Previously, Kobe Bryant was respected but not beloved, and he was astonished at the cheers he was now receiving.

Kobe Bryant became just the fourth NBA player over 37 years old to log at least 35 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a game.

Kobe Bryant was the leading overall vote-getter for the 2016 All-Star Game with 1.9 million votes, ahead of Stephen Curry's 1.6 million.

Kobe Bryant became the oldest player to score 60 or more points in a game at 37 years and 234 days old.

Kobe Bryant declined to play in the 2000 Olympics because he was getting married in the off-season.

Kobe Bryant decided not to play in the 2002 FIBA World Championship.

Kobe Bryant was originally selected for the FIBA Americas Championship in 2003, but withdrew after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder and knee surgeries.

Kobe Bryant's United States national team career finally began in 2007.

Kobe Bryant started in all 10 of the USA's FIBA Americas Championship games.

Kobe Bryant averaged 15.3 points, 2.9 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game in the tournament.

On June 23,2008, Kobe Bryant was named to the USA Men's Senior National Team for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Kobe Bryant averaged 15.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting.

Kobe Bryant rejoined the national team for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Kobe Bryant has drawn frequent comparisons to Michael Jordan, after whom Bryant modeled his playing style.

Kobe Bryant learned and practiced post moves through individual coaching sessions from Hakeem Olajuwon.

Kobe Bryant established a reputation for taking shots in the closing moments of tight games, even when he was double or triple-teamed, and was noted as one of the premier closers in the NBA.

Kobe Bryant enjoyed being the villain, and reveled in being booed and then silencing the crowd with his play.

Kobe Bryant rarely drew charges when he played defense, which he believed spared his body and contributed to his longevity.

Kobe Bryant grew up with two older sisters, Sharia and Shaya, and had close relationships with them his entire life.

On December 16,2011, Vanessa Kobe Bryant filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, and the couple requested joint custody of their daughters.

In 2013, Kobe Bryant had a legal disagreement with an auction house over memorabilia from his early years that his parents had put up for auction.

Kobe Bryant's parents received $450,000 from the auction house for the items, and contended Kobe Bryant had given her the rights to the items he had remaining in their home.

However, Kobe Bryant's lawyers asked the auction house to return the items.

Kobe Bryant's parents apologized to him for the misunderstanding in a written statement, and appreciated the financial support he had given them over the years.

Kobe Bryant grew up a baseball fan and had been a long-time supporter of the Los Angeles Dodgers during his tenure with the Lakers.

However, during the 2009 National League Championship Series when the Dodgers played his hometown Philadelphia Phillies, Kobe Bryant revealed to Craig Sager that he actually grew up a fan of their National League East archrivals, the New York Mets wanting to be like Darryl Strawberry and boasted that he still had a Ron Darling baseball card.

Kobe Bryant was a lifelong fan of his hometown NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kobe Bryant was a fan of soccer teams Barcelona, AC Milan, and Manchester City.

Kobe Bryant was a second cousin of his former Lakers teammate Cedric Ceballos.

Kobe Bryant had checked into The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera in Eagle County in advance of undergoing knee surgery nearby.

Kobe Bryant resumed endorsement deals with The Coca-Cola Company, through their subsidiary Energy Brands, to promote their Vitamin Water brand of drinks.

Kobe Bryant was the cover athlete for NBA '07: Featuring the Life Vol.

On December 13,2010, Kobe Bryant signed a two-year endorsement deal with Turkey's national airline, Turkish Airlines; he appeared in a promotional film aired in over 80 countries, and appeared in digital, print and billboard advertising.

In September 2012, Kobe Bryant shot a commercial for Turkish Airlines with FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

Kobe Bryant appeared as the cover athlete for the following video games:.

Kobe Bryant was one of the global ambassadors of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.

In high school, Kobe Bryant was a member of a rap group called CHEIZAW, named after the Chi Sah gang in the martial arts film Kid with the Golden Arm.

The Sony president who originally signed Kobe Bryant had already left, and Kobe Bryant's other backers had mostly abandoned him.

In 2011, Kobe Bryant was featured in Taiwanese singer Jay Chou's single "The Heaven and Earth Challenge".

Kobe Bryant made his acting debut in 1996, appearing in an episode of Moesha.

Kobe Bryant met the show's star, Brandy, earlier in the year at a Nike All-Star basketball game; a couple of months later, in May 1996, he was Brandy's date to her Hollywood High School senior prom.

In 1997, Kobe Bryant appeared on an episode of Hang Time, followed by a guest appearance on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series All That.

In 2018, Kobe Bryant became the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, and the first former professional athlete to be nominated for and win an Academy Award in any category, for his film Dear Basketball.

Kobe Bryant was the official ambassador for After-School All-Stars, an American non-profit organization that provides comprehensive after-school programs to children in 13 US cities.

Kobe Bryant said he wanted more out of life than just a successful basketball career.

In 2013, Kobe Bryant launched a production company called Granity Studios, which developed different media, ranging from films to television shows and novels.

At the time of his death, Kobe Bryant was working with Brazilian author Paulo Coelho on a children's book aimed at inspiring underprivileged children.

On February 28,2023, Vanessa Kobe Bryant was awarded a $28.85 million settlement from Los Angeles County to conclude legal proceedings over graphic photos of the aftermath of the helicopter crash that were shared without the permission of the family.

The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards went ahead as scheduled at Staples Center on the day of the crash, but included tributes by multiple artists and groups, including host Alicia Keys opening the show with a tribute speech in which she called Staples Center "the house that Kobe Bryant built" and joining Boyz II Men to sing "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday".

Kobe Bryant appeared at the start of the In Memoriam segment of the 92nd Academy Awards following his Oscar in 2018 for Dear Basketball, and Spike Lee wore a suit in tribute to him at the ceremony.

Kobe Bryant was not included in the montages at the 2020 VMAs and Emmys, held later in the year.

The 2020 Pro Bowl was played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on the day of the crash, and before kickoff, NFC players who learned of Kobe Bryant's death conducted a prayer led by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, while various on-field and PA tributes were made during the game.

Kobe Bryant was posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021, with Vanessa delivering the acceptance speech on Kobe Bryant's behalf.

In October 2021, Kobe Bryant was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Kobe Bryant is the fourth-leading scorer in league history with 33,643 points.

Kobe Bryant was the first player in NBA history to have at least 30,000 career points and 6,000 career assists, and was one of only four players with 25,000 points, 6,000 rebounds, and 6,000 assists.

Kobe Bryant scored at least 50 points 24 times in his career, which is third in league history behind Jordan and Chamberlain ; six times Kobe Bryant scored at least 60.

Kobe Bryant was just the third player in NBA history to average 40 points in a calendar month, which Bryant accomplished four times.

Kobe Bryant was voted the league MVP in 2008 and led his team to the 2008 NBA Finals as the first seed in the Western Conference.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to two more championships in 2009 and 2010, winning the Finals MVP award on both occasions.

Kobe Bryant was an 18-time All-Star, which ranks second behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's and LeBron James' 19.

Kobe Bryant was chosen a then-record 18 straight times, each time as a starter.

Kobe Bryant was named the All-Star MVP four times, a record he shares with Bob Pettit.

Kobe Bryant was selected to the All-NBA Team on 15 occasions, tied for the most with Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan, and his 11 first-team honors are tied for the second-most with Karl Malone.

Kobe Bryant was a 12-time All-Defensive Team selection, trailing only Duncan's 15, and Kobe Bryant was named to the All-Defensive First Team nine times, tied with Jordan, Garnett, and Gary Payton for the most all time.

Kobe Bryant was the first guard to play 20 seasons in the NBA.

Kobe Bryant won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1997 and was its youngest winner.

In February 2025, Donald Trump announced that Kobe Bryant would get a statue in the proposed National Garden of American Heroes.