Kobe Bryant facts for kids
Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | August 23, 1978 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Died | January 26, 2020 (aged 41) Calabasas, California, U.S. |
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| High school | Lower Merion (Ardmore, Pennsylvania) |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 212 lb (96 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Charlotte Hornets | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1996–2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2016 | Los Angeles Lakers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | 33,643 (25.0 ppg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 7,047 (5.2 rpg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assists | 6,306 (4.7 apg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Kobe Bean Bryant ( KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. He spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Many people consider him one of the greatest players in basketball history.
Kobe won five NBA championships and was an 18-time All-Star. He was also named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2008. He won two gold medals with the U.S. men's basketball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Olympics.
Contents
- Kobe Bryant's Early Life and Career Start
- High School Stardom and Joining the NBA
- Kobe Bryant's Legendary Career with the Lakers
- Kobe Bryant's Amazing Achievements and Awards
- Kobe Bryant's Player Profile and Style
- Kobe Bryant's Life After Basketball
- Kobe Bryant's Personal Life and Family
- Tragic Loss and Lasting Legacy
- Interesting Facts About Kobe Bryant
- Kobe Bryant's Inspiring Quotes
- See also
Kobe Bryant's Early Life and Career Start
Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of three children. His father, Joe Bryant, was also a former NBA player.
When Kobe was six years old, his family moved to Italy. His dad played basketball there. Kobe often helped at games as a ball boy. He even practiced shooting during halftime!
Kobe also learned to play soccer in Italy. His favorite team was A.C. Milan. During summer breaks, he would return to the United States. He played in a basketball summer league. When he was 13, his family moved back to Philadelphia. Kobe went to Lower Merion High School. He quickly became a basketball star. He led his team to the state championship in 1996.
High School Stardom and Joining the NBA
Kobe was an amazing basketball player in high school. He was so good that he decided to skip college. Instead, he went straight to the NBA. In 1996, the Charlotte Hornets drafted him. He was the 13th player chosen overall.
However, before he played a single game for the Hornets, he was traded. He joined his favorite team, the Los Angeles Lakers. This trade marked the beginning of his incredible career!
Kobe Bryant's Legendary Career with the Lakers
When Kobe joined the Los Angeles Lakers, he quickly became a fan favorite. He was known for his exciting play. He also showed great dedication to winning.
In his early years, Kobe played with another superstar. His teammate was Shaquille O'Neal. Together, they were a powerful duo. They led the Lakers to three NBA championships in a row. These wins happened from 2000 to 2002. Kobe was a key player on those teams. He was known for scoring many points. He also performed well in important games.
After Shaquille O'Neal left the Lakers in 2004, Kobe became the team's main leader. He kept improving his game. He became one of the most dominant players in the NBA. He won two more NBA championships with the Lakers. These were in 2009 and 2010. He also won the NBA Finals MVP award both times.
Throughout his career, Kobe was famous for his strong work ethic. He spent many hours in the gym. He practiced his shots and worked on his footwork. He always wanted to get better. He inspired his teammates to do the same. Kobe played his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He retired in 2016. He is remembered as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
Kobe Bryant's Amazing Achievements and Awards
Kobe Bryant achieved many incredible things in basketball. Here are some of his most impressive accomplishments:
- 5-time NBA Champion (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)
- 2-time NBA Finals MVP (2009, 2010)
- NBA MVP (2008)
- 18-time NBA All-Star
- 4-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
- 11-time All-NBA First Team
- 9-time NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 2-time NBA Scoring Champion (2006, 2007)
- NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion (1997)
- Los Angeles Lakers all-time leading scorer
Kobe also won two Olympic gold medals. He earned these with the United States national basketball team. The wins were in 2008 and 2012. He was a true global ambassador for basketball.
Understanding the "Mamba Mentality"
Kobe Bryant was famous for his "Mamba Mentality." This was his special way of approaching life and basketball. It meant being totally dedicated, disciplined, and relentless. He always pursued his goals with great effort. He believed in working harder than everyone else. He never gave up, no matter how tough things got.
The "Mamba Mentality" inspired many people. It helped them both in sports and in their daily lives. It taught them to be persistent. It also showed them how to overcome challenges. And it encouraged them to always aim for excellence.
Kobe Bryant's Player Profile and Style
Kobe Bryant mainly played as a shooting guard. He was known as one of the most dangerous scorers in the NBA. Many people compared his playing style to Michael Jordan. Kobe often used a special shot called a fall-away jump shot.
Bryant was also known for taking important shots. He would shoot in the final moments of close games. He did this even when multiple defenders were guarding him. He was one of the best players at finishing games strongly.
Besides his scoring, Kobe was also a great defensive player. He was known for his strong defense. He rarely tried to draw charges. He believed this helped him stay healthy and play longer.
Kobe Bryant's Life After Basketball
After retiring from the NBA, Kobe Bryant stayed busy. He wrote and produced an animated short film. It was called "Dear Basketball." This film won an Academy Award in 2018. He also coached his daughter Gianna's basketball team. He was a big supporter of women's basketball.
Kobe was also involved in many businesses. He also did a lot of charity work. He was a role model for many people. He showed how to be successful in both work and personal life.
Kobe Bryant's Personal Life and Family
Kobe was the youngest of three children. He had two older sisters, Sharia and Shaya. He had a close relationship with them throughout his life.
In 1999, 21-year-old Bryant met Vanessa Laine. They met when she was working as a background dancer. They started dating and got engaged six months later. They married on April 18, 2001.
The Bryants had four daughters. Their first daughter, Natalia, was born in 2003. Their second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore (also called "Gigi"), was born in 2006. Their third daughter was born in 2016. In 2019, they welcomed their fourth daughter.
Kobe Bryant's Philanthropy and Giving Back
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Kobe Bryant was a strong supporter of many charities. He was an official ambassador for After-School All-Stars (ASAS). This group provides programs for children in many US cities. He also started the Kobe Bryant China Fund. This fund raised money in China for education and health programs.
With his wife, Vanessa, he founded the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation (KVBFF). This foundation helps young people in need. It also encourages sports skills and helps homeless people. Kobe believed that homelessness should not be ignored. He wanted to do more than just play basketball.
Kobe and Vanessa were also founding donors for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Kobe also donated his uniform from the 2008 NBA Finals. During his life, Kobe granted over two hundred wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Tragic Loss and Lasting Legacy
On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people died. They were in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. The world was very sad to lose a basketball legend and a loving father.
Kobe Bryant's legacy will live on forever. He inspired millions of people. His incredible skills, strong competitive spirit, and dedication were amazing. He taught us how important hard work, never giving up, and aiming for excellence are. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest basketball players ever. He remains a true inspiration to us all.
Interesting Facts About Kobe Bryant
- His parents named him after Kobe beef. This famous beef from Japan was on a restaurant menu they saw.
- His middle name, Bean, came from his father's nickname, "Jellybean."
- The Lakers were Kobe's favorite team when he was a kid.
- Kobe's family was Catholic. He was raised with this faith.
- Kobe learned to speak Italian and Spanish while living in Italy.
- His jersey numbers, 8 and 24, were retired by the Los Angeles Lakers. This means no other Lakers player can wear them.
- On December 23, 2007, Kobe became the youngest player to score 20,000 points. He was 29 years and 122 days old. This record was later broken by LeBron James.
- When he retired, Kobe had earned about $680 million in his career. This was the most ever by a team athlete at that time.
Kobe Bryant's Inspiring Quotes
- "It's not about the number of hours you practice, it's about the number of hours your mind is present during the practice."
- "Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses."
- "The most important thing, the thing that unites all of us, is that we can inspire and challenge one another to be better."
- "You have to be true to who you are."
- "You always have to be on edge. You always have to take every practice, every game, like it is your last."
- "If you don't believe in yourself...nobody else will."
- "Heroes come and go, but legends are forever."
See also
In Spanish: Kobe Bryant para niños
