Kobe Bean Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia, PA. His father was retired NBA player Joe Bryant and his uncle was NBA player John “Chubby” Cox.
When Kobe was six, his father retired from the NBA and moved his family to Italy to continue playing professional basketball.
Kobe’s NBA home was with the L.A. Lakers – wearing number 8.
Kobe Bryant’s dedication to practice was legendary. He emphasized the importance of repetition and preparation, ensuring that his body could execute his desired actions on the court. Blue collar represents hard work.
When life gets hard, don’t back
down, double down, triple down.
Kobe developed an alter ego he used on the court.
“I had to organize things. So I created the ‘Black Mamba.’ So Kobe has to deal with these issues, all the personal challenges. The Black Mamba steps on the court and does what he does. I’m destroying everybody that steps on the court.”
Kobe played for the Lakers for two decades, won two Olympic gold medals, five championship rings, 17 All-Star selections, an 81-point game that ranks as the second-best
in NBA history and more than 32,000 points.
Kobe also holds the record for the most missed shots in the history of the NBA. 14,481 missed shots. Shoot your shot.
Work: Kobe’s first two seasons he saw little game time. He earned respect from his teammates and coaches with his work ethic outside of games.
Kobe Bryant changed his jersey number from 8 to 24 before the 2006 season. He explained it was because of his growth from his prior number.
In 2003, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant had been married for two years. Vanessa supported Kobe through a sexual assault charge.
The pair’s marriage survived many hurdles, from Kobe’s adultery, assault allegations, to a devastating miscarriage.
Kobe Bryant on what builds a good marriage, “Having the persistence and determination to work through things — very, very tough things, and we've been able to do that."
Kobe brought home gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
See: “I always dreamed as s kid that it was possible to score 80, 90 or 100 points in a game, I would lay down in bed and visualize things. I would imagine playing for the Lakers. I imagined what the uniforms looked like, where we were playing, what the arena smelled like, and before I got to bed I'm at like 120 points."
“Don’t wait to accomplish your dream, live your dream. The dream is the journey.” Kobe Bryant
Steady: In 2006, Kobe scored a staggering 81 points in a single game. Laker's coach Phil Jackson said, "I've seen some of the most remarkable games, but I've never seen one like that before."
Kobe attributed his success at basketball to years and years of consistent, steady practice.
VNGBC: In 2015, Kobe released a letter titled 'Dear Basketball' he wrote announcing his decision to retire. Kobe was a girl dad. He and his wife Vanessa had four daughters: Natalia, Giana, Bianca, and Capri.
Many people would tell Bryant that he and wife Vanessa should have a son so the NBA family legacy can continue, Kobe’s athletic daughter Gianna once answered; “I got this!”
Kobe supported his daughters in basketball and respected the athletes of the WNBA.
Time: "Have a good time. Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep going. You have to keep moving. Put one foot in front of the other, smile and just keep rolling."
