Kobe Bryant Facts for Kids

Who was Kobe Bryant?

Kobe Bryant was an American basketball player.  He played guard on the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years.

Kobe Bryant’s Family

Kobe Bryant was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania on August 23rd, 1978.  His full name was Kobe Bean Bryant.

He had two sisters Sharia and Shaya. His mother’s name is Pamela Cox Bryant.  Her brother, John “Chubby” Cox was a professional baseball player.

His father Joe Jellybean Bryant was also a professional basketball player. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers for four seasons.  In 1979 he was traded to the San Diego Clippers.  He played for the Clippers for three years.  He then played for the Huston Rockets.  In 1983 Joe Jellybean Bryant ended his American basketball career and went to Europe to finish out his career playing for Italy.

Kobe Enters the Draft

Kobe Bryant attended Lower Merion High School. He graduated in 1996.  Right after graduation, he went into the NBA draft.

He was the 13th draft pick.  Kobe was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets.  Immediately after being drafted he was traded to the Lose Angeles Lakers.

Kobe was only 17 years old when he was drafted into the NBA.  He turned 18 right before the start of the NBA season.

Championships

Kobe has won 5 NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010.

He won the NBA Dunk Competition in 1998

Kobe won two gold medals for basketball.  One in 2008 and the other in 2012.

Retirement

After 20 years of playing as a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, he retired at the end of the 2016 season.

During his last game on April 13, 2016, he scored 60 points against the Utah Jazz.

NBA Records

When Kobe Bryant started his professional basketball career in1996 he was the youngest to ever be a starting player in a game.  Kobe Bryant was 18 and 158 days old.  At this time Andrew Bynum holds the record at 18 and 6 days old.

Kobe Bryant currently holds the record for the second-highest points scored in a single game.  Kobe scored 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.  Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for the most points scored in a game.  He scored 100 points against the NewYork Knicks in 1962.

Kobe Bryant previously held the record for the most points scored by a single player.  He scored 33,643 points during his career.  His record was broken by Lebron James in 2020.

Kobe Bryant holds the records for the most points scored by a Laker.

Kobe has scored the points ever in a single arena.  He has scored 16,161 points at the Staples Center.

Death

Sadly Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.  He was only 41 years old. There were no survivors. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also on board.

Kobe’s death was a shock to the entire world.  No one was expecting to lose the icon so young.

Fun Facts about Kobe Bryant

• Kobe Bryant lived in Itlay and can speak Italian.
• Kobe got his middle name bean from his father’s nickname “jellybean”
• Kobe’s nickname was Black Mamba. Black Mambas are a deadly snake found in Africa.
• He was selected 15 times to be in the NBA All-Star Game
• Kobe enjoys playing soccer
• Kobe learned how to tap dance to strengthen his ankles
• He won an Academy Award in 2018 for his short animated flim “Dear Basketball”
• While in high school he was in a rap group.
• Kobe Bryant once said that he didn’t have many friends while growing up.
• Kobe Bryant married Vanessa Lanie in 2006. They have four children together
  • Gianna Maria Bryant
  • Natalia Diomonte Bryant
  • Bianka Bella Bryant
  • Capri Kobe Bryant