Kobe Bryant’s Death, Biography, NBA, Stats, Net worth & More

Kobe Bryant’s death on January 26, 2020 in a helicopter crash in which a total of 7 people including his daughter Gianna (13 years) died. Bryant was 42 years old at that time.

Kobe Bryant ‘s Biography

Who was Kobe Bryant?

Kobe Bryant was one of America’s greatest basketball players, who played his entire 20-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant was one of the most popular and successful basketball players of all time. He was the youngest player (18 years old) in history to play for the NBA.

Why is Kobe Bryant so famous?

Kobe Bryant is also known as “Black Mamba”. He was the first player in the history of the game of basketball to receive “Defensive Honours”.

He was the only player to be included in the 18-All Star group multiple times in his 20-year career. Let us tell you that every year seven players are selected in the All Star Group, in which they were always on top.

Along with this, he won 5 NBA-National Basketball Association Championships, 4 times MVP Award, 2 times NBA Finals MVP Award and single-regular season MVP Award.

Kobe Bryant Early Life and Family Background

Kobe Bryant was born on 23 August, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. His father, Jellybean Bryant, was a former NBA basketball player who played basketball for the Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets. and mother was Pamela Cox Bryant. He had three brothers and sisters.

When Kobe was six years old, his father Jellybean Bryant retired from the NBA. After this he went to Rieti, Italy.

Kobe was fond of basketball since childhood and was a big fan of the Los Angeles Lakers. When he was 13, his family moved back to Philadelphia. He considered Michael Jordanard as his source of inspiration.

How did Kobe Bryant get the name Kobe Bin Bryant?

According to the source, his father named him “Kobe” based on the Japanese language. Which means “beef” (cow meat).

When his parents read the name on the menu while they were having dinner at a restaurant in Japan, his name became Kobe Bean Bryant.

Kobe Bryant’s Educational Background

Kobe received his early education from Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia, where he became one of the rising players in basketball.

After high school, he began playing college basketball at the University of Pennsylvania and led his team to a state championship title. For this title, he was named Naismith High School Player of the Year.

Kobe Bryant’s Career With NBA

Kobe Bryant was drafted into the NBA in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets as the 13th overall pick. However, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in the draft for Vlad Divac.

He won his first championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000 and then won four more championships with the team in 2001, 2002, 2009, and 2010.

Thanks to his talented play, he quickly became one of the best players in the NBA. He played with the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years (1996-2016).

While playing with the Los Angeles Lakers, he was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice in 2009 and 2010. He was a 15-time All-NBA team member and 12-time All-Defensive Team member.

Kobe Bryant’s Career Stats

Kobe Bryant set many records in his 20-year career with the NBA. He was a good defender and the all-time leading scorer.

Here are some statistics from his career.

• Games played: 1,346
• Points: 33,643 (3rd all-time)
• Rebounds: 5,246
• Assists: 6,306
• Theft: 1,944
• Block: 733
• Field goal percentage: 44.7%
• Three-point percentage: 32.9%
• Free Throw Percentage: 83.7%

Kobe Bryant’s Retirement

Kobe Bryant retired from the NBA on November 30, 2015 at the age of 37. He cited deteriorating physical condition as the reason for his retirement.

Kobe Bryant was one of the greatest players in American basketball history. He was known for his brilliant and talented game. He played his entire life in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant’s retirement ceremony was held on April 13, 2016, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. His jersey numbers were 8 and 24 which were retired forever.

Kobe Bryant Matches missed in his career

In 2003, Kobe Bryant had to stay away from the game for almost two years due to allegations of rape of a 19-year-old girl named Faber Caitlin in Edwards, Colorado.

His contracts with big companies were also terminated which included McDonald’s, Ferreira Spa, Coca Cola etc.

Kobe Bryant’s Achievements

Kobe Bryant won many awards during his 20-year NBA career. Here are some of the most notable awards and achievements he has received:

Who is Kobe Bryant’s wife?

Kobe Bryant was married to Vanessa Marie Bryant in 2001. They have four daughters: Natalia (born January 19, 2003), Gianna (born May 1, 2006), Bianca (born December 5, 2016), and Capri (born January 20, 2019).

They first met in November 1999 when he was 20 and Vanessa was 17. After about six months, they got married on April 18, 2001, in a Catholic church in Dana Point, California.

When did Kobe Bryant died?

On January 26, 2020, a total of 7 people including Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna (13 years) died in a helicopter crash. Bryant was 42 years old at that time.

After Kobe’s death, his wife Vanessa is raising their three daughters. He founded the Mamba and Mamba Quita Foundation in honour of Kobe and Gianna, which supports young athletes.

Their daughter Natalia is currently a second-year student at the University of Southern California and is pursuing a career in modelling. She recently appeared in campaigns for several major brands including Tiffany & Co. and Guess. Bianca is 6 years old and interested in fashion and Capri is 4 years old.

In 2018, Kobe wrote a poem for his daughters titled “Dear Basketball”, which was published in the Players’ Tribune. The poem was a love letter to the game of basketball and his daughters.

Kobe Bryant’s Statue

On 8 February 2024, the first statue has been unveiled out of three statues of Kobe Bryant, which is a 19-foot bronze statue. The statue raises the top air of Kobe’s right hand, which shows the moment after his 81-point performance on 22 January 2006 against Toronto Reppers.

The number 2 shown in this statue was his daughter Jiana Bryant’s jersey number, number 8 and number 24 is the jersey number of Cobe, which he played for his full career.

Kobe Bryant’s Net worth

Kobe Bryant’s net worth was estimated to be approximately $600 million at the time of his death. He was one of the highest paid basketball players in the world.

He earned a salary of more than $328 million during his 20-year career. He has also acquired wealth from several businesses including real estate and technology.

Apart from this, Bryant was also the brand ambassador of big companies like Nike, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s.

Bryant was the co-founder of sports drink company Bodymar, which was sold to Coca-Cola in 2018 for $5.6 billion. He was the co-founder of venture capital firm Bryant Stibel, which has invested in more than 60 companies.

Details of Kobe Bryant’s total net worth for the last seven years:

Kobe Bryant’s favourite Vehicles

Conclusion

Overall, Kobe Bryant was the greatest player of all time in the history of basketball who left an indelible mark in the sports world with his skill. He was also a charitable person who made important contributions among the people of the society.

Kobe was an inspiration for the young generation. He will always be remembered in basketball history.