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Today Would’ve Marked Kobe’s 46th Birthday
Kobe Bean Bryant was a tenacious basketball player, but don’t for a second think that his greatest contributions came on the court.
Kobe was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His life was tragically cut short in 2020 after a helicopter crash claimed the lives of all nine people on board. Kobe’s daughter Gianna ‘Gigi’ Bryant was unfortunately on the helicopter as well.
The son of an NBA player, Kobe’s dad Joe retired from the league when his son was just 6 years old. The Bryant family then moved to Italy, where Joe would continue his pro career.
In Italy Kobe continued to cultivate his love for the game of basketball. He paid close attention to the NBA. His favorite team was the Los Angeles Lakers. Seven years later the Bryants returned to Philly, and Kobe’s desire to follow in his dad’s footsteps grew even more.
Following four stellar years of high school basketball, Kobe skipped college and was drafted 13th overall by the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. He famously never played a second there, however. Kobe forced his way to the Los Angeles Lakers, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Kobe’s Legacy: On The Court
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To many, Kobe is a top-five all-time NBA player. To others, he’s top two. Some argue he’s the greatest player to ever live.
His NBA accolades are almost unmatched regardless of where he falls in your hierarchy.
Bryant spent 20 years in the NBA. He made the All-Star game 18 times. The only players with more appearances are LeBron James (20) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19).
Kobe led the league in scoring twice (2006, 2007).
He won five NBA championships and was a part of the last NBA three-peat (Los Angeles Lakers, 2000, 2001, 2002). In those five Finals trips, he collected two NBA Finals MVP Awards.
Some fans contend Kobe deserved multiple league MVPs, but he finally claimed the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award in 2008. That year he played in all 82 regular season games. He averaged 28.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
Kobe also won two gold medals with the U.S.A. Men’s Basketball teams (2008, 2012). In the 2012 gold medal match with Spain, he poured in 20 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. His Olympic record was a perfect 26-0.
Kobe Bryant was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame in 2021.
Kobe’s Legacy: Off The Court
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Kobe’s grit and determination didn’t only shine through while he was playing basketball. His off-the-court accolades are just as impressive as anything he did during his pro career. Here are just a few of his off-the-court contributions.
Kobe was always a huge advocate for women’s sports. We can’t help but wonder how proud he would’ve been with the way the women’s game of basketball has grown over the last few years. The father of four girls, it’s safe to say the self-proclaimed ‘girl dad’ would’ve been at more than just a few WNBA games today.
He also wrote and narrated the short film Dear Basketball (2017). The heartwarming project won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Kobe was the first Black person to win in that category, and the first former professional athlete to be nominated and win an Oscar in any category.
Kobe and his wife founded the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation. The program specialized in providing resources for educational, social, and sports programs, which helped improve the lives of children and families in need.
He was also an author and wrote the autobiography The Mamba Mentality: How I Play . The New York Times No. 2 best seller covered personal insights on Kobe’s life and basketball career.
Kobe had a special relationship with the country of China, of which he had many fans. In 2009 he founded the Kobe Bryant China Fund: Encourage. The program promoted sports, education, and culture between American and Chinese children.
Along with entrepreneur Jeff Stibel, Kobe founded Bryant Stibel in 2013. This company focused on helping with strategy and operational support for businesses.
Kobe was a national ambassador for After School All-Stars and visited more than 200 kids battling life-threatening illnesses with Make-A-Wish.
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