Kobe Bryant- 20 Things You Didn’t Know About The Incredible NBA’er
Whether you’re a huge basketball fan, or you only watch when a friend has the TV tuned to ESPN, chances are you’ve spotted Kobe Bryant. Number #24 on the LA Lakers is quite the celebrity, known as an all-around great guy on and off the court. Bryant is still regarded to this day as one of the best players to ever step foot on the basketball court, even after his retirement in 2016. This 6’6″ powerhouse of a player combines class and ability effortlessly, earning the title as one of the greatest ever. There’s way more to Kobe than meets the eye, we’re sure most of you don’t know everything about this incredible guy, so read on for the inside scoop into the life of a prodigy!
Philadelphia Born, Italian Raised
Although he was born in Philadelphia, Kobe Bryant and his family moved to Italy when he was just 5 years old. The Bryant family made the move after dad, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant (top middle), had retired from the NBA, and decided to continue his career playing overseas. The family resided in Rieti, a small city in the center of Italy for 9 years. They moved back to the States when Kobe (bottom right) was 14 years old, just in time to start high school. Kobe attributes his skill and success to learning basketball outside of the U.S. He claims that he had to rely primarily on fundamentals, while kids in America are taught to rely on athleticism. Other players have also come out in recent years and made similar claims.
Philadelphia Born, Italian Raised
