3. Something interesting about Kobe
- Kobe was named after a "Kobe" steak listed on the menu of a Japanese restaurant or,
depending on the source, was named for the Japanese Restaurant itself
- His mother's name is Pamela Bryant
- He has two sisters, Sharia and Shaya
- Kobe's father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, played eight seasons in the NBA, for the
Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, Houston Rockets. Joe scored a career high 34
points for the 80-81 Clippers and averages 8.7 points in 606 games
- Kobe is fluent in Italian after spending eight childhood years in Italy, where father Joe
was finishing his pro career
- Kobe owns a professional Italian league basketball team
- High School Coach: Gregg Downer
- Kobe took pop music star Brandy to his high school prom
- He lists "Star Wars" as his all-time favorite movie
- In May, 2000, Kobe became engaged to Vanessa Laine, a senior at Marina High School
- In April, 2001, Kobe married Vanessa Laine in a private ceremony at Dana Point, CA
- His daughter’s name is Natalia
4. Career Highlights
• Selected by USA Today and Parade Magazine as the National High School Player of the
Year as a senior at Lower Merion H.S.
• Made his NBA debut at the age of 18 years, 2 months and 11 days old, became the
youngest player ever to appear in an NBA game, against the Minnesota Timberwolves on
11/3/96
• Made his first career start, scoring 12 points, against the Dallas Mavericks on 1/28/97
• Became the youngest All-Star in NBA history, posting a team-high 18 points and 6
rebounds, in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game in New York
• Won the Nestle Crunch Slam Dunk during the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland
and participated in the Schick Rookie Game, posting a rookie game-record 31 points and 8
rebounds
• Was named MVP of the 2002 All-Star Game after tallying 31 points, 5 rebounds and 5
assists
• Made an NBA-record 12 shots from 3-point range, including 9 straight
• His 9 straight 3-pointers is also an NBA single-game record
• Three NBA championship titles with LA Lakers
5. Points 56 vs. Memphis 1/14/02 Career Highlights
Field Goals Made 21 vs. Memphis 1/14/02
Field Goals Attempted 47 @ Boston 11/07/02
Three Point Field Goals Made 12 vs. Seattle 1/07/03
Three Point Field Goals Attempted 18 vs. Seattle 1/07/03
Free Throws Made 23 @ Cleveland 1/30/01
Free Throws Attempted 26 @ Cleveland1/30/01
Offensive Rebounds 8 @ Dallas 4/18/00
Defensive Rebounds 10 - 4 Times
Total Rebounds 15 - 2 Times
Assists 14 - 2 Times
Steals 6 - 3 Times
Blocks 5 - 3 Times
Minutes Played 54 vs. Houston 2/18/03
6. "Kobe is really a gifted young player,“
said GM of Charllote Hornets Jerry West
about Bryant, who was 17 at the time.
2002-03 Statistics
“Kobe plays the best basketball I’ve ever
PPG 29.7 seen,” said Utah’s playmaker Mark
Jackson.
RPG 6.90
“Kobe is a complete player and nobody
APG 5.9 can stop him now,” said his collegue
from Lakers Rick Fox.
EFF +27.68
“Kobe plays fantastic this season. He is
the only candidate for MVP title. He
made all the records… He sometimes
inspires me, too.” said Shaq.
“In normal situations I don’t approve so
much shootin’ from hard positions, but
Kobe shot as good as possible so it
would be complete madness to stop him
from shooting,” says Tex Wintrer, Kobe’s
coach assistant.
What others said about Kobe…
7. What Kobe said about the others…
-about MJ-
“After Magic, Barkley, Wilkins went, Jordan was
the only one left from that brilliant generation. He’s
everybody’s idol, not only mine. I’m delighted
because I was at the All-Star Game with him. That
was his last All-Star game. He’s retiring. That
game was something special, for remembering. I
respect him very much.”
-about Peja Stojakovic-
“Peja is fantastic player, I like the way he plays.
He has great shoot, he is a good assistant and
rebounder. Complete player. He’s my favourite
European player.”
-about Shaq-
“Shaq is my buddy and I know that he wants me to
be MVP, but that’s important title so I have to go
through it by myself. I need him for winning the
fourth championship. And fifth, sixth…”
8. Other interesting stuff
- Bryant made over 10000 points in his career and is the youngest player who overcame that
number of points
- Two times this season he made over 50 points in one game
- He is waiting the day when he will be able to play for the US National Team
- Since his daughter’s birth he is different man, he says.
- Just after he came to NBA, Charlotte traded Bryant’s signing rights to the LA Lakers for
Yugoslavian center Vlade Divac
9. Kobe wore Adidas shoes and he had a contract with this company which payed him a few
million dollars to wear their equipment. He is now promoting some of the Reebok and Nike stuff.
When Bryant signs his new deal (with Nike or Reebok), he will have to pay close to $8 million to
Adidas for leaving the company seven months ago after a six-year relationship.
Kobe’s shoes
