Kobe Bryant

basketball player

Position: Guard Born: 08/23/78

Height: 1,98 m
Weight: 99,8 kg High School: Lower Merion (PA)

About Kobe
Born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The son of famed NBA star Joe "Jellybean" Bryant Attended Lower Merion High School

Went to NBA straight from High School

13th pick in the First Round of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets His first NBA team is Los Angeles Lakers and he is still there He wears a jersey with number 8 on it

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 daughters name is Natalia

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

Points 56 vs. Memphis 1/14/02 Field Goals Made 21 vs. Memphis 1/14/02 Field Goals Attempted 47 @ Boston 11/07/02

Career Highlights

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

2002-03 Statistics PPG 29.7 RPG 6.90 APG 5.9 EFF +27.68

"Kobe is really a gifted young player, said GM of Charllote Hornets Jerry West about Bryant, who was 17 at the time. Kobe plays the best basketball Ive ever seen, said Utahs playmaker Mark Jackson. Kobe is a complete player and nobody can stop him now, said his collegue from Lakers Rick Fox. 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 dont 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, Kobes coach assistant.

What others said about Kobe

What Kobe said about the others

-about MJAfter Magic, Barkley, Wilkins went, Jordan was the only one left from that brilliant generation. Hes everybodys idol, not only mine. Im delighted because I was at the All-Star Game with him. That was his last All-Star game. Hes retiring. That game was something special, for remembering. I respect him very much. -about Peja StojakovicPeja is fantastic player, I like the way he plays. He has great shoot, he is a good assistant and rebounder. Complete player. Hes my favourite European player. -about ShaqShaq is my buddy and I know that he wants me to be MVP, but thats important title so I have to go through it by myself. I need him for winning the fourth championship. And fifth, sixth

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 daughters birth he is different man, he says. - Just after he came to NBA, Charlotte traded Bryants signing rights to the LA Lakers for Yugoslavian center Vlade Divac

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.

Kobes shoes

Some pictures from Kobes High school days

This was a short story about my favourite basketball player KOBE BRYANT

The End
presentation made by Nrupan S krishna