Monday January 27, 2020

Kobe Bean Bryant, 41, was an American professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career in the National Basketball Association with the Los Angeles Lakers. He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships. Bryant was the first guard ever drafted directly out of high school. Since Bryant was still 17 at the time, his parents had to cosign his contract with the Lakers until he was able to sign his own when he turned 18 before the season began.

Bryant was called “one of the greatest players in the history of our game” by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. He was the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer, and his five titles are tied for the most in franchise history. With career averages of 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, he was considered one of the most complete players in NBA history. Bryant scored 40-plus points in 121 games, and 21 times he recorded a triple-double.

Both numbers he wore during his career, 8 and 24, were retired by the Lakers on December 18, 2017. In the 2008 Summer Olympics, he won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. men’s basketball team. He won another gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Bryant was an 18-time All-Star. He was chosen a record 18 straight times, each time as a starter. Four times Bryant was named the All-Star MVP.

Tragically, his daughter Gianna was with him.

He is survived by his wife Vanessa and their daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri, his sisters Sharia and Shaya, and his parents Joe and Pam Bryant.