Kobe Bryant was an athletic basketball player in the NBA. He was from the United States Of America. Most people loved him because of his awesome skills. He was the highest-paid basketball player in the NBA.
Unfortunately, he died an untimely death at the ripe age of 41 when his helicopter crashed. This came as a shock to the entire world.
Kobe Bryant Career Highlights
Here are some of the highlights of Kobe Bryant’s career –
- NBA All-Rookie Team (1997)
- Sportsman of the Year, BET Awards (2002, 2003, 2008)
- NBA Most Valuable Player (2008)
- NBA All-Star (18 Time Winner)
- 5 Time NBA Champion (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)
- ESPY Icon Award (2016)
Kobe Bryant’s Recent Net Worth
The net worth of Kobe Bryant is 600 million dollars. Yes, he was worth that much at the time of his death. It was a tragedy that his fans will never get over.
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The accident not only took his life but also the life of his 13-year-old daughter. He was a great professional basketball player whose skills were tremendous and out of the world.
How did Kobe Bryant Spend his Money?
Kobe Bryant was a legend. He was one of the highest-paid players in the NBA. He was so electric that people loved him. He had a tough routine and a packed schedule. He was earnest about playing, and his mind did not wander when he was playing on the court.
However, Kobe Bryant did enjoy the other aspects of life after his retirement. He had a thing for Italian cars. He had 3 large houses in Orange County, California. He also had a personal helicopter that took him to his games.
He said that this helped him avoid the traffic. He always had a strange fashion sense. He was wealthy, and he partnered with Alibaba to produce his documentary Muse. This allowed him to sell his inspired products in China.
Kobe Bryant Career
During his NBA career with the Lakers, he earned a total of 328 million dollars. He earned around 350 million dollars from the endorsement itself. During his final year in the NBA, he won 25 million dollars.
His notable endorsements are with Nike, Sprite, MacDonalds, Lenovo, etc. He was very popular in China, too, so he signed endorsement deals with companies like Alibaba, Sina, and Mercedes Benz.
To say that he was immensely successful seems like an understanding. The man was a living legend. He signed the Adidas contract in 1996. It was worth 48 million dollars over six years. He did face sexual assault allegations in the year 2003.
This cost him many of his endorsement deals. However, due to lack of any evidence, his endorsement deals returned after few years. Nike was the only exception during this time. They signed a 4-year deal endorsement with him on the very year he faced allegations of sexual harassment.
Kobe Bryant Early Life
Kobe Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents literally named him after a famous beef found in Japan. His father was also an NBA player. When he was 6, his father retired.
They moved to Italy, and his father played then with a European league. This caused Kobe to become fluent in Italian as a language. When Kobe’s dad finally retired for good altogether, they moved back to the United States of America in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Kobe had a natural talent for basketball from a young age, and he led his high school team to victory. He was excellent, and he had high grades too. So he was not only athletic but smart too.
He became the youngest player in history to be drafted by the NBA. He had high SAT scores, so he could have chosen to go to any good college of his choice, but he decided to get straight to the pros. His first NBA contract was of 3 years at 3.5 million dollars.
Kobe Bryant Personal Life
In 1999 Kobe Bryant got married to Vanessa Laine. They met when she was working as a background dancer. They got engaged within 6 months of their initial meeting. They got married when she was still in high school.
Kobe’s parents did not approve of this wedding, and they did not attend the wedding ceremony either. Their first child was born in 2003 and the second in 2006.
They eventually had 2 more children. All of them were daughters. In 2011 Vanessa filed for divorce. However, they eventually reconciled with time. We know that Kobe loved his wife and all of his daughters very much.
Kobe Bryant Death
Kobe Bryant died on January 26 on 2020. It was a very sudden accident that no one saw coming. He was just 41 years of age. He died in an accident. In a helicopter crash, to be precise. The news of Kobe Bryant’s death came as an absolute shock to the entire world.
His fans were heartbroken and probably still are. No one was prepared to bid farewell to their star. It was just too sudden to comprehend. Sadly 8 other people died in the crash along with him. His 13-year-old daughter was also one of the victims.
Kobe Bryant’s Age and Height:
Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, and he tragically passed away on January 26, 2020, at the age of 41. The basketball legend stood at a height of 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters), a physical presence that contributed to his dominance on the court.
Kobe Bryant’s Family and Background:
Kobe Bryant’s family background includes:
- Parents: His father, Joe Bryant, was also a professional basketball player, and his mother, Pamela Bryant, was an educator. His father’s basketball career played a significant role in his early exposure to the sport.
- Siblings: Kobe had two sisters, Sharia and Shaya, who have stayed relatively out of the public eye.
Kobe Bryant’s Relationships and Marriage:
Kobe Bryant’s personal life included:
- Spouse and Kids: He was married to Vanessa Bryant, and the couple had four daughters: Natalia, Gianna (who tragically passed away alongside Kobe), Bianka, and Capri.
- Ex-Affairs: Before his marriage to Vanessa, Kobe faced scrutiny for a high-profile legal case, which was later resolved.
Kobe Bryant’s Education:
Kobe Bryant attended Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania, where he gained national attention for his basketball talents. After high school, he made the leap directly to the NBA, bypassing college.
Kobe Bryant’s Awards and Accolades:
Kobe Bryant’s contributions to basketball earned him numerous awards, including five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVPs, and 18 NBA All-Star selections. He was also named to the All-NBA First Team 15 times and won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA.
Kobe Bryant’s Presence on Social Media:
Kobe Bryant maintained an active presence on social media, particularly on Instagram, where he shared insights into his life, family, and post-retirement endeavors, allowing fans to connect with him on a personal level.
Kobe Bryant’s Basketball Stats:
Kobe Bryant’s statistics are a testament to his basketball greatness. He scored 33,643 points during his NBA career, ranking him fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list at the time of his retirement. He also achieved numerous other milestones, including scoring 81 points in a single game.
Kobe Bryant’s Contributions Beyond Basketball:
Kobe Bryant’s impact extended beyond the basketball court. He released a rap album titled “K.O.B.E” and was involved in various product endorsements. He also authored books, including “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play” and “Legacy and the Queen.”
Kobe Bryant’s Teammates and Jersey Numbers:
Throughout his career, Kobe Bryant had the privilege of playing alongside talented teammates, including Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol. He wore two jersey numbers during his career, 8 and 24, both of which were retired by the Los Angeles Lakers in his honor.
Kobe Bryant’s Final Resting Place:
Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna, is buried at Pacific View Memorial Park in Newport Beach, California.
What Caused Kobe Bryant’s Tragic Passing:
Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on January 26, 2020, due to poor visibility conditions.
What Kobe Bryant Is Famous For:
Kobe Bryant is famous for his unparalleled basketball skills, winning mentality, and his nickname, “The Black Mamba.” He is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
At What Age Did Kobe Bryant Retire:
Kobe Bryant retired from professional basketball at the age of 37 in 2016, concluding his illustrious 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Conclusion
We hope that you liked this article. We are unfortunate because such a legend left this world. But then again, we are all humans, and we are all going to end someday. Enough with the depressing talk, though.
Kobe Bryant was a legend, and he will remain alive in the memories of his fans forever. Thank you so much for reading this article. We hope that you liked it.
We have tried our best to bring out the focus points of his life in front of you. It’s only unfortunate that he died in such an accident. However, every time some fan remembers him, he will be loved. Do recommend this article to others if you think that we could do him any justice. Take care and have a good day.