basketball playerPosition:GuardBorn:08/23/78Height:1.98mWeight:99.8kgHighSchool:LowerMerion(PA)KobeBryantBornonAugust23,1978,inPhiladelphia,PennsylvaniaThesonoffamedNBAstarJoeJellybeanBryantAttendedLowerMerionHighSchoolWenttoNBAstraightfromHighSchool13thpickintheFirstRoundofthe1996NBADraftbytheCharlotteHornetsHisfirstNBAteamisLosAngelesLakersandheisstillthereHewearsajerseywithnumber8onitbefore1year,butnowits24About 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 mothers name is Pamela Bryant- He has two sisters, Sharia and Shaya- Kobes 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 Something interesting about Kobe 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 NataliaCareer 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 YorkWon 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 LakersPoints 56 vs. Memphis 1/14/02FieldGoalsMade21 vs. Memphis 1/14/02FieldGoalsAttempted47 Boston 11/07/02ThreePointFieldGoalsMade12 vs. Seattle 1/07/03ThreePointFieldGoalsAttempted18 vs. Seattle 1/07/03FreeThrowsMade23 Cleveland 1/30/01FreeThrowsAttempted26 Cleveland1/30/01OffensiveRebounds8 Dallas 4/18/00DefensiveRebounds10 - 4 TimesTotalRebounds15 - 2 TimesAssists14 - 2 TimesSteals6 - 3 TimesBlocks5 - 3 TimesMinutesPlayed54 vs. Houston 2/18/03Career HighlightsWhat others said about KobeKobe 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 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 shooting 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. 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 DivacSome pictures from Kobes High school daysSome exclusive photos of KobevideoThe EndThis was a short story about my favorite basketball player KOBE BRYANT