Kobe Bryant was more than just a basketball player. He was a global phenomenon who approached life with intense focus. You know him for the championships, but his mind worked differently than others. He spoke multiple languages and won an Oscar for his storytelling. Consequently, his legacy extends far beyond the hardwood court. His "Mamba Mentality" continues to inspire athletes everywhere. Let’s explore the untold stories of the Lakers legend.
Kobe Bryant
His parents named him after a high-quality steak from Japan. They saw the word “Kobe” on a restaurant menu and loved the powerful sound of it immediately.
Surprisingly, his middle name was simply Bean. He received this name from his father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, who played pro basketball in the 1970s.
Kobe Bryant spent a large portion of his childhood living in Italy. Therefore, he spoke fluent Italian and used it to hide his tactics from other teams during games.
He took the R&B star Brandy to his high school senior prom. Because he was already famous, private security had to escort the couple into the ballroom.
Before dominating the court, Kobe Bryant tried to launch a serious rap career. In fact, he recorded a track called K.O.B.E. with supermodel Tyra Banks in 2000.
The Charlotte Hornets drafted him first, not the Los Angeles Lakers. However, they traded the 17-year-old immediately because they doubted a high school kid could succeed.
He followed a training routine that seemed impossible. For instance, he started his workouts at 4:00 AM to ensure he outworked everyone else.
Amazingly, he learned to play Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata just by listening. He practiced the difficult song on a piano to surprise his wife with a romantic gift.
He possessed a vertical leap of 38 inches [97 centimeters] in his prime. This explosive power allowed him to soar over centers who stood 7 feet [2.1 meters] tall.
Kobe Bryant was a massive fan of the Harry Potter book series. He strongly identified with Slytherin house because he respected their ambition and desire to be the best.
His famous nickname “Black Mamba” came from the action movie Kill Bill. He wanted to mimic the snake because it strikes with 99 percent accuracy.
He became the first African American to win an Oscar for Best Animated Short. His film Dear Basketball proved he was a talented storyteller as well as an athlete.
During his final NBA game, he scored an incredible 60 points. He took 50 shots that night to ensure his career ended with a massive bang.
The Lakers retired both number 8 and number 24 in his honor. They did this because he played like two different Hall of Fame players during his career.
Kobe Bryant once went diving to observe great white sharks in the wild. He studied how the predators waited for the perfect moment to strike their prey.
