His middle name, Bean, was derived from his father's nickname "Jellybean". Bryant's household was Catholic and he was brought up with this faith. In 2003, Bryant was charged with sexual assault, with the alleged sufferer being a 19-year-old hotel worker.

On March sixteen, Bryant scored a season-high sixty five points in a home sport in opposition to the Portland Trail Blazers, which helped end the Lakers 7-game losing streak. This was the second-best scoring efficiency of his 11-year profession. The only different Laker to do so was Elgin Baylor, who additionally scored 50+ in three consecutive contests in December 1962. Bryant finished the year with a complete of ten 50-plus point video games, matched only by Chamberlain. Bryant additionally gained his second straight scoring title that season. Throughout the 2006–07 season, his jersey turned the top promoting NBA jersey within the United States and China.

This materials will not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by no much less than quarter-hour. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Mutual Fund and ETF information offered by Refinitiv Lipper. Bryant was born to former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant, who named him after the well-known beef of Kobe, Japan. When he was 6 years old, his father retired from the NBA and moved the household to Rieti, Italy, where Kobe learned the means to converse fluent Italian and the way to play basketball.

A month later, at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, the 2 were seen laughing collectively. In Bryant's second season, he received extra taking part in time and commenced to point out extra of his abilities as a proficient young guard. As a end result, Bryant's level averages more than doubled from 7.6 to fifteen.four factors per recreation. Bryant would see a rise in minutes when the Lakers "played small", which would characteristic Bryant playing small forwardalongside the guards he would normally back up. Bryant was the runner-up for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award, and through fan voting, he also turned the youngestNBA All-Star starter in NBA historical past. He was joined by teammates O'Neal, Van Exel, and Jones, making it the first time since 1983 that 4 players on the same staff had been chosen to play in the same All-Star Game.

But Bryant was a different type of athlete, the son of a well-to-do Philadelphia family who spent his youth in Europe. His uncommon upbringing and steely determination — holding himself and those round him to the best standards — typically led to friction with coaches and teammates. The extremely acclaimed NBA 2K video game collection has introduced its cowl athlete for the upcoming NBA 2K24, and it's none aside from the legendary Kobe Bryant. He emerged as one of many greatest basketball players of all time along with his distinctive skills and dedication to the sport. The quarterback led his fired-up group out of the burden room on that day in Arizona, everyone floating onto the apply area.

However, it was not for something basketball related, somewhat it was about Bryant being an enormous fan of FC Barcelona. CNN estimated Bryant's endorsement deals in 2007 to be price $16 million a 12 months. In 2010, Bryant was ranked third behind Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan in Forbes‍ '​ listing of the world's highest-paid athletes with $48 million. He said his religion and a priest helped him via difficult occasions, such as the interval following his accusation of rape. A Catholic cantor stated she was impressed by Bryant's faith, and the respect that he confirmed her. Bryant and his household were common attendees at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Newport Beach.

Prior to saying his retirement, he had been steadfast about not wanting the fuss of a staged farewell tour, preferring to hear boos as an alternative of cheers. Previously, Bryant was respected however not beloved, and he was astonished on the cheers he was now receiving. Bryant later confirmed his desire for West's return to the franchise however denied stating that he would need to be traded if that did not happen. Bryant was later shown in an infamous novice video saying that middle Andrew Bynum ought to have been traded for All-Star Jason Kidd. Bryant was an NBA Most Valuable Player, five-time NBA champion, and some of the influential players who has ever picked up a basketball.

On April thirteen, 2011, the NBA fined Bryant $100,000 for steering a homosexual slur at referee Bennie Adams in frustration in yesterday's game. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation praised the NBA's choice to nice Bryant, and the Human Rights Campaign stated that Bryant's language was a "shame" and "distasteful". Bryant acknowledged that he was open to discussing the matter with homosexual rights teams and needed to enchantment his fantastic. Bryant and different Lakers appeared in a Lakers public service announcement denouncing his habits. The staff's quest for another three-peat was ended when they were swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs.