When Did Kobe Join the NBA?

Kobe Bryant joined the NBA in 1996 when he was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets as the 13th overall pick.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bryant’s father, Joe Bryant, was a professional basketball player who had a stint with the Philadelphia 76ers. When Kobe was just six years old, the family moved to Italy, where Joe played pro basketball. Kobe became fluent in Italian and developed a love for soccer. In 1991, the family moved back to the United States, and Kobe enrolled at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, where he started playing basketball.

Kobe’s family background

Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents are former professional basketball players Joe Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant. Kobe is the youngest of three children. He has two older sisters, Sharia and Shaya.

Kobe’s father played basketball professionally in Europe while his mother stayed at home with the children. The family often moved from one town to another as Joe changed teams. Kobe attended elementary school in Italy and flew back to the United States to attend middle school in Philadelphia. He then returned to Italy to finish high school before enrolling at Lower Merion High School outside of Philadelphia.

Kobe’s high school career

Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of former NBA player Joe Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant. Kobe’s parents named him after the Japanese steakhouse Kobe Japanese Steakhouse, which they frequented when he was a child. His middle name, Bean, was derived from his father’s nickname “Jellybean”. As a young child, Bryant was raised by his mother in Rockey Ridge Road in Lower Merion Township, just outside Philadelphia. Kobe had a sister named Sharia and a brother named Shaya.
Bryant’s father retired from the NBA in 1983, but he remained close to the game. He would often take Kobe to his old team’s games. The Bryants would also travel to Italy during the summers to visit family members. It was there that Kobe fell in love with soccer, a sport he played until he was 13 years old. When he returned to the United States, he began playing basketball.

At Lower Merion High School just outside Philadelphia, Bryant distinguished himself as one of the nation’s finest schoolboy players ever seen. He led the Aces to a 31-3 record and the state championship as a junior

Kobe’s college career

In his freshmen year, Kobe averaged 15.5 points per game and was named to the conference all-freshman first team. By his sophomore year, he was one of the starters and helped lead the team to the NCAA championships where they lost to Kentucky. After losing in the NCAA championship, Kobe decided to forgo his final two years of college and entered the 1996 NBA draft.

NBA Career

Kobe Bryant was drafted into the NBA by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac. Kobe quickly became one of the best players in the NBA, winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 1997. He would go on to win 5 NBA championships with the Lakers.

Kobe’s early years in the NBA

Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a child, Kobe’s father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, played professional basketball in Europe. When Kobe was six years old, his family moved back to the United States and settled in the city of Lower Merion, Pennsylvania. It was there that Kobe honed his skills as a young basketball player.

In 1996, Kobe Bryant entered the NBA Draft straight out of high school. He was selected with the 13th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets but was later traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. In his rookie season, Kobe averaged 7.6 points per game and earned a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. The following year, he became the youngest player in NBA history to start an All-Star Game when he was just 19 years old.

Over the next 20 years, Kobe would go on to become one of the greatest players in NBA history. He was a 5-time champion with the Lakers and was named MVP in 2008 and 2009. He also earned 18 All-Star selections and was named to 15 All-NBA Teams. In 2016, he retired from the NBA as the league’s third all-time leading scorer with 33,643 points.

Kobe’s prime years

Kobe’s best years were from 2000-2010. He won 3 championships with the Lakers, and was named Finals MVP all 3 times. He also won a regular season MVP in 2008. He was selected to the All-Star team 10 times and was named All-Star MVP 4 times.

Kobe’s later years in the NBA

Kobe played his final NBA game on April 13, 2016, scoring 60 points in a 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz. He became the first player in NBA history to score 60 points in his farewell game.

After the game, Kobe gave an emotional speech, thanking his family, friends, teammates and fans.

“To every kid that’s ever put on a Lakers uniform, I want to thank you,” he said. “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

“I grew up a diehard Lakers fan. It’s unreal to me that I’m actually here playing for them.”

Kobe was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in 1996 and then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Lakers, winning five championships and 18 All-Star selections. He also won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 2008 and 2012.

Post-NBA Career

Kobe Bryant played his final game in the NBA on April 13, 2016, scoring 60 points in a 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz. Since then, he has kept a relatively low profile, enjoying retirement with his family. In the years since his retirement, Kobe has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, won an Oscar, and started a business venture.

Kobe’s post-NBA career

Kobe Bryant has had a successful career after his retirement from the NBA. He has become a successful businessman, and he is also an investor in a number of businesses. He has also been active in philanthropy, and he has started his own foundation.

Kobe’s legacy

Kobe Bean Bryant was an American professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time. Bryant helped the Lakers win five NBA championships, and was named the Finals MVP on four occasions. He was also a two-time Olympic gold medalist, winning medals in 2008 and 2012.

Bryant’s individual accolades include being selected to 18 NBA All-Star teams, 15 All-NBA teams, and 12 All-Defensive teams. He is the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer, holding numerous other franchise records. He is also the youngest player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points.

Bryant announced his retirement from professional basketball on November 29, 2015, ending his illustrious 20-year career with the Lakers. On April 13, 2016, he scored 60 points in his final NBA game against the Utah Jazz—the most points scored by any player in their final game—making him the only player in NBA history to score 60+ points in their farewell game. In 2020, he was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2020.