Kobe Bryant was one of the best basketball players in history. In his twenty years with the National Basketball Association (NBA), he was named Most Valuable Player, had eighteen All-Star appearances, and led the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships. The son of a professional basketball player, Bryant grew up in Italy and Philadelphia. After joining the NBA in 1996, he began making basketball history. After retiring, Bryant found other forms of success, such as winning an Academy Award, publishing books, and working with charities. He also helped raise his four daughters with his wife, Vanessa. In January 2020, Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others died in a helicopter crash. Bryant’s family, friends, and fans around the world mourned. But the hall of famer’s legacy, both on and off the basketball court, lives on.
