Facts About Kobe Bryant: Beyond the Basketball Court

You may know him as a Los Angeles Lakers star, a five-time NBA championship winner or one who was declared an All-star 18 times throughout his career. Even so, there’s still a lot about Kobe Bryant away from his life on the court that many don’t know about.

Let’s look at seven little-known fascinating facts about the now-deceased pro basketball player, who was one of the greatest to have ever played for the NBA.

He Spoke Fluent Italian

Imagine moving to a new place where you don't know anyone and being unable to communicate with locals because you don't speak their language. Such an isolating experience, wouldn't you agree? 

Bryant was six when he and his family moved to Italy. So that he could communicate with the people around him, including his peers whom he played football with, this celebrity learned Italian, which he would soon become fluent in. Even as an adult, Bryant was often commended for his proficiency in the Italian language.

His Name Came From a Restaurant Menu

For most cultures, names are a big deal, as they act as a stamp on someone’s character or could represent something significant that happened in their parents’ lives or the season in which they were born. Bryant’s parents, though, didn’t think much about the meaning of the name they gave their son, as long as it sounded good. 

The NBA star’s folks saw Japan’s famous beef “Kobe” on a restaurant menu and thought it would make the best first name for their precious little one. Thankfully and lucky for Byrant, it ended up being a unique name that often made him stand out.  

Singer Brandy Was His Date to Prom

Before he became a celebrity, Bryant had the rare privilege of showing up for his senior prom with R&B sensation Brandy as his date. This was in 1996 when Brandy was consistently topping music charts while the basketballer was only 17.  

Brandy and Bryant had met at 1996's Essence Awards, and immediately they started talking, the former Los Angeles Lakers star knew he had found the perfect girl to be his date for prom. According to Bryant's mum, her son was fascinated by the singer's beauty, intelligence, and kindness. 

From Playing for a High School Team to the NBA

Besides being the first guard to be drafted straight out of high school, Bryant was also the sixth player in NBA history to have gone from playing for a high school team and directly into the National League. The news of Bryant’s drafting into the NBA with a rookie contract worth $3.5 million when he was only 17 was met with awe, with many praising the then-youngster for achieving such an incredible feat. 

Yet, not everyone was happy about Bryant’s drafting. When Vlade Divac learned about the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to trade him off to make room for entrant Bryant, he threatened to retire rather than be traded.  

Chance Encounter With the Love of His Life

Fate is clever; it takes you right where you need to be at a particular time so as to prepare you for your future. You may not think about it much, but that doesn't change the moment's significance. 

Bryant was at a studio recording music when he decided to go check out a music video shoot taking place nearby, in which his future wife Vanessa would be a background dancer in. The two instantly hit it off, and while Bryant's rap career didn't take off, because of it, he met the love of his life.  

The Significance of Number Eight to Him

Throughout most of his high school career, Bryant wore the number 33. Even so, when he joined the national league, he switched to the number eight, which he used for ten years as his signature identification digit.

Bryant had 143 as the number on his jersey during an Adidas ABCD high school stars' camp. When summed up, these numbers make an eight, hence the superstar's choice to use the number when he transitioned to playing professional basketball. 

The Story Behind His Middle Name

We're not sure how Bryant felt about his middle name, "Bean," but we do know that there's an endearing story behind it. During his days as an NBA player, Bryant's dad was nicknamed "Jellybean."

For a special connection with his son that was tied to his love for basketball, Joe Bryant took the last part of his nickname to make it his child's official middle name. Thank goodness his folks didn't call him "Jellybean" because that would subject poor Kobe to endless teasing. 

As you can see, there was so much to Bryant than being a basketballer, husband and dad. He may be gone, but the world continues to celebrate this superstar and the rich legacy he built through his life.