His father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, played at La Salle University in Philadelphia, and then for the first half of an eight-year NBA career for the Philadelphia 76ers. Kobe returned home to play basketball at Lower Merion high school in suburban Philadelphia. “Kobe says OK, then does what he wants.”In 2001, aged 22, Bryant married 18-year-old Vanessa Laine, whom he had met when she was dancing in a music video. They lost to arch rivals Boston Celtics in the 2008 final, after a season in which Kobe won the league’s MVP trophy. • Kobe Bean Bryant, basketball player, born 23 August 1978; died 26 January 2020

Source: The Guardian January 27, 2020 16:15 UTC