His parents named him after a type of steak (Kobe) seen on a restaurant menu prior to his birth.

Spent eight years of his childhood in Italy and is fluent in Italian.

Has two older sisters, Sharia and Shaya.

His father, Joe "Jelly Bean" Bryant, averaged 8.7 ppg in 606 career games in the NBA.

Was named MVP of the 2002 NBA All-Star Game.

Won the 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Competition.

Graduate with the class of '96 from Lower Merion Highschool, Ardmore, PA.

Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets out of high school in '96, and was traded on July 11, 1996 to the LA Lakers for Vlade Divac

NBA All Star 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002

won the 2001 & 2002 Teens Choice Award for favorite male athlete

Led the Los Angeles Lakers to three NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Bryant was the all-time leading scorer in Southeastern Pennsylvania schoolboy history with 2,883 points, breaking the marks of Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain (2,359 points) and former St. Joseph's player Carlin Warley (2,441 points).

Drafted out of Lower Merion High School as the 13th pick by the Charlotte Hornets. Charlotte then traded Bryant's signing rights to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Vlade Divac. (26 June 1996)

Made his debut at 18 years, 2 months and 11 days old, the youngest player ever to appear in an NBA game (3 November 1996)

Selected by USA Today and Parade Magazine as the National High School Player of the Year as a senior at Lower Merion H.S. He was also named Naismith Player of the Year, Gatorade Circle of Champions High School Player of the Year and to the McDonald's All-America Team.

Signs first pro contract. (27 July 1996)

The youngest player to appear in an NBA All-Star game. (1998)

Wife, Vanessa Laine Bryant, is half-Irish and half-Mexican.

January 19, 2003 welcomed first child daughter Natalia Diamante Bryant. The baby weighed 6lbs 14oz.

His wife changed her name from Vanessa Cornejo Urbieta Laine to Vanessa Marie Bryant (29 May 2002).

Met his wife, Vanessa Laine Bryant, during a visit to the set of one of Snoop Dogg's video, where she was working as a model.

Hired criminal defense attorney, Pamela Mackey to defend him against rape charges.

Scored 1,080 on his SATs

The Charlotte Hornets traded him in 1996 to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for center Vlade Divac. Divac who at the time was already in the league for 7 years, has remained a 2nd rate journeyman center in the NBA. Bryant has become a Hall of Fame guard and is often compared to Michael Jordan.

Recorded a song with Tyra Banks called "K.O.B.E." This song was released as a single, but the full album was never released.

Wife, Vanessa Laine Bryant, gave birth to their second child, daughter Gianna Maria-Onore on May 1st, 2006 at 2:30 am, weighing in at 6 lbs, 7 oz.

On 22 January 2006, Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second-highest single-game scoring output by a player in NBA history, second only to Wilt Chamberlain's legendary 100 points on 2 March 1962. Bryant achieved his feat by converting 28 of 46 field goals (including 7 of 13 3-pointers), and making 18 of 20 free throws.

Due in large part to his public feud with former LA teammate 'Shaquille O'Neal', a game between the Miami Heat and the LA Lakers has become a recent Christmas Day tradition.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his salary for the year to be $33 million.

2008 Kobe Bryant Leading his team to a West best 57-25 record, they swept the Nuggets in the first round and on May 6, 2008, Bryant was officially announced as the NBA Most Valuable Player award, his first for his career.[24] He said, "It's been a long ride. I'm very proud to represent this organization, to represent this city."[25] Jerry West, who was responsible for bringing Kobe to the Lakers was on hand at the press conference to observe Bryant receive his MVP trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern. He stated, "Kobe deserved it. He's had just another great season. Doesn't surprise me one bit."[26] In addition to winning his MVP award, Bryant was the only unanimous selection to the All-NBA team on May 8, 2008 for the third straight season and sixth time in his career.[27] He would then headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team with Kevin Garnett, receiving 52 points overall including 24 first-place nods, earning his eighth selection.[28]

On May 16, 2008, Bryant and the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz in 6 games, and moved on to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2004. [29]

On May 29, 2008, Bryant tallied 39 points (17 in the fourth quarter) as the Lakers defeated the Spurs 100-92 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals to advance to the NBA Finals for the fifth time in his career and the first time without Shaquille O'Neal. [30]

During the Lakers' 2008 NBA Finals series against the Boston Celtics, Bryant has been acknowledged by Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, and Mike Breen as the only player "who can reasonably be compared with Michael Jordan.