After 20 years in the NBA, one of the best players to ever hit the court is retiring! Kobe Bryant and his 5 championship rings are saying goodbye to the NBA so here’s 8 things you didn’t know about him:
1. Kobe was the first guard to go to the NBA straight out of High School. It’s common now for ballers to skip college and go straight to the league but Kobe started that. In 1996 he was draft number 13 by the Hornets.
2. Kobe was a soccer player. In Europe where his father played professional ball Kobe spent a lot of time getting into soccer. He was actually good and has said in interviews that he would have gone professional if he stayed in Europe.
3. Kobe has bars. He was a battle rapper. Growing up in Philly Kobe rapped under the name “The Eighth Man” and later he would make an album with the help of Steve Stoute, Nas and other rap legends.
4. Kobe is fluent in Italian. Kobe lived in Italy with his family for 8 years of his young life while his father played in the Italian league. He learned the language and is still able to speak it now.
5. Kobe Bean Bryant is not his real name. Many people know Kobe’s middle name to be Bean and actually thinks its his given name. It’s actually a nickname which he was given after his dad who went by Jellybean.
6. There’s a reason for why he chews on his jersey. Kobe admitting that he chews on his jersey when his mouth gets dry while playing. There’s no way to tell if this actually helps hydrate him but it’s a habit Kobe has had while playing for many seasons.
7. Kobe and his wife Vanessa met on the set of a video. The couple met on the set of The “K.O.B.E” video which ironically was set to show how fans and groupies are a part of Kobe’s life as he was starting his NBA career.
8. Kobe took Brandy to prom. Brandy was filming Moesha when Kobe asked her to prom and took her. The two were never reported to start dating thereafter but Brandy did speak out saying she was thankful Kobe asked her because with her busy schedule she would have never been able to go without hm.
Source: Complex, http://www.complex.com/sports/2013/08/things-you-didnt-know-about-kobe-bryant/he-and-vanessa-started-dating
TSR Intern: @jalenmosby on IG and Twitter
