15 things you didn’t know about NBA icon Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is one of the most renowned athletes of the 21st century, and he earned legendary status for his formidable 20 years as a Los Angeles Lakers. However, despite the constant media coverage he had, there is still some stuff you don't know about the NBA icon.

Kobe Bryant's parents named their son after an Asian restaurant called 'Kobe' in Philadelphia. In a 1998 interview, Joe Bryant said: "I don't know if I should say that they might want the rights to the name." Since then, the Japanese steakhouse has closed.

According to the Sports Drop, while growing up in Italy, Bryant played football and played the goalkeeper position due to his lanky build. Eventually growing to 6ft6 with a 6ft11 wingspan, he may have been pretty good if he had pursued that career.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Having spent eight years of childhood in Italy, Bryant could speak fluent Italian. He also learned to speak Spanish to converse with his wife Vanessa's family, who are of Mexican descent.

Growing up, Bryant supported the mighty AC Milan in Italy and admitted to football icon Thierry Henry that his football hero "was Marco van Basten". Throughout his NBA career, he fell in love with Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, and FC Barcelona.

Most people go to prom with someone from their high school, but that wasn't the case for Kobe Bryant, who took R&B singer Brandy to his prom in a limo. The hotel entrance was swarmed by photographers, and the event became a media circus.

During high school, Bryant and some friends created a rap group called CHEIZAW, named after the Chi Sah gang in the martial arts film 'Kid with the Golden Arm'.

In 1999, his rap group was signed by Sony Entertainment, which aimed to profit from Bryant's NBA fame. In 2000, he created an album called Visions, which featured 50 Cent, Nas, and Tyra Banks. However, the album was shelved over disagreements on the rap style, per Culture Crypt.

While Bryant was working on his debut album, he met Vanessa Laine, who would become his wife. Laine was working as a background dancer on Tha Eastsidaz's music video 'G'd Up'.

Bryant wanted number 24 on his jersey as a rookie, but George McCloud had it. Instead, he chose number 8 because he wore number 143 at an Adidas camp as a teenager. When you add 1, 4, and 3, you get 8. Genius.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Kobe and Nike created one of the most legendary sneaker collaborations in history, but in his early NBA career, he was signed by Adidas. His deal lasted from 1996 until 2002, and, per SI, he released four signature sneaker lines: the KB8, KB 2, The Kobe, and The Kobe Two.

Everyone thought Bryant's favourite player growing up was Michael Jordan, but you would be wrong. Mike D'Antoni was Bryant's favourite player after watching him play in Italy. He admitted, "He was a player I admired growing up." D'Antoni eventually coached Bryant at the Lakers.

Everyone remembers Bryant for being the star of the show, but in his early career, he had to make his way off the bench. In the 1997-98 campaign, Bryant finished second to Phoenix's Danny Manning in the Sixth Man of the Year voting. He averaged 15.4 points that campaign.

In the late 1990s and 2000s, there was an increase in high school talent being drafted into the NBA. With the 13th pick in the 1996 Draft, Bryant was selected by the Charlotte Hornets, making him the first guard drafted out of high school. He eventually joined the Lakers.

Kobe's father, Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant, also had a career in the NBA before his son. He was drafted in the first round of the 1975 Draft by the Golden State Warriors and eventually four seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, making one NBA Finals appearance.

Bryant and his idol, Michael Jordan, crossed paths in the latter stages of MJ's career, and the pair nearly played together in Washington. Bryant hoped to play with his idol after his contract expired in 2004, but Jordan was waived by Wizards owner Abe Pollin in 2003.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!