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Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020
Born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tragically, on January 26, 2020, basketball legend Kobe Bryant, his thirteen-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Southern California. Fans in Los Angeles, where Bryant spent his career as a shooting guard for the Lakers, as well as those in other parts of the world, are mourning the NBA star. Bryant was born in Philadelphia, when his father was playing basketball for the 76ers, and spent part of his childhood in Italy, after his dad joined a European league. He was drafted into the NBA out of high school, won five NBA championships, and scored 33,643 points during his career. Bryant was the league MVP in the 2007–2008 season and an eighteen-time All Star. After retiring from the sport in 2016, he founded Granity Studios. Dear Basketball, which he wrote and narrated, won the Academy Award for best animated short film in 2018.While Bryant's skills on the court were undeniable, he was extremely competitive and known for his temper. And, in 2003, his image was tarnished when he was charged with sexual assault, causing him to lose endorsement deals. He and the accuser reached a settlement in 2004. Bryant leaves behind his wife of almost nineteen years, Vanessa, and their three other children. He is one of the nominees for enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Rick Chapman, 2007 |