Kobe Bean Bryant was a professional basketball player in the United States in NBA. ¹⁾

Kobe's father called him after the expensive and well-known Japanese meat cut, Kobe beef, which he saw on the menu. ²⁾

As it turned out, Kobe did not want to share his name with a cut of tender, fatty beef. So, in 2010, he sued the Japanese town of Kobe for the right to rename their iconic product. ³⁾

Kobe Bryant has spent all 20 years of his career for the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five championships. He was the first NBA player ever to play 20 seasons for the same team. ⁴⁾

Kobe was initially drafted for the Charlotte Hornets. Then, in July 1996, just two weeks after he was selected as the 13th selection in the first round of the NBA draft, Charlotte traded Kobe to the Lakers for Vlade Divac. ⁵⁾

In January 2000, Kobe Bryant released a single called “K.O.B.E” with Sony Entertainment. It featured him rapping about his love of “basketball, beats and bands” and the supermodel Tyra Banks singing the hook. ⁶⁾

After living in Italy for a number of years in his childhood, Kobe became fluent in Italian. ⁷⁾

Growing up in Italy, Kobe grew up in love with soccer and its culture. He played in regular pick-up games at the park, first as a goalie and then as a middleman. ⁸⁾

Kobe Bryant won five NBA titles. The only other LA Lakers with so many rings are Derek Fisher, Michael Cooper, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. ⁹⁾

Kobe scored 81 points in a single game against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006. The only player who ever scored more points than in a single game was Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in 1962. ¹⁰⁾