Birth of an icon

Kobe Bean Bryant was born to former NBA player Joe Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant.

Black Mamba joins the Lakers

The Charlotte Hornets trade 17 year old Kobe Bryant for Lakers' starting center, Vlade Divac

Retirement

Kobe Bryant announced that he would be retiring from basketball at the age of 37.

A fatal crash

Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant, six of their close friends, and their pilot passed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.

Kobe Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers, sporting the number 8 for the first half of his career and 24 during the latter half before retiring after the 2015 – 2016 season.

Kobe Bryant died on January 26, 2020 with his daughter Gianna Bryant in a helicopter crash in Calabasas.

Born August 23, 1978, Kobe Bryant was only 41 years old when he passed away.

Kobe started his NBA career wearing the number 8%2c but when he felt that he switched from rookie to leader%2c he adopted the number 24. On Kobe Bryant Remembrance Day wear his legendary numbers in his honor.

Turn on YouTube and find your favorite compilation of Kobe Bryant's groundbreaking basketball career%2c or even just the silly moments that made him the likable and funny man people knew him as.

Bryant was passionate about philanthropy and always gave back to the people who needed it most. On Kobe Bryant Remembrance Day%2c consider making a donation to After-School All-Stars%2c Stand Up to Cancer%2c the National Museum of African American History and Culture%2c or the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation.

Kobe was more than just an NBA Hall of Famer%2c he was a once-in-a-lifetime talent with a competitive drive that made him one of the best basketball players of all time. It's his name that people say when they're throwing a balled up paper into a waste basket%2c hoping to make it in on the first try.

Other than being an icon%2c Kobe was a family man and a loving father to Gianna%2c Natalia%2c Bianka%2c and Capri Bryant. His last moments were spent with his 13 year-old daughter%2c Gianna Bryant.

Kobe met his soon-to-be wife%2c Vanessa Laine Bryant in 1999 on the set of a music video. He proposed a year later and the two were married in April 2001. The couple had been together everyday since.