The Number 8
Kobe “Bean” Bryant was always a phenomenon even at an early age. His father Joe “Jellybean” Bryant was an NBA player as well. However, even in high school, Kobe’s fame surpassed his father’s. When he was drafted straight from high school, he was the youngest ever to play in the NBA. He was also listed as one of the biggest draft steals in NBA history. In the early stages of his career, he worked miracles with nobody other than the legend Shaq. The greatest one-two punch in NBA history won 3 titles together and Kobe was the second “Batman” of this team, not the “Robin”.
The Number 24
The Retirement
Even though Kobe retired in 2016, he continued to make history outside of basketball. His short film “Dear Basketball” won an Oscar and he became the first NBA player to win an Oscar. He also wrote and directed a show titled “Detail” on ESPN+, where he shared his wisdom by analyzing the plays of current basketball players. He was also the author of best-selling books. Last but not least, he founded Mamba Sports Academy, where he and hundreds of professional trainers trained athletes. What is heartbreaking is that Kobe and Gianna were on their way to the training facility on the day the incident took place.
