Kobe Bryant Basketball Profile & New Photos-Images

Name: Kobe Bean Bryant

Date Of Birth: August 23, 1978

Place Of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Nickname: Mr. 81, KB24, Mamba

Height: 6-6 (1,98)

Weight: 220 lbs. (99,8 kg.)

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Position: Shooting Guard

Draft: 1996, 13th pick overall by the Hornets

Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is an American NBA player and plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is the son of former Philanderphia player and former Los Angeles Sparks coach Joe Jellybean Bryant. Bryant increased to national popularity in 1996 when he turned the initial guard in league history to get chosen out of high school. Bryant and then-teammate Shaquille O'Neal guided the Lakers to three successive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002. Considering that O'Neal's starting following the 2004 season, Bryant has grown to be the foundation of the Lakers' franchise, and was the NBA major scorer during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.

Kobe Bryant was selected as being the 13th overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, the 17-year-old Bryant had created a enduring impact on then-Lakers general manager Jerry West, who instantly foresaw prospective in Bryant's basketball capability while in pre-draft routines. He went on to express that Bryant's workouts have been some of the most effective he had seen. Instantly after the draft, Bryant stated that he didn't desire to play for the Hornets and wished to play for the Lakers instead. Fifteen days later, West exchanged his beginning center, Vlade Divac to the Hornets for the young Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant married 19 year old Vanessa Laine in April 2001. In July 2003, he was billed for the one count of sexual attack on a 19-year-old female hotel worker in Colorado. Bryant said he was responsible of infidelity, but not liable of the rape charge. The case against Bryant was ignored in 2004, and he resolved the municipal lawsuit submitted by the hotel worker against him out of court.