Like Father, Like Son
As you know, Kobe’s dad also played in the NBA, paving the way for his talented son to spread his wings. Joe “Jellybean” Bryant was the 1st round, 14th overall pick in the 1975 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. Joe played in the NBA for 8 years, with the Philadelphia 76ers, the San Diego Clippers, and the Houston Rockets. After playing overseas for a number of years, he got involved in coaching, and is currently the head coach of the Japanese team, “Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka”. If you’re wondering whether Kobe and his father ever scrimmaged, the answer would be yes! Kobe tells fans, “he’d elbow me in the mouth, rip my lip open. Then my mother would walk out on the court, and the elbows would stop”. It’s safe to say, a competitive feud existed between the two! Can you believe that Kobe didn’t beat his dad in 1-on-1 until he was 16 years old?!
Like Father Like Son
Aspiring Rapper
Did you know Kobe tried his luck at a rap career before becoming a famous baller? Yep, you read that right, he even produced a debut single titled ‘K.O.B.E.’ with music corporation, Sony and famous music video producer, Hype Williams. Unfortunately, the video and song were so corny and received such backlash that Sony scrapped it all. If one good thing came out of the experience, Kobe did in fact meet a special someone during filming, a pretty girl named Vanessa Laine. This encounter served as the starting point for the pair’s relationship.
Aspiring Rapper
