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	'''Kobe Bean Bryant''' (August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player ~~who~~ spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Born in Philadelphia, Bryant ~~is widely regarded as one of~~ the greatest basketball players ~~of all time~~.		'''Kobe Bean Bryant''' (August 23, 1978 to January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. He spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Born in Philadelphia, Bryant stands among the greatest basketball players ever to play the game.

	== Early Life in Philadelphia ==		== Early Life in Philadelphia ==

	Kobe Bryant was born at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, ~~a suburb of~~ Philadelphia. ~~He was the youngest child and only son of former NBA player~~ Joe "Jellybean" Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant. ~~His parents named him after the famous~~ beef ~~of Kobe,~~ Japan~~, which they saw~~ on a restaurant menu.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2020-01-26/kobe-bryant-helicopter-crash \|title=Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna among 9 killed in helicopter crash \|publisher=Los Angeles Times \|date=January 26, 2020}}</ref>		Kobe Bryant was born at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, just outside Philadelphia. His father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, had played in the NBA, and his mother was Pamela Cox Bryant. The name came from Kobe beef in Japan. They'd seen it on a restaurant menu and it stuck.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2020-01-26/kobe-bryant-helicopter-crash \|title=Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna among 9 killed in helicopter crash \|publisher=Los Angeles Times \|date=January 26, 2020}}</ref>

	~~Bryant spent~~ the first six years of his life in Philadelphia ~~before~~ his father moved ~~the family~~ to Italy to ~~continue his~~ professional basketball ~~career~~. ~~The family returned~~ to the Philadelphia area ~~when Kobe was 13, settling~~ in Lower Merion.		He was the youngest child and only son. For the first six years of his life, the family lived in Philadelphia. Then his father moved everyone to Italy to keep playing professional basketball overseas. When Kobe was 13, they came back to the Philadelphia area and settled in Lower Merion.

	== Lower Merion High School ==		== Lower Merion High School ==

	Bryant attended Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, where he became a national ~~high school basketball~~ sensation. ~~During his four years at Lower Merion, Bryant~~ led the Aces to four ~~consecutive~~ state playoff appearances ~~and~~ the ~~1996~~ PIAA Class AAAA state championship, the school's first in 53 years.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28572803/kobe-bryant-legacy-lower-merion-high-school \|title=Kobe Bryant's legacy at Lower Merion High School \|publisher=ESPN \|date=January 26, 2020}}</ref>		Bryant attended Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, where he became a national sensation practically overnight. He led the Aces through four straight state playoff appearances during his time there. In 1996, he brought home the PIAA Class AAAA state championship, the school's first in 53 years.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28572803/kobe-bryant-legacy-lower-merion-high-school \|title=Kobe Bryant's legacy at Lower Merion High School \|publisher=ESPN \|date=January 26, 2020}}</ref>

	His ~~high school achievements included~~:		His accomplishments at Lower Merion tell the whole story:
	* 2,883 career points, ~~surpassing~~ Wilt Chamberlain's southeastern Pennsylvania record		* 2,883 career points, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's southeastern Pennsylvania record
	* Four-time Pennsylvania Player of the Year		* Four-time Pennsylvania Player of the Year
	* 1996 Naismith High School Player of the Year		* 1996 Naismith High School Player of the Year
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	== NBA Career ==		== NBA Career ==

	In 1996, 17~~-year-~~old ~~Bryant~~ became the first guard drafted ~~directly~~ out of high school~~, selected~~ 13th overall ~~by the Charlotte Hornets and immediately~~ traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. ~~His career accomplishments with the Lakers include:~~		In 1996, Bryant was 17 years old when he became the first guard ever drafted straight out of high school. The Charlotte Hornets picked him 13th overall, but he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers right away. That's where everything changed.

			His accomplishments with the Lakers:
	* 5 NBA championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)		* 5 NBA championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)
	* 2 NBA Finals MVP awards (2009, 2010)		* 2 NBA Finals MVP awards (2009, 2010)
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	== Philadelphia Connection ==		== Philadelphia Connection ==

	~~Despite building~~ his legend in Los Angeles, ~~Bryant maintained strong ties to~~ Philadelphia ~~throughout~~ his career~~. He frequently spoke~~ about his ~~Philadelphia~~ roots and his ~~admiration~~ for the city's sports culture and passionate fans.		Bryant built his entire legend in Los Angeles, but he never forgot Philadelphia. Throughout his career, he talked openly about his roots and his respect for the city's sports culture and passionate fans.

	~~Bryant was known to root~~ for Philadelphia sports teams, ~~particularly~~ the Eagles~~, and often mentioned~~ his ~~affection~~ for the city in ~~interviews~~. In 2020, the Philadelphia 76ers honored ~~Bryant following his death~~ by dimming the arena lights and ~~displaying~~ his image at Wells Fargo Center.		He rooted for Philadelphia sports teams, especially the Eagles. You'd find him mentioning his love for the city in interview after interview. When he died in 2020, the Philadelphia 76ers honored him by dimming the arena lights and showing his image at Wells Fargo Center.

	Lower Merion High School ~~has~~ renamed its gymnasium ~~the "Kobe Bryant Gymnasium" in his honor, and his~~ retired jersey number 33 hangs in the rafters.		Lower Merion High School renamed its gymnasium after him. His retired jersey number 33 hangs in the rafters there.

	== Death and Legacy ==		== Death and Legacy ==

	On January 26, 2020, Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California~~, along with his~~ 13-year-old daughter Gianna ~~and~~ seven others. ~~His death sparked an outpouring of grief worldwide, including in~~ Philadelphia, ~~where~~ fans ~~gathered at~~ Lower Merion High School to pay their respects.		On January 26, 2020, Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna was with him, along with seven others. The world grieved. In Philadelphia especially, fans came to Lower Merion High School to pay their respects.

	~~Bryant was posthumously inducted into the~~ Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. ~~His~~ jersey numbers 8 and 24 ~~were both retired by the Lakers~~.		The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted him posthumously in 2020. The Lakers retired both of his jersey numbers: 8 and 24.

	== See Also ==		== See Also ==

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{{Infobox person
|name = Kobe Bryant
|image =
|birth_date = August 23, 1978
|birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|death_date = January 26, 2020
|death_place = Calabasas, California
|occupation = Professional basketball player
|years_active = 1996–2016
|notable_works = 5 NBA championships, 2 NBA Finals MVP, 1 NBA MVP
}}

'''Kobe Bean Bryant''' (August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Born in Philadelphia, Bryant is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

== Early Life in Philadelphia ==

Kobe Bryant was born at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, a suburb of Philadelphia. He was the youngest child and only son of former NBA player Joe "Jellybean" Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant. His parents named him after the famous beef of Kobe, Japan, which they saw on a restaurant menu.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2020-01-26/kobe-bryant-helicopter-crash |title=Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna among 9 killed in helicopter crash |publisher=Los Angeles Times |date=January 26, 2020}}</ref>

Bryant spent the first six years of his life in Philadelphia before his father moved the family to Italy to continue his professional basketball career. The family returned to the Philadelphia area when Kobe was 13, settling in Lower Merion.

== Lower Merion High School ==

Bryant attended Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, where he became a national high school basketball sensation. During his four years at Lower Merion, Bryant led the Aces to four consecutive state playoff appearances and the 1996 PIAA Class AAAA state championship, the school's first in 53 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28572803/kobe-bryant-legacy-lower-merion-high-school |title=Kobe Bryant's legacy at Lower Merion High School |publisher=ESPN |date=January 26, 2020}}</ref>

His high school achievements included:
* 2,883 career points, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's southeastern Pennsylvania record
* Four-time Pennsylvania Player of the Year
* 1996 Naismith High School Player of the Year
* 1996 Gatorade National Player of the Year
* McDonald's All-American

== NBA Career ==

In 1996, 17-year-old Bryant became the first guard drafted directly out of high school, selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets and immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. His career accomplishments with the Lakers include:

* 5 NBA championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)
* 2 NBA Finals MVP awards (2009, 2010)
* 1 NBA Most Valuable Player (2008)
* 18-time NBA All-Star
* 81 points in a single game (second-highest in NBA history)
* 4th all-time NBA scoring leader at retirement

== Philadelphia Connection ==

Despite building his legend in Los Angeles, Bryant maintained strong ties to Philadelphia throughout his career. He frequently spoke about his Philadelphia roots and his admiration for the city's sports culture and passionate fans.

Bryant was known to root for Philadelphia sports teams, particularly the Eagles, and often mentioned his affection for the city in interviews. In 2020, the Philadelphia 76ers honored Bryant following his death by dimming the arena lights and displaying his image at Wells Fargo Center.

Lower Merion High School has renamed its gymnasium the "Kobe Bryant Gymnasium" in his honor, and his retired jersey number 33 hangs in the rafters.

== Death and Legacy ==

On January 26, 2020, Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others. His death sparked an outpouring of grief worldwide, including in Philadelphia, where fans gathered at Lower Merion High School to pay their respects.

Bryant was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. His jersey numbers 8 and 24 were both retired by the Lakers.

== See Also ==
* [[Philadelphia 76ers]]
* [[Wilt Chamberlain]]
* [[Philadelphia Sports Culture]]

== References ==
<references />

{{#seo:
|title=Kobe Bryant - Philadelphia Wiki
|description=Kobe Bryant (1978-2020), NBA legend born in Philadelphia and raised in Lower Merion, five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers.
|keywords=Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion, Philadelphia basketball, NBA legend, Lakers, Philadelphia sports
|type=Article
}}

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Athletes]]
[[Category:Basketball]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Natives]]

Kobe Bryant - Revision history

Gritty: Humanization pass: prose rewrite for readability

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