Who was Kobe Bryant?

Legendary basketball player Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash Sunday morning in California.

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Kobe Bryant memorials Orlando Magic fans hold up signs honoring Kobe Bryant during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)

But who was Kobe Bryant?

In addition to Bryant’s prolific career in the NBA, he was a producer and writer who won an Oscar in his first nomination.

Bryant, 41, was born in Philadelphia and named after a type of Japanese steak.

Bryant was fluent in Italian after living in Italy when he was a child while his father, Joe Bryant, played basketball.

Bryant went from high school to the NBA, becoming the youngest player to play in the league at the time. His nickname was “Black Mamba.”

He graduated in 1996 from Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, as the all-time leading scorer in southeastern Pennsylvania, CNN reported.

Bryant was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick in the first round of the 1996 NBA draft. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won five NBA championships. He retired as third on the all-time scoring list. Bryant scored 60 points in his final game in 2016. His jerseys, both No. 8 and No. 24, were retired by the Lakers in 2017.

He also won two Olympic gold medals for basketball, in 2008 and 2012.

In addition to a prolific career in the NBA, Bryant was a producer and writer. He created Granity Studios in 2016. Some of the movies he was involved in include “Dear Basketball,” “Daddy’s Home” and “Detail,” according to IMDB.

He also won an Oscar for best animated short in 2018 for “Dear Basketball.”

Bryant was married to Vanessa Laine Bryant. They had four daughters: Bianka, 3; Gianna, 13; Natalia, 17 and Capri Kobe, who was born in June.

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