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)
Kobe Bryant memorials Candles spell "Kobe" and "Gigi" at a memorial near Staples Center after the death of Los Angeles Laker legend Kobe Bryant, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
Kobe Bryant memorials Bryan Stange, right, stands with his family holding a sign near the scene of a helicopter crash that killed former NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant in Calabasas, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Kobe Bryant memorials A tribute to Kobe Bryant was shown on the screen before the start of an NBA basketball game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Kobe Bryant memorials YG, from left, John Legend, Kirk Franklin, DJ Khaled and Meek Mill point to a screen showing Nipsey Hussle and Kobe Bryant during a tribute at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Kobe Bryant memorials A memorial near Staples Center after the death of Laker legend Kobe Bryant Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
Kobe Bryant memorials Orange Coast College students and friends of baseball coach John Altobelli lay flowers at home plate at the Orange Coast College baseball field in Costa Mesa on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. Coach Altobelli, his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa were killed in the helicopter crash that also killed former Lakers star Kobe Bryant. (Leonard Ortiz/The Orange County Register via AP)
Kobe Bryant memorials A makeshift memorial was created on home plate Orange Coast College baseball field in Costa Mesa, Calif. on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 for Orange Coast College baseball Coach Altobelli, his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa who were killed in the helicopter crash that also killed former Lakers star Kobe Bryant. (Leonard Ortiz/The Orange County Register via AP)
Kobe Bryant memorials Fans honor the memory of Kobe Bryant with a moment of silence before an NBA basketball game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Kobe Bryant memorials Fans mourn the loss of Kobe Bryant in front of La Live across from Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan, 26, 2020. Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star who won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
Kobe Bryant memorials Fans hold up signs in memory of Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash in California, during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Indiana Pacers in Portland, Ore., Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. The Blazers won 139-129. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)
Kobe Bryant memorials Fans of Kobe Bryant mourn at a sidewalk memorial at LALive area across from Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers, after word of the Lakers star's death in a helicopter crash, in downtown Los Angeles Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Hartman)
Kobe Bryant memorials Alicia Keys, second left, and members of Boys II Men, from left, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman, sing "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" during a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant, seen on screen, at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
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.
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.
Kobe Bryant FILE PHOTO: In addition to Kobe Bryant’s prolific career in the NBA, he was a producer and writer who won an Oscar in his first nomination. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
