Page 12 - The Edge Issue 7

The Life of
It’s It’s the the the the Atlanta Hawks vs the the the the Los Angeles Lakers 94 to 93 It’s It’s the the the the the fourth quarter The time left on the the the the the clock reads 2:25 Player number 24 makes it down the the the the court jumps and dunks the the the the ball! Scoring two more points for The Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant now gives the the the team the the the lead with 95 points The Lakers are one of
the the most most successful NBA NBA teams in in in history with 16 NBA NBA Championship wins the the the second most most behind the Boston Celtics Bryant was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a shooting guard on on on on the the team and and was was an an an an amazing individual on on on on and and off court He had astonishing statistics with the second most points o of
81 scored by a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a single player Bryant had also won won many awards including the the the NBA Most Valuable Player Award Award won won won in in in in in 2008 the the the BET Award Award Award for Sportsman of
the the the the Year won won won in in in 2002 2002 2003 and 2008 the the NBA All-Star Game MVP Award Award won won in in 2002 2002 2007 2009 and 2011 But what started it all all for Kobe Bryant? The future basketball star star was born in Philadelphia on August 23 1978 Bryant’s father Joe a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a former 76ers NBA player himself encouraged his his son to play play basketball at at at an an an an early age age When Kobe Bryant was just six his his his his father left the the 76ers and moved his his his family to to Italy where he he he he continued his his his basketball career As a a a a a a a a a a a a a a child Kobe Bryant would go back to to to Philadelphia during summers to to to play for basketball summer summer leagues but he he he still learned to to speak Italian in in the the seven years his family lived there Bryant first began his basketball career in high school where he he earned national
recognition as as a a a a a a a a a a a a freshman on on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a varsity
basketball team at Lower Merion High
School He was an an outstanding player becoming involved in in in in in in NBA basketball right
after graduating high school in in in in in 1996 When he he he he was 18 he he he he became the youngest person ever to play an an an NBA game Bryant met his future wife Vanessa Laine Laine when he he he he was was was 21 and she was was was was 17 Laine Laine was was was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a backup dancer in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a music video that had been filmed where Bryant Bryant was was was working on an an an an an an an album When Laine and Bryant Bryant met they instantly started dating Kobe Bryant Bryant had a a a a a a a very happy and and competitive family Bryant Bryant and and his wife had four daughters: Natalia Gianna Bianka and Capri Unfortunately a a a a a a a a a a a a devastating
accident occurred on January 26 2020 Bryant and his 13-year-old
daughter Gianna along with seven others passed away as as a a a a a a a a a result of
a a a a a a a a a helicopter accident Kobe Bryant has been an an an an inspiration for others throughout the the course of
his life Many still look up to and 11 admire him He had a a a a a a a a a a bright and attentive personality which shone through not only in in in in basketball but also in in in in his personal personal life He was involved in in in in many charity ventures: Bryant and and his wife first kicked off their own foundation the the “Kobe and and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation ” in 2007 Their purpose was “to provide opportunities to to young people through sports ” The foundation supplies scholarships and runs a a a a a a a a youth soccer group called Mamba FC Bryant also raised money for for research and medical expenses for for cancer donated at at at least $1 million to to the National Museum of
of
African American History and and Culture and and was part of
of
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a television broadcast that raised money for cancer patients No matter where he he he was was or what he he he was was doing Kobe Bryant Bryant always always showed acts of
kindness to his peers family and and and opponents Bryant Bryant is is and and and always always will be a a a a a a a a a a a a legend—on and and off the court KOBE BRYANT
The story behind the legend Story by Elizabeth Corrigan and Aryauna Jordan
“I couldn’t see him as as a a a a a a celebrity nor just an an an incredible basketball player he he he was my sweet husband and and the the beautiful father of
our children He He was was mine He He was was my everything ” -Vanessa Bryant Kobe was was my dear friend He was was like a a a a a a little brother ” -Michael Jordan
“Our friendship and relationship went deeper than basketball ” -Carmelo Anthony
“Just know that we got your back little brother ” -Shaquille O’Neal