Early Life and Education of Kobe Bryant: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Kobe Bryant. A timeline of key moments.

Kobe Bryant, a celebrated American professional basketball player, played his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers as a shooting guard. Considered one of basketball's all-time greats, he secured five NBA championships, was an 18-time All-Star, and earned numerous MVP awards. Bryant's accolades include being a 15-time All-NBA Team member, a 12-time All-Defensive Team member, the 2008 NBA MVP, and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. He holds the fourth position in all-time regular season and postseason scoring. Posthumously named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, Bryant was twice inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

August 23, 1978: Kobe Bryant's Birth

On August 23, 1978, Kobe Bean Bryant was born. He later became a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Others born on this day/year

1987: Father Plays for Olimpia Basket Pistoia

From 1987 to 1989, Kobe Bryant's father played for Olimpia Basket Pistoia. Kobe worked at the games as a ball and mop boy and practiced shooting at halftime.

1989: End of Father's Olimpia Basket Pistoia tenure

From 1987 to 1989, Kobe Bryant's father ended his Olimpia Basket Pistoia tenure. Kobe worked at the games as a ball and mop boy and practiced shooting at halftime.

May 1996: Date to Brandy's Senior Prom

In May 1996, Kobe Bryant attended Brandy's Hollywood High School senior prom as her date, marking a personal connection outside of basketball.

1996: Took Brandy to Hollywood High Senior Prom

In 1996, Kobe Bryant took R&B singer Brandy to her Hollywood High senior prom, generating publicity.

November 1999: Met Vanessa Laine

In November 1999, 21-year-old Kobe Bryant met 17-year-old Vanessa Laine while she was working as a background dancer on the Tha Eastsidaz music video "G'd Up."

May 2000: Engaged to Vanessa Laine

In May 2000, Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Laine got engaged, six months after they met. Laine was still a senior at Marina High School.

April 18, 2001: Married Vanessa Laine

On April 18, 2001, Kobe Bryant married Vanessa Laine at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point, California. Bryant's parents did not attend due to objections to the marriage.

January 2002: Bought Newport Coast house

In January 2002, Kobe Bryant bought a Mediterranean-style house for $4 million, located in Newport Coast, Newport Beach.

January 2003: Birth of first daughter, Natalia

In January 2003, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant's first daughter, Natalia, was born.

2005: Vanessa suffered a miscarriage

In the spring of 2005, Vanessa Bryant suffered a miscarriage due to an ectopic pregnancy.

May 2006: Birth of second daughter, Gianna

In May 2006, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant's second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore (Gigi), was born.

February 5, 2008: Bryant injures his shooting hand

On February 5, 2008, Kobe Bryant sustained a significant injury to his shooting hand's small finger during a game, including a complete tear of the radial collateral ligament, an avulsion fracture, and a volar plate injury at the MCP joint, but chose to play all 82 games instead of undergoing surgery.

September 2008: Bryant decides against surgery

In early September 2008, Kobe Bryant decided not to have surgery to repair his right pinkie.

2009: Revealed he was a New York Mets fan

During the 2009 National League Championship Series, Kobe Bryant revealed that he grew up a fan of the New York Mets, admiring Darryl Strawberry, and boasted that he still had a Ron Darling baseball card.

December 16, 2011: Vanessa filed for divorce

On December 16, 2011, Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce from Kobe Bryant, citing irreconcilable differences, and the couple requested joint custody of their daughters.

2012: Self-proclaimed 'vino'

During the 2012 season, Kobe Bryant began referring to himself as "vino" to describe how his play had been aging like a fine wine.

January 11, 2013: Divorce called off

On January 11, 2013, Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa announced via social media that they had called off their divorce.

2013: Legal disagreement with auction house

In 2013, Kobe Bryant had a legal disagreement with an auction house over memorabilia from his early years that his parents had put up for auction, which was later settled allowing the sale of less than 10% of the items.

May 2015: Sold Newport Coast house

In May 2015, Kobe Bryant sold his house in Newport Coast, Newport Beach.

December 2016: Birth of third daughter

In early December 2016, Vanessa Bryant gave birth to their third daughter.

January 2019: Expecting fourth daughter

In January 2019, the Bryants announced that they were expecting a fourth daughter.

June 2019: Birth of fourth daughter

In June 2019, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant's fourth daughter was born.

January 2020: Death in Helicopter Crash

In January 2020, Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among those who died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. This event led to numerous tributes and memorials.