A shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Courtesy of PWCC Marketplace. Sports: "Most of the time, American basketball is only taught in twos: 1-2, pick and roll, or give and go, or something like that," Bryant explained. 2y Jeff Carlisle. High school Bryant's deep love for soccer goes back to his childhood. In Honor Of Kobe Bryant: Chase Greatness (Throwback) Taking it back to Niyi's episode released just days after Kobe Bryant's passing. We lost a legend and icon in Kobe Bryant. I had the pleasure of sitting front row at the Aspen Institute's Project Play Summit earlier this month - as Basketball Legend Kobe Bryant was interviewed by Keven Carroll in a discussion entitled "The Meaning of Play, with Kobe Bryant." Some important points are raised about . Players on his Mamba FC team. Now, they'll face off against No. Bryant did not start focusing on basketball until he moved to Philadelphia. While the complete interview and transcript of this important conversation can be found at the SoccerParentResourceCenter.com, below is a portion of the interview (transcript below) where Kobe discusses growing up in Italy, and valuable lessons he learned from soccer that he brought with him to basketball. Bryant's deep love for soccer goes back to his childhood. Kobe Bryant, the soccer player He's been a huge soccer fan from the time he was a young kid. A Kobe Bryant card was sold privately last week for $2 million, PWCC Marketplace announced Tuesday, the highest a Bryant card has ever brought. Vanessa Bryant, Kobe's widow, announced via Instagram on Thursday that the Bryant family's partnership with Nike has been renewed, with an agreement to donate "net proceeds" from Kobe's shoes to. Kobe Bryant talks Soccer at the Aspen Institute's Project Play. We're all putting in the hours. Barcelona's door always open . Bryant's childhood ambition adds another twist to the question of how good America would be at soccer if their best athletes played the sport, though at 6-foot-6, he probably . Kobe Bryant was already in the process of doing great things before his tragic passing in January of 2020. Tickets. When Bryant's father, NBA player Joe Bryant, decided to continue his career in Italy, six-year-old Kobe moved along with him. Tickets. Kobe Bryant is an AC Milan fan, but also loves Barcelona. When Bryant was 13, he and his family moved back to Philadelphia, where he enrolled in eighth grade at Bala Cynwyd Middle School. 2y Jeff Carlisle. B. Kobe Bryant's Death Reverberates Around the Soccer World. Kobe Bryant has become one of the greatest basketball players to ever walk the earth, but growing up in Italy, he also developed a love for soccer. Kobe Bryant accredits much of his court vision to the skills he gained from playing and watching soccer (8). Kobe Bryant was born on Aug. 23, 1978, in Philadelphia and moved to Italy with his family. He had a tremendously powerful impact as a human, a father, a business leader and ruthless competitor. Subscribe to ESPN. When Bryant's father, former NBA player Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, opted to continue his career in Italy, he took his family with him, including a then-6-year-old Kobe. While Bryant's work . He shot just 40.5% from the field, but in typically Kobe fashion, the Hall-of-Famer kept grinding when the. He started off by stating how his relationship with Kobe was forged when the 'Mamba' gave him a pair of his signature shoes. Bryant lived and breathed basketball, but when asked by FIFA about his fandom, Bryant responded, " [Soccer] is actually my favorite sport.". Basketball Twitter has been in an uproar ever since the first returns of the All-Star voting. CBS Mornings. Soccer star Trinity Rodman shares the advice Kobe Bryant gave her. Add this to the list of what-ifs we'll forever miss from the Lakers legend. Apr 13, 2016 Kobe Bryant's illustrious 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers comes to an end Wednesday night, when the Black Mamba laces up for the last time to take on the Utah Jazz. He's been a huge soccer fan from the time he was a young kid. He played in the little leagues and, to no surprise of his parents, was actually an amazing soccer player. which included Bryant's daughter Natalia, came to L.A. Live Tuesday to pay their . While. 14h Alex Kirkland, Rodrigo Faez. Barcelona's door always open . Unfortunately, there was no follow-up question, but Kobe has spoken about his love for soccer in the past. Kobe Bryant, the soccer player It was there that he spent half the formative years of his childhood and acquired skills that would launch him into a pro career as a teenager. On Friday night, Kobe Bryant did a proper nutmeg on Kevin Durant during a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Over time he worked on his game and moved to midfield. He admitted he was inspired by Ronaldinho of Barcelona. Kobe Bryant was born on Aug. 23, 1978, in Philadelphia and moved to Italy with his family. ESPN FC's Gab Marcotti reflects on Kobe Bryant's love for soccer after the likes of Barcelona and AC Milan paid tribute to the NBA legend. Kobe Bryant's Lakers jerseys are displayed during the "Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. Kobe Bryant's Lakers jerseys are displayed during the "Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. It was there that he spent half the formative years of his childhood and acquired skills that would launch him into a pro career as a teenager. The quotes below reveal how Kobe believes his ability to read and play basketball at a high level originated from how he was taught soccer (8). So Kobe. Benzema will miss Clasico because of injury. From Janis Carr of the Orange County Register:Kobe Bryant is taking his soccer talents to Washington, D.C., where he has agreed to play in a celebrity soccer game Sunday. In addition to being a basketball legend, Kobe Bryant was also a soccer coach. Bryant lived and breathed basketball, but when asked by FIFA about his fandom, Bryant responded, " [Soccer] is actually my favorite sport.". During summers, Bryant would come back to the United States to play in a basketball summer league. Go figure! Can be more athletic. We lost a legend and icon in Kobe Bryant. Bryant admitted that his basketball ability eventually outpaced his love of soccer, forcing him to leave his aspiration behind. View Transcript. Even though he is far removed from his soccer. When he was playing soccer, he started out playing goalkeeper because of his long arms. Watch him play! Louisville Women's Basketball is taking March Madness by storm! Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Bryant won five NBA championships, was an 18-time All-Star, a 15 . In that series, Bryant averaged 28.6 points per game and played 41.2 minutes per game. While shopping for sneakers with Joe La Puma, DeRozan spoke about his relationship with the 'Mamba' and explained how it began years before he played in the NBA. "The Black Mamba" will play in a celebrity soccer game Sunday in Washington, D.C.This game is played to benefit the Mia Hamm Foundation . For Kobe, it was a lot harder to find kids to play basketball with. Although his play has been miserable for most of […] Kobe Bryant's life and identity transcended basketball, and if that wasn't clear before Sunday, it became clear in abundance as the . Do you know that Kobe Bryant, the NBA/LA Lakers player, loves soccer?? During an interview with ESPN Brazil, NBA Legend Kobe Bryant talked about his childhood experience playing soccer, usually as a goalie, due to his stature. He spent eight long years his childhood, and even some of his high school years, there where he grew a fondness for soccer. "In playing soccer growing up, you . The 1st shoe to release in the new Kobe & Nike partnership will honor his daughter Gianna, who would have turned 16 on May 1, 2022 "The Kobe 6 Protro 'Mambacita Sweet 16' will honor Gigi Bryant.. Watch him play! 14h Alex Kirkland, Rodrigo Faez. Back in 2006, he discussed his playing career with Luis Arroyave of the Chicago Tribune . Kobe Bryant's illustrious 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers comes to an end Wednesday night, when the Black Mamba laces up for the last time to take on the Utah Jazz. For the first portion of the men's and women's tournaments . "When I first started playing soccer, they just stuck me in the goal because I had these really long arms and long legs," recalled Kobe Bryant about his dreams of becoming the next Pele while growing up in Italy. Benzema will miss Clasico because of injury. The Bryant card received an 8.5 grade from Beckett Grading Services, tied for the best-graded known example of this card. 1 overall seed South Carolina in the national semifinal. Getty Images Kobe Bryant's family has agreed to a new partnership with Nike, the company and Bryant's wife, Vanessa, both announced on Thursday. Louisville star's postgame comments would make Kobe Bryant proud. Over time he worked on his game and moved to midfield. A 1997-98 Metal Universe Kobe Bryant card, which received an 8.5 grade from Beckett Grading Services, sold privately for $2 million. Kobe Bryant explained how playing soccer as a youth in Italy helped him dominate the sport of basketball for two decades in rather technical detail. It seems as if Kobe Bryant's knees are feeling pretty fine. We're all putting in the work. The sale is notable in that the card -- a 1997-98 . In Honor Of Kobe Bryant: Chase Greatness (Throwback) Taking it back to Niyi's episode released just days after Kobe Bryant's passing. Bryant also learned to play soccer and his favorite soccer team was A.C. Milan. Videos. He admitted he was inspired by Ronaldinho of Barcelona. 3) Almost a Soccer Star Kobe Bryant actually grew up in Italy. My favorite paraphrase from the interview: The more popular sport in Italy was soccer. Kobe Bean Bryant (/ ˈ k oʊ b iː / KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 - January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. When Bryant's father, NBA player Joe Bryant, decided to continue his career in Italy, six-year-old Kobe moved along with him. DeMar DeRozan on Kobe Bryant. They can be more skilled but at the end of the day, we're all doing the same job. "It's just soccer," Bryant responded when asked about the. Back in 2006, he discussed his playing career with Luis Arroyave of the Chicago Tribune . PSA's highest-graded version of the emerald parallel is a 7. - Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26. Do you know that Kobe Bryant, the NBA/LA Lakers player, loves soccer?? Kobe Bryant's estate has reached a new long-term contract with Nike to continue producing both footwear and apparel from Bryant's Zoom Kobe series, Vanessa Bryant and Nike announced on Thursday. Kobe Bryant honed his basketball skills by playing soccer Kobe Bryant's love for soccer is part of NBA great's legacy. Bryant's childhood ambition adds another twist to the question of how good America would be at soccer if their best athletes played the sport, though at 6-foot-6, he probably would have remained in net. He had a tremendously powerful impact as a human, a father, a business leader and ruthless competitor. After the game, Van Lith was asked what she thought Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant's message to her. The popular sports company has continued making. Kris Connor/Getty Images Soon after then-6-year-old Kobe Bryant moved to Italy with his family, he went down to a local park in search of . Former soccer great Mia . We're all running our bodies to the ground. When Kobe was only six years old, Joe Bryant and his family moved to Italy. - Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26. Unfortunately, there was no follow-up question, but Kobe has spoken about his love for soccer in the past. Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant sits on the shoulders of her father, Kobe, as they attend the women's soccer match between the United States and China Thursday, April 10, 2014, in San Diego. However, he and Gianna Bryant will live on through the Nike brand. With the new agreement, Nike will continue to. 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