Kobe Bryant — Pics

By:

Angelina Pilarinos

January 18, 2015 2:51PM EST

1 of 22

Kobe Bryant – Pictures

Kobe Bryant – Pictures — Kobe Bean Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in August 1978. But, to a generation of basketball fans, he will forever be known as a Los Angeles Laker. The NBA star played for the SoCal team for 20 years – from 1996 until 2016. Over those two decades he played in an impressive seven NBA Finals, helping his team to win five times.

Off the court, Kobe once took singer Brandy Norwood to her high school prom. Five years after that showbiz moment he wed Vanessa Laine in 2001. The Bryants went on to have four daughters – Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri who were born in 2003, 2006, 2016, and 2019 respectively. Their romance hasn’t been smooth sailing, however. In 2003 – the year their first child was born – Kobe was arrested and charged with sexual assault after he was accused of rape. The case was dismissed and the athlete was never tried or found guilty of any crime. In fact, he maintained that the encounter was consensual.

Kobe was tragically killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas on Jan. 26. He was 41 years old at the time of his death.

2 of 22

Vanessa & Kobe Bryant Attend The Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Vanessa & Kobe Bryant Attend The Vanity Fair Oscar Party — Kobe Bryant with his pregnant wife Vanessa at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Los Angeles on Feb. 24, 2019. Vanessa was pregnant with the couple’s fourth child, Capri, at the time.

3 of 22

Kobe Bryant Flashes The Peace Sign

Kobe Bryant Flashes The Peace Sign — Kobe Bryant flashes the peace sign as he headed into the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ in Los Angeles in March 2018. This photo was taken two years after he retired from the NBA.

4 of 22

Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Pose With Two Of Their Daughters

Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Pose With Two Of Their Daughters — Kobe Bryant attends the ‘A Wrinkle In Time’ film premiere with his wife Vanessa and two of their daughters on Feb. 26, 2018. Natalia and Gianna are pictured posing with their parents.

5 of 22

Kobe & Gianna Bryant Attend A Basketball Game

Kobe & Gianna Bryant Attend A Basketball Game — Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna are photographed watching an NCAA college basketball game. They watched Connecticut and Houston face off.

6 of 22

Kobe Bryant Drenched At The Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards

Kobe Bryant Drenched At The Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards — Kobe Bryant got completely drenched in slime at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards in Los Angeles. The event took place in July 2016, the year that he retired from the NBA.

7 of 22

Vanessa & Kobe Bryant & Their Daughters Are All Smiles

Vanessa & Kobe Bryant & Their Daughters Are All Smiles — Kobe and Vanessa Bryant look like proud parents as they pose at the ‘A Wrinkle In Time’ world premiere with two of their daughters. Natalia and Gianna are Kobe and Vanessa’s two eldest daughters.

8 of 22

Kobe Bryant Waves To Fans

Kobe Bryant Waves To Fans — Kobe Bryant says hello to fans as he attends a press conference in the Philippines in June 2016. The event was part of his ‘Mamba Mentality Tour.’

9 of 22

Kobe Bryant & His Girls

Kobe Bryant & His Girls — Kobe Bryant, Vanessa Bryant, and daughters Gianna and Natalia at the Tribeca Film Festival. The couple also have two more daughters – Bianka and Capri — who were born in 2016 and 2019.

10 of 22

Kobe Bryant Plays Basketball In Philadelphia

Kobe Bryant Plays Basketball In Philadelphia — Kobe Bryant seen shooting hoops during a practice session ahead of an L.A. Lakers game against the 76ers. This photo was taken in Philadelphia, the city where he was born.

11 of 22

Kobe Bryant With His Daughters

Kobe Bryant With His Daughters — Kobe Bryant is a proud dad and the father of four girls – Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri. He is pictured here at an event with his oldest two daughters.

12 of 22

Kobe Bryant At A Press Conference

Kobe Bryant At A Press Conference — Kobe Bryant speaks at a press conference in the Philippines in September 2007. The event was part of his Supernatural Asia Tour.

13 of 22

Kobe Bryant & His Family

Kobe Bryant & His Family — Kobe Bryant and his family on the iconic orange carpet at the Kids’ Choice Sports Awards. The former NBA star is a Los Angeles Lakers legend.

14 of 22

Kobe Bryant In His L.A. Lakers Uniform

Kobe Bryant In His L.A. Lakers Uniform — Kobe Bryant poses in his Los Angeles Lakers uniform. He played with the team for 20 years – from 1996 until 2016.

15 of 22

Kobe Bryant Hugs His Wife & Kids

Kobe Bryant Hugs His Wife & Kids — Kobe and Vanessa Bryant and daughters Gianna and Natalia pose for family picture. The couple married in 2001, two years before having their oldest child.

16 of 22

Kobe Bryant On The Court

Kobe Bryant On The Court — Kobe Bryant is photographed during an L.A. Lakers game. He retired from the team – and the sport – in 2016. He’s known as the ‘Black Mamba.’

17 of 22

Kobe Bryant Soars During A Game

Kobe Bryant Soars During A Game — Kobe Bryant is captured mid-air after dunking the basketball during a Lakers game. The NBA star played in seven NBA Finals.

18 of 22

Vanessa Bryant With Daughters Natalia & Gianna

Vanessa Bryant With Daughters Natalia & Gianna — Vanessa Bryant is snapped on the sidelines during a basketball game with two of her four children with husband Kobe – daughters Natalia and Gianna. Vanessa has always supported her husband on and off the court.

19 of 22

Kobe Bryant During A Game

Kobe Bryant During A Game — Kobe Bryant reacts after dunking the ball during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The former NBA star also goes by the nickname, Black Mamba.

20 of 22

Kobe Bryant With Shaquille O’Neal

Kobe Bryant With Shaquille O’Neal — Kobe Bryant and then teammate Shaquille O’Neal have a moment on the sidelines. Shaq retired in 2011, five years before Kobe.

21 of 22

Kobe & Vanessa Bryant

Kobe & Vanessa Bryant — Kobe and Vanessa Bryant hug at the 2002 Teen Choice Awards. The couple wed a year earlier.

22 of 22

Young Kobe Bryant

Young Kobe Bryant — Kobe Bryant, 17, jokes with the media as he holds his Los Angeles Lakers jersey during a news conference, at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The NBA star played for the team from 1996 until 2016.

Click to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter to get the hottest celeb news.