Born on August 23rd, 1978, Kobe Bean Bryant was a player with the NBA. 'Mamba', as he was known, spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers as a shooting guard. Regarded as one of the greats, Kobe was instrumental in helping the Lakers win five NBA championships.
Along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others, Kobe died in a helicopter crash on January 26th, 2020, in Calabasas, California.
Who are Kobe Bryant's parents?
Kobe Bryant is the youngest of three children and the only boy, born to Joe and Pamela Cox Bryant.
Who is Kobe Bryant's Father?
Joseph Washington Bryant
Image Source: The New York Post
Nicknamed "Jellybean" Joseph Washington Bryant was born on October 19th, 1954. He is a former American professional basketball player and coach. Joe played for many teams in the NBA, including the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, and the Houston Rockets. He was also the head coach for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA from 2005-2007 and returned for the remainder of the 2011 season. He has also coached in many countries, like Thailand, Japan, and Italy.
Joe married Pam Cox, sister of former NBA player Chubby Cox. The couple has three children - Sharia, Shaya, and Kobe. Through Pam, he is also the uncle of John Cox IV, a professional basketball player.
Who is Kobe Bryant's Mother?
Pamela Cox Bryant
Image source: People
Pamela Cox Bryant, born in 1954, is the sister of former NBA player Chubby Cox. She is very private about her life. At the age of 21, she married Joe Bryant, and the couple has three children - Sharia, Shaya, and Kobe.
Is Pam Bryant Kobe's biological mother?
Yes, Pam Bryant is Kobe's biological mother. He is the youngest of her three children and the only male child.
What was the relationship between Kobe and his parents?
Kobe Bryant enjoyed a happy childhood with his parents and his sisters. However, things soured between them when he became involved with his then-girlfriend Vanessa. His parents were not too happy that he was marrying someone who was not of African-American descent. Things went downhill from there. The family grew apart over the years, with various many other incidents adding to the deteriorating relationship. This estrangement period lasted over two years and finally got a bit better after the birth of Kobe's first child, Natalia.
Did Kobe Bryant make up with his parents?
The relationship between Kobe Bryant and his parents seemed to have been improving. They would often appear for his games, most notably during the 2010 playoffs. Though it looked like things were getting better, their relationship became strained again when Joe and Pamela attempted to auction off an extensive collection of Kobe Bryant's career memorabilia in 2013. The late NBA star was quoted saying that his parents had not informed him of such an auction and that he had not permitted them to sell his possessions. This sparked a lawsuit and ended with Joe and Pamela apologizing publicly for their actions and thanking Kobe for supporting them financially throughout his career.
Over the last few years, the relationship between the late NBA star and his parents seemed to be improving. According to a family friend, Wayne Slappy, the father-son duo was reportedly seen hugging at an event in 2016 and seemed to have made amends. However, his parents were noticeably absent for their son's last NBA game in 2016.
Where are Kobe Bryant's parents?
Kobe's parents are living a quiet life these days. Sources say that the couple is now in Thailand. The couple is still quiet about their strained relationship - mostly as a sign of respect for him and his family's privacy.
Was Kobe Bryant's parents at his funeral?
His parents were seen at his funeral and his memorial at Staples Centre. While they did not speak at the memorial, they interacted with the attendees such as Magic Johnson and Derek Fisher.
Was Kobe Bryant's dad in the NBA?
Joe played for the Sixers, Clippers, and the Rockets in the league. He was also the head coach for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from 2005-2007 and returned for the remainder of the 2011 season.
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