Legendary shooting guard who helped the Los Angeles Lakers win three straight NBA Championships from 2000 to 2002 and two more in 2009 and 2010. He was named NBA MVP in 2008 and selected to the All-NBA First Team 11 times from 2002 to 2013.
He spent part of his youth playing both soccer and basketball in Italy, then after his family moved back to the United States, he played high school basketball at Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia before being selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft.
He was named NBA Finals MVP in 2009 and 2010 while leading the Lakers to victories over the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics. He won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at the 2018 Academy Awards.
He married Vanessa Bryant in 2001 and the couple have daughters named Natalia, Gianna and Bianka.
His career began as Michael Jordan's reign on the court was ending, and his game constantly drew comparisons to Jordan's.
