1. By A. S.

2. Born August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was named after a Japanese steakhouse. Son of former Philadelphia 76ers player & former Los Angeles Sparks head coach and Pamela Cox Bryant. He started playing basketball when he was 3 years old,and his favorite team growing up was the Lakers.

3. Bryant married 19-year-old Vanessa Lain in April 2001. The Bryant’s first child, a daughter named Natalia Diamante Bryant, was born on January 19, 2003. His second daughter, Gainna Maria-Onore Bryant, was born on May 1, 2006.

4. Basketball  At 6 years old he started playing basketball.  17-year-old became the first person to jump from high school to professional basketball.  He played for the Lakers.  The Lakers rolled to the NBA’s best record (67-15) and home-court advantage (which they now enjoyed at the new Staples Center in downtown LA) throughout the playoffs