Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is one of the NBA's greatest basketball players. Kobe Bryant does not just play basketball, he helps kids in his community to read and spell words and does a fundraiser for adults, teenagers and children. He keeps his community going by playing basketball against teenagers and kids during the summer. Kobe keeps his community up on their feet during the summer. Instead of Kobe watching young teenagers and kids join gangs, he keeps them active during the summer by playing basketball with them at the park.

Kobe Bryant grew up in Philadelphia. Kobe grew up watching his dad play in the NBA. Kobe and his family traveled everywhere with their dad. Joe Bryant played basketball here in the US and in Italy. Kobe hated moving from state to state and then country to country. Kobe went to middle school in Italy. He grew up trying to fit in with the kids playing soccer. As Kobe grew older, he moved back to Philadelphia for high school. He was happy to move back to the US. He loved basketball. He was the best all-around player in Philadelphia. So when Kobe graduated high school, he entered the NBA draft. Kobe hoped his great game of basketball could make his life easier by not going to school.

When Kobe Bryant got drafted by the NBA at the age of 17, he was the youngest player to ever be drafted. Kobe really did not play a lot in his first year as a Laker. That same year Kobe went to the dunk contest (All Star Weekend) as a rookie. Nobody thought he would come in to the building and win the dunk contest at the age of 17. People told him, "don't go," "It is a waste of time," and "You will embarrass yourself in front of 22 thousand people." But Kobe proved them wrong by winning the dunk contest and showing people he would be the future of the NBA.

Now Kobe starts for the Lakers. He came out with so much passion for the game, averaging 15 points and 5 rebounds per game. The only reason why he did not average 30 points a game was because of Shaq and Eddie Jones. Kobe had no problem, he was actually happy to start in his second year as a Laker. In that same year Kobe made it to the All Star Game. Kobe played with the greatest stars and athletes. Kobe knew that he accomplished something in his second year. As Kobe got older, he wanted to go college. Kobe regretted not going to college. Kobe tells kids and teenagers never give up and always go to school.

Today, Kobe Bryant helps young kids to read and spell words. The Read to Achieve program is to help kids read and spell words with their favorite team or athletes in their community. Kobe does this to help kids of all ages to read and to never give up. Kobe also tells the kids to always stay in school to have a better future. Kobe and the Lakers also do something that other teams don't do, they give away tickets to non-wealthy families in their community. For example, whenever Kobe plays in Phildelphia, he gives away about 7 tickets to meet Kobe and the Laker players plus to watch the game in the luxury suites. So Kobe does some things for his hometown and for his community in Los Angeles.