Where did Kobe learn Italian?

When he was six, his father retired from the NBA and moved his family to Rieti in Italy to continue playing professional basketball. After two years, they moved first to Reggio Calabria, then to Pistoia and Reggio Emilia. Kobe became accustomed to his new lifestyle and learned to speak fluent Italian.

How did Kobe Bryant learn Italian?

23, 1978 – Jan. 26, 2020) Kobe Bryant spent the better part of his childhood in Italy, and was fluent in Italian. From ages 6 to 13, Kobe lived with his father, Joe Bryant, who played for several basketball teams in the country, The Washington Post reports.

What part of Italy was Kobe from?

Though Kobe was born in Philadelphia, he spent several of his childhood years in Italy, including in the town of Reiti in the Lazio region of Italy, Pistoia in Tuscany, and Reggio Calabria. Kobe even joined a local youth basketball league in Reggio Calabria.

How well did Kobe speak Italian?

"He spoke Italian very well. He even knew the local slang," Petrucci added. Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among several people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Sunday, a source confirmed to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Where did Kobe learn Spanish?

There's no doubt the relationship deepened his love for Latinx culture, and helped with his impressive Spanish-speaking skills, too. Kobe admitted that he learned Spanish through ​​“Watching novelas” (yes, you read that correctly) with both his wife and la suegra.

Lakers Kobe Bryant Speaks Fluent Italian

When did Kobe Bryant learn Italian?

When he was six, his father retired from the NBA and moved his family to Rieti in Italy to continue playing professional basketball. After two years, they moved first to Reggio Calabria, then to Pistoia and Reggio Emilia. Kobe became accustomed to his new lifestyle and learned to speak fluent Italian.

Who did Kobe learn from?

Kobe watched basketball legends like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson on T.V, mesmerized by their incredible skill and amazing feats. At just 13 years old, inspired by his great predecessors, he decided that he would be one of the greats in basketball.

Did Kobe have friends in Italy?

He noted that for a long time, he didn't have any friends while living in Italy because he was new there and didn't know the language. It was through playing sports like basketball and soccer that Kobe was able to make friends and build connections. But Kobe noted that a majority of his time was spent alone.

How long did Kobe live in Italy?

As reported by the New York Post, the late NBA player lived in Italy for seven years before following his dad's footsteps and becoming a basketball legend himself.

What age did Kobe move out of Italy?

When Kobe was six years old, his family moved to Italy so that his father could continue playing basketball. While there, Kobe learned how to speak fluent Italian. Several years later, when Kobe was 13, the family moved back to the USA.

Why did Kobe's parents move to Italy?

His father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, was an NBA player, which meant the family had a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. However, when Joe's playing career in the NBA ended, he played professionally in Italy, and the family moved to Italy, where Kobe spent a significant part of his childhood.

What was Kobe Bryant's relationship with Italy?

During his time in Italy, Bryant bought into the country's culture and maintained a life long bond with the town of Reggio Emilia, where he moved with his family in the 1990s. The northern Italian town was where Bryant learned to speak fluent Italian and where he would spent almost every day playing basketball.

Where is Kobe Bryant buried?

Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were buried Feb. 7 in a private ceremony in Corona del Mar, California, according to death certificates released Tuesday by Los Angeles County officials. The burial occurred at Pacific View Memorial Park, which is near the family's home in Orange County.

What were Kobe Bryant's last words before he died?

As fate would have it, the act of kindness would serve as Kobe Bryant's last words. You can see Pelinka's emotional speech below. As it turns out, Bryant's text to Pelinka was a favor for John Altobelli, who was on the helicopter with the NBA legend.

Did Kobe grow up in Japan?

Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Named after a city in Japan, Bryant is the son of former NBA player Joe "Jellybean" Bryant. In 1984, after ending his NBA career, the elder Bryant took the family to Italy, where he played in the Italian League.

Is Vanessa Bryant Italian?

Vanessa has a diverse ethnic background, including Mexican, Irish, German, and Mexican heritage. Her birth name was Vanessa Urbieta Cornejo, and her previous surname was Laine, which she adopted from her step-father. While she was never formally adopted, she chose to take his last name.

What college did Kobe go to?

Kobe Bryant didn't go to college.

Who is the best friend of Kobe?

Pelinka, Bryant's longtime agent who became his best friend, revealed that Kobe actually texted him from the helicopter minutes before the crash.

Why is Kobe so loved in China?

Chinese people loved his commitment to learning about their culture and customs. He wasn't just invested in China commercially, but from a genuine interest in the country. This made him very admirable to the Chinese public.

Did Kobe Bryant like pizza?

When Bryant put 81 points on the Raptors in 2006, his pregame meal consisted of pepperoni pizza and grape soda. Now he only eats lean proteins and has cut out the junk food.

How many hours did Kobe practice a day?

During his time in the NBA, Kobe Bryant was one of the hardest workers and he adhered to a strict workout and diet regimen. He did what he called “666” workouts where he would workout for 6 months, 6 days a week, for 6 hours a day.

Why is Kobe called Mamba?

That's when he introduced the idea of an alter ego and 'Black Mamba' was born. Inspired by the code name of an assassin in the cult favorite film, Kill Bill by Quentin Tarantino, Bryant sought to not only reinvent himself but create a means of deflecting the intense backlash that he had begun to face.

Who taught Kobe Bryant how to shoot?

Dave Hopla is a bit of a legend among serious basketball players. He worked with Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen. Sometimes entire teams called on Hopla to help them improve their shooting.