20 Amazing Kobe Bryant Facts You Should Know

Kobe Bryant’s Link To Italy

Not many people know that Kobe Bryant actually grew up in Italy. He moved there when his dad Joe played for many of the local basketball teams in the ‘80s. Kobe could speak Italian fluently and while in Italy, played most days on the city’s youth team Cantine Riunite. He fondly remembered this time in his life as contributing to his formative skills on the basketball court.

The team was named after a local winemaker of the place’s sparkling red lambrusco. One of Kobe’s friends and former teammate’s told CNN, “He was obviously already really good. We had a strong team, but he was better than all of us. At 11 years old, he was already very secure in his power and what he would become.” According to Kobe, Italy was very important to him, and he had mentioned that his story truly began there. Italy mourned the death of the star for a full week.