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Everything You Need to Know About Kobe Bryant
By the Numbers Selected Non-Basketball TV Appearances International Intrigue Bryant speaks fluent Italian, which he learned when his family lived in Italy for eight years while his father played in the Italian professional basketball league. Lower Merion High School By his junior year, Bryant averaged 31 points a game. USA Today and Parade magazine both named Bryant the national high school player of the year. In May 1996, Bryant went to his high school prom with singing star Brandy. Endorsements Coca-Cola signed Bryant to a multimillion-dollar contract to endorse Sprite. In February 2001, McDonald's signed Bryant to a $10 million endorsement deal. In June 2001, Nike signed Bryant to a $40 million endorsement deal. On the Court Bryant missed most of the Lakers' training camp, because he was sidelined for five weeks with a broken wrist. He injured it playing a pickup game. In his first home exhibition game, he strained a hip flexor and missed the season opener. When he played his first NBA game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he was 18 years, two months and 11 days old. Lakers teammate Shaquille O'Neal nicknamed Bryant "Showboat" because of his self-centered performances on the court. In his first year, Bryant set a new scoring record with 31 points during the rookie All-Star Game. He also won the slam-dunk competition. Lady-Killer When Bryant married 18-year-old Laine in April 2001, his family did not attend. His parents reportedly had problems with him marrying so young, especially to a woman who wasn't black (Laine is half Mexican and half Irish). In the Court Shortly after his arrest, Bryant bought his wife a $4 million diamond "apology" ring. His trial is tentatively scheduled to begin some time in mid-2004.
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