Kobe Bryant was born August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The son of famed NBA star Joe "Jellybean" Bryant (of 76ers, Clippers and Rockets fame), Kobe has two older sisters, Sharia and Shaya. If his given name sounds familiar, it may be because he was named after a type of steak, which was seen on a menu before his birth.

With the power to dunk, shoot and dribble in his genes, Bryant attended Lower Merion High School, after having spent a part of his childhood in Italy. While in high school, Bryant proved to be a star player on the courts, and earned enough honors and triumphs to make up for his lack of college basketball experience.

The senior voted USA Today and Parade Magazine's National High School Player of the Year not only led his team to Class AAAA state title, but he also broke records along the way. With an average of 30.8 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.0 steals, 3.8 blocked shots per game, and a total of 2,883 points, Bryant became the leading scorer in Southeastern Pennsylvania history -- beating out previous records set by NBA great Wilt Chamberlain and Carlin Warley.

A four-year starter, Bryant was recognized for his innate basketball skills by being named Naismith Player of the Year, Gatorade Circle of Champions High School Player of the Year, and became a McDonald's All-America Team member.

Going straight from high school to professional basketball (the only Los Angeles player to have bypassed college), Bryant was picked 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets, in the first round of the 1996 NBA draft.

Kobe's NBA exploits are well-known, having led the Lakers to three championships, emerging from the long shadow of Shaq to establish himself as perhaps the premier player in the league.

--AskMen.com