Who was Kobe Bryant’s Uncle -Everyone knows that Kobe Bryant is an NBA basketball superstar. What many people don’t know, however, is the role that his uncle played in his rise to fame and fortune. In this article, we’ll explore the life of Kobe Bryant’s uncle, who was both a coach and an inspiration to the young man who would go on to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
What Was John Smith Like?
John Smith was Kobe Bryant’s uncle on his mother side, but he was more like a father to him. John Smith has been there for Kobe since he was just a baby. When Kobe was one-years old, his father left their family to pursue another woman and John stepped in to be the man of the house.
He moved the family from Philly to New Jersey so that they could have a better life than what they had in Philadelphia. John always saw something special in his nephew, even when no one else did. With all of the struggles that this family faced early on, it is hard to imagine that they would make it out alive but somehow they did. In 1991, John made the decision to send Kobe overseas to Italy so that he could become a professional basketball player.
John may not have been rich himself but he never let any of that come between them. As Kobe continued to achieve great things in his career as an NBA player, John was always there with him at every step of the way cheering him on until he retired from playing professionally.
In 2013 when Mr.
What Went Wrong in the Relationship Between Kobe And His Father?
Kobe and his dad couldn’t be in the same room without yelling or fighting. Kobe was a daddy’s boy, no matter how hard he tried to please his father.
Robert would often demand that Kobe come outside and play basketball with him, but Kobe always refused. He wanted to spend time with his mother and younger sister instead.
It was a vicious cycle of abuse, which made it difficult for Kobe to form any sort of relationship with his father.
They were constantly going at each other about something. Their anger towards one another became so intense that they often avoided being in the same room together as much as possible. When Kobe was 18-years old, Robert finally decided to take a break from his relationship with his son.
For two years, they didn’t speak to each other while Kobe went on to become one of the best players in NBA history. However, when the Los Angeles Lakers retired Shaquille O’Neal’s number (33), Kobe got up during the ceremony and apologized to his father. I want you to know I love you, he said. And I want you to know this isn’t personal.
How Did John Smith React To His Son Leaving for College?
John Smith is a former professional basketball player. He was Kobe Bryant’s uncle. This means that he had a hand in helping his nephew develop into one of the NBA’s greatest players ever. John Smith played for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels from 1972-1976, where he helped lead them to their first Final Four appearance in 1973.
Smith later played for the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1978-1979 season before retiring.
In 1999, John Smith was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame for his contributions to basketball and being an influential figure in Kobe’s life. That same year, John was also elected as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
But his favorite moment came when Kobe led the Lakers to three straight titles and made him the most dominant player in basketball history at age 34. It’s clear that they’re both happy with how things turned out.
What Is John Smith Doing Today?
John Smith is a retired American professional player. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Toronto Raptors during his career. John made his NBA debut in 1979 with the Philadelphia 76ers. He went on to play for the Cavaliers from 1980-1982, Lakers from 1982-1990, and Raptors from 1994-1995.
John was honored as an NBA All-Star five times (1982, 1983, 1985, 1988–1989). Today he works as a commentator for both TV and radio broadcasts of games that feature the Lakers or Clippers teams. In 2009, John became part owner of the Los Angeles Sparks. In 2012, John received an honorary Doctorate Degree in Sports Management from Pepperdine University.
What does Kobe say about him? Kobe has said He’s my number one supporter. I call him before every game. In spite of his past success, John claims he hasn’t seen much change in Kobe’s attitude over the years. He still has a very humble personality, he says. I don’t see any sense of entitlement at all.
John also talks about how it feels to be back around Laker Land again and how proud he is of what Kobe has accomplished over the years.