Kobe Bryant spoke fluent Italian and spent much of his childhood in Italy.

He was the youngest player to start an NBA game at just 18 years old.

Bryant won an Oscar in 2018 for his animated short film "Dear Basketball."

His high school coach said he could have gone straight to the NBA from high school.

Bryant was a talented rapper and released a single called "K.O.B.E." in 2000.

Bryant was an advocate for women's sports and coached his daughter's basketball team.

He was a two-time Olympic gold medalist, winning with Team USA in 2008 and 2012.