Er ist eine Legende, die leider viel zu früh verstarb. Als Kobe Bryant am 26. Januar 2020 bei einem Helikopterflug ums Leben kam, trauerte die gesamte Sportwelt. Zu sehr hatte "The Mamba" den Basketballsport und das Geschehen in der NBA zu Beginn der 2000er-Jahre geprägt, war zu einem Idol aufgestiegen für Millionen. Das Buch von Mike Sielski rückt eine bisher weniger beachtete Phase aus Kobe Bryants Leben ins Zentrum. Es erzählt, wie es dem jungen Kobe gelang über die High School direkt in die beste Basketball-Liga der Welt duchzustarten - als Rookie beim Top-Klub Los Angeles Lakers.
Kobe Bryant is a legend, and this book offers a captivating glimpse into his early life and ascent to becoming one of basketball's all-time greats. The tragedy of his death in January 2020 highlighted the profound impact he had on sports and beyond. By exploring the often-overlooked aspects of his formative years, the narrative provides unique insights into Kobe's character and journey. Readers are taken from the cracked basketball courts of 1960s and 70s Philadelphia, where his father, Joe, excelled, to Europe, where Kobe spent crucial years, and finally to Lower Merion, where his legend took shape. The story culminates in his leading Lower Merion to the 1995-96 Pennsylvania state championship, an underdog victory for a team centered around him, and his subsequent selection in the 1996 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. With exclusive access to previously unreleased interviews from Kobe's senior year and early NBA days, the author reveals insights and stories that have remained hidden for years. This work transcends a typical basketball biography; it delves into the making of an icon and the influence of his development on those around him, capturing the essence of Kobe before he fully became the man and legend we know today.
