And they were right. Kobe Bryant has won many honors and awards including four NBA Championship victories.

VOA: special.2009.11.20

He has coached some of the NBA's best basketball players, including Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

VOA: special.2009.07.10

Joe Bryant and his family moved to Italy when he played on a team there.

VOA: special.2009.11.20

Kobe Bryant was named most valuable player in the finals for the second straight year.

VOA: special.2010.06.25

Because of his extraordinary skills, sports critics compared Kobe Bryant to basketball great Michael Jordan.

VOA: special.2009.11.20

Bryant said this championship is sweeter than the rest because it came against the Celtics.

VOA: special.2010.06.25

They predicted Bryant would be one of the best basketball players of all time.

VOA: special.2009.11.20

Kobe Bryant began his career in the National Basketball Association in nineteen ninety-six.

VOA: special.2009.11.20

Ann Bryant is executive director of the National School Boards Association.

VOA: special.2010.03.18

Kobe Bryant has been the top scorer is many basketball games.

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The older Bryant later played on basketball teams in Europe.

VOA: special.2009.11.20

His father is former NBA player Joe "Jellybean" Bryant.

VOA: special.2009.11.20

In nineteen eighty-two, the Bryant family returned to Philadelphia.

VOA: special.2009.11.20

Kobe Bryant was born in nineteen seventy-eight in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania.

VOA: special.2009.11.20

Kobe Bryant has achieved other successes in basketball.

VOA: special.2009.11.20

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant took home his fourth NBA crown and was voted the finals Most Valuable Player.

VOA: standard.2009.12.24

Bryant said winning his first title without former teammate Shaquille O'Neal was a great relief.

VOA: standard.2009.12.24

There were also tributes from sports stars Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson.

VOA: standard.2009.07.07