Some NBA fans may have heard that Joe Bryant recently passed away at the age of 69. To those who might not be aware, Joe is the father of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. The Black Mamba is considered by many to be one of the greatest players in the history of the league.
Although a great deal is known about Kobe’s accomplishments on the court, his personal relationships and interactions are not really understood by fans. As a result, many might not have even known about the relationship that Kobe had with his father. With that being said, let us take a closer look and find out more.
Kobe Bryant deciding to marry Vanessa created friction with Joe Bryant
It turns out that the 5x NBA champion was not on the best of terms with his parents. Although Kobe and Joe initially had a good relationship with Joe inspiring his son to play basketball, their bond deteriorated after Kobe Bryant began his career in the NBA.
Reports revealed that Kobe’s decision to marry Vanessa Bryant was not received well by his parents. This makes sense considering that Bryant was only 21 years old when he got engaged to Vanessa. Moreover, Vanessa was Mexican and not African-American like the Bryant family.
These reasons, along with several others, ensured that Kobe didn’t have a good relationship with his parents. It might even surprise some fans to hear that things got bad enough for Kobe Bryant making the decision to take legal action against his own father and mother.Kobe even filed a lawsuit against his own parents
In 2013, Joe and Pam Bryant were caught trying to sell Kobe Bryant’s memorabilia such as championship rings and high school uniforms. Things had reached a point where Kobe had to take them to court. Bryant won the lawsuit against his parents and the auction house. Moreover, he even received a public apology from them.
Kobe even severed ties with his older sisters. Reports revealed that they were financially dependent on him and Bryant didn’t want to provide for them constantly. While one would assume that Kobe’s relationship with his parents was most negative, that wouldn’t be fair.Kobe Bryant reportedly reconciled with Joe Bryant before his death
Kobe undoubtedly had a good relationship with his parents until the point where his NBA career began. His choice of romantic partner and incredible success in the NBA made things complicated between the family. However, there were moments when Kobe could be seen hugging his father and smiling.
This indicates that they reconciled before Kobe and his daughter Gianna died in a helicopter accident. Now that the Bryant family has lost Kobe, Gianna, and Joe, fans hope that the ones who are remaining are able to live in peace together.