The world of international sports is mourning the passing of one of the most renowned names in basketball, Joe Bryant. Father of the legendary, Kobe Bryant, Joe was a beloved figure for basketball lovers and his presence will be dearly missed. His death occurred four-and-a-half years after his son Kobe lost his life in a helicopter crash. Joe and Kobe were often pictured together watching various sports live, and one particular image capturing the two witnessing a soccer game has gone viral in recent hours.
Former basketball player and now sports analyst, Shaquille O’Neal shared a heartwarming picture of Joe and Kobe Bryant watching a soccer game in Italy. The photo traces all the way back to 1986 when Kobe Bryant was just an eight-year-old boy making his way into sports. The father and son pair can be seen having a good time attending the match in freezing conditions which did little to stop them from enjoying the occasion.
Joe Bryant’s deep roots in Italy
The professional career of Joe Bryant as a basketball player began in 1975 with the Philadelphia 76ers. After playing for eight valuable years in the United States, Jellybean decided to shift to Europe and continue his basketball career in Italy. In 1983, he signed a contract with Italian club, AMG Sebastiani Rieti and hence kickstarted a beautiful chapter of his illustrious career.
Joe’s twilight years also saw him test the waters in France before entering into the coaching arena. He took on the coaching responsibilities of his first Italian club, Sebastiani Rieti during the 2009-10 season. Italy’s fascination with soccer instilled a love for the sport in Kobe Bryant, who was just six years old when he joined his father in his travels in Italy.
Soccer held a special place in the heart of Kobe Bryant
Growing up in an Italian culture for most of his childhood, Kobe Bryant became an ardent follower of soccer. “I am actually a huge soccer fan. I grew up in Italy. From the age of six to 14, I played soccer every day. It is actually my favorite sport”, were the words of Bryant during the historic 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Kobe’s time in Italy coincided with the dominance of AC Milan in Europe, which led to the boy becoming a lifelong supporter of the Rossoneri.
For Italy, The Black Mamba became a son above everything, and his unfortunate demise was mourned throughout the European nation. Kobe tried his luck in soccer during his early days and was even able to get a place in his local team, Cantine Riunite. His physical traits naturally established him as a goalkeeper in the beginning. Kobe Bryant also operated as a midfielder when he grew up, before eventually taking up basketball as his career.