In 1996, a young Kobe Bryant was one of the brightest prospects to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers at 17. Still at school, Kobe was one of the youngest players in the NBA. Since Kobe was a minor, his parents had to co-sign his $3.5 million rookie contract. But, did you know that besides being barely ready to sign contracts, he was also not allowed to watch R-rated movies? Yes, Kobe’s father, Joe Bryant, had strict control over the media his children consumed until they became legal adults.
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Kobe had a bright career in high school, with a point tally of 2,883 while playing for Lower Merion School in Ardmore, Philadelphia. The Lakers had enough faith in his skills, especially manager Jerry West, who was confident in his decision to trade him for Vlade Divac after drafting him into the league. This decision paid off for West, as Kobe went on to register himself as one of the franchise’s greats years later.
But he was still a kid, and his dad Joe Bryant treated him like one.
“My wife and I used to prescreen movies”: Kobe Bryant’s father reveals how he had instilled discipline in his children
When we think of Kobe, his no-nonsense and disciplined nature comes to our mind. Everybody wants to instill the ‘Mamba mindset’ in them. However, credit goes to Joe Bryant, Kobe’s father, who imbibed discipline in him in the strictest ways possible.
Nowadays, with the availability of media, it is impossible for children to avoid R-rated content. It is vile out there. However, in the 1980s and 1990s, Kobe’s father had strict guidelines on what content his children would consume. In a story from Sports Illustrated in 1998, Joe Bryant said,
“My wife and I used to prescreen movies before we’d let the kids see them. We used to push the kids under the seat when the actors would start kissing.”
Kobe would later reveal that his favorite movie was the cult classic ‘The Godfather’ by Francis Coppola. But young Bryant only had the opportunity to watch it once he turned 18, a year after being drafted into the NBA and signing with the Lakers. The movie significantly impacted him. It molded his ethics, and values, and, subsequently helped him develop, the ‘Mamba mentality.’
Kobe Bryant explains why ‘The Godfather’ is his favorite movie
The Godfather is one of the cult classics from the 70s that people still enjoy to this day. However, Kobe has a different reason to find this movie appealing. Perhaps the movie also shaped some crucial elements of his personality, such as his discipline and loyalty to his team.
When asked about what’s his favorite part about ‘The Godfather, Kobe says,
“It reminds me of my family. Not because of the violence, but because of the way they all pulled for each other no matter what.”
This quote reveals much about Kobe’s values and ethics, which were later reflected in his life and career. Kobe was highly loyal to his team, The Lakers, retiring after his 20-season-spanning career in Los Angeles. Besides this, Kobe was also very much faithful and happy with his family: his wife, parents, two sisters, and three children.
The Mamba might not have had the same privileges an average teenager would ideally enjoy in America. But the strict discipline imparted by Joe Bryant did help in the long run for Kobe to become one of the greatest to play the sport.
