Kobe Bryant was “the essence of a man before he truly became a man.” The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Mike Sielski once wrote in an article. By the time Bryant turned 12, the Black Mamba looked like a pro in his game. He was always learning and never skipped a beat in practice. A former NBA star, who was coached by Bryant’s father, recently recounted his experience playing alongside the young Kobe.

Ex-Toronto Raptors guard Alvin Williams opened up about his playing days in Sunny Hills under the guidance of Bryant’s father, Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant. The retired NBA player recalled how Bryant often joined his father at the gym. Williams also revealed that he shared a great relationship with Bryant and his father. He was able to bond with the 5x NBA champ because both had two elder sisters. The two were quite close until Kobe was drafted in 1996.

“He was a senior in high school so yeah we got a chance to see him and Kobe. He had two older sisters and that’s how we kind of attracted. I had two older sisters. So you know, Kobe, we were really close, we were really close early on and then he got drafted of course. But really close to his family and everything but it was good times back then,” Williams said on The Mark Jackson Show.

And even as a 12-year-old kid, his skills and work ethic set him apart. The retired NBA player recalled a hilarious incident when his father once mistook Bryant for being part of their team. Apparently, Williams’ father assumed Bryant was in the starting lineup. “I just remember my pop picking me up one time saying, ‘So who’s gonna start? You gonna start? The other kid gonna? I don’t know who he is.’ I said, ‘Dad, that kid (Kobe) 12 years old man, he ain’t starting on our team. He don’t play on that.'” 

Thanks to his father, Kobe got the chance to meet and play with various pros around the country and overseas. The Los Angeles Lakers legend was just 6 years old when his father moved their entire family to Italy.

Kobe Bryant’s life in Italy

After an 8 year career in the NBA, Kobe’s father decided to move to Italy to try his hands in international leagues. The family moved to a sleepy and less populous town, Rieti. It was in the year, 1984. While Kobe’s father became popular for his game, the young Mamba joined a local basketball team.

Davide Giudici, a childhood friend of Kobe, recalled how he was different from the rest of the players. While the rest preferred to watch TV after the game, Kobe returned home to join workouts with his father. Italy was special for Bryant. Even after he joined the league, the Philadelphia native never lost touch with his childhood friends in Italy.

In a conversation with Radio Deejay in 2011, Bryant fondly recalled his connection with Italy and said, “I grew up here in Italy. It’s a country that will always be close to my heart. Always.” It was in 1991 when Bryant and his family moved back to America. After six years, Bryant entered the NBA and the rest is history.

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