After first meeting Vanessa Bryant, née Laine, in 1999, the Los Angeles Lakers icon wed her in 2001. Up to Kobe's sudden death in 2020, the pair had four kids and were blissfully married. Kobe, though, was thinking about someone else during his high school years.
The Black Mamba first met Brandy Norwood, a star of the then-popular comedy Moesha, when he was just 17 years old. Kobe was prepared for greater things in life while his peers were getting ready for college life. The NBA was prepared to choose him in the draught. Kobe's desire for his prom date to be particularly memorable should not come as a surprise.
Bryant initially met Norwood at the Essence Awards in April of that year, and he fell in love right away. He was definitely taken aback by the performer and actress that evening at Madison Square Garden. But Mr. 81 seemed a touch reserved. So much so that Kobe needed assistance in contacting Brandy and determining whether or not she would be willing to accompany him on his prom date.