Too much, too soon. That's what the critics claimed when Kobe Bryant made the leap directly from high school to the pros. They were right. Six years later Kobe's got too much talent, too much confidence, and too much money. He's got big-time crossover appeal and a murderous crossover dribble. Kobe's also got three NBA championship rings at an age when most young men are still shooting for assistant manager. And, of course, he's got seriously mad game. This is his story.

Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents, Joe and Pam, already had two girls, Sharia and Shaya. Kobe was their third and final child. Life in the Bryant family was not your normal everyday existence. Joe, a playground legend from Philly's John Bartram High School, was in the midst of a scattershot pro basketball career that took him to three different countries. After three stellar years at La Salle University, he was drafted in 1975 by the Golden State Warriors.

Kobe grew up eating, sleeping and breathing basketball. A yearafter he was born, Joe was traded to the San Diego Clippers. The Bryants loved being in sunny Southern California. Their neighbors were friendly, and rain rarely forced the kids inside. Kobe developed an intense love of hoops on the West Coast. By his third birthday he was already telling people be would be an NBA star.

Few Facts

• Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal were both named First Team All-NBA after the 2001-02 season. They became the first tandem to be honored as such since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in 1996.
• Kobe's 56-point game against the Grizzlies in January of 2002 was the highest total ever recorded by any of the 20+ players who have gone directly from high school to the NBA.
• Kobe got his name from a Japanese steakhouse in the Philadelphia suburb of King of Prussia. His father liked the sound of the name.
• Kobe's favorite video as a kid was "NBA Showmen," which highlighted some of basketball's all-time greats.
• Kobe has incredible basketball bloodlines. His mom's brother, John "Chubby" Cox, played in the NBA.
• When Kobe made the varsity at Lower Merion High School as a freshman, he selected the number of his idol, Magic Johnson. He had to switch to #33 in 1995-96, because he outgrew the other jersey.
• Kobe made his first legit dunk at the age of 14.
• Kobe took R&B star Brandy to his senior prom. He later played the role of a basketball star on her show, "Moesha."
• Kobe married Vanessa Laine in April of 2001. They met while she was still in high school. An aspiring artist, she is expecting their first child, a girl, in February of 2003.
• Kobe breaks in a new pair of basketball shoes every three or four games.
• Kobe develops new moves in the off-season by playing against his shadow.
• Kobe was one of four Lakers to make the 1998 All-Star squad-Shaquille O'Neal, Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel were the others. The last time four teammates made the game was in 1983, when Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Maurice Cheeks and Andrew Toney of the 76ers were selected.
• Kobe's nine-game scoring streak of at least 40 points per game in 2003 matched one of equal length by Michael Jordan in the 1986-87 campaign.