Kobe Bryant who played his last NBA game last weekend revealed on ESPN.com that he hadn’t spoken to his parents in the last three years.He said the reason he stopped speaking with them and helping them out was because they auctioned off his High school memorabilia without his consent. He said:
“Our relationship is shit,”. “I say to them, ‘I’m going to buy you a very nice home, and the response is ‘That’s not good enough’?” “Then you’re selling my shit?”
After his parents’ lawyers worked out a settlement allowing them to auction six items of Kobe’s memorabilia totaling $500,000 in 2013, his parents issued a statement which read:
“We regret our actions and statements related to the Kobe Bryant auction memorabilia,” the statement from Joe and Pamela Bryant read. “We apologize for any misunderstanding and unintended pain we may have caused our son and appreciate the financial support that he has provided to us over the years.”
Kobe who has two sisters said that he has also stopped supporting his sisters because they are smart college educated women who have their own careers and can support themselves.
Before the incident with his parents, Kobe financially supported his parents and sisters and his wife-Vanessa’s family. Even though he has stopped supporting his family financially, he is still supporting Vanessa’s parents.
Kobe also mentioned that his father’s failure as an NBA player was what motivated him to be a successful NBA player.
He said his father, Joe Bryant was a 6-foot-9 forward with the skill set of a guard that would have made him successful in today’s NBA, but in the Eastern Conference of the late 1970s, he was miscast as a defensive specialist.
According to Joe Bryant himself, his whole career would’ve been different if he’d been in a different system and had been able to play on the perimeter like Magic Johnson.
Kobe said:
“When I hear those things, I don’t really understand them.”
Why should the whims of fate, which system he played in, determine the success of a man’s career?
And he didn’t understand how his father accepted that and failed to be successful.
In Kobe’s mind, he could never accept disappointment on the court like his father did. He couldn’t. Not if he wanted to be a legend, so his father’s failure drove him to be a successful NBA player, the Legend he has become today.
you be Mumu now
As hw, u wey get sense tell us wetin him suppose do
U no well ya. Ya sence de na for ur cheat hole
U couldnt forgive ur parents ordinary 500k memorablia they sold yrs ago and u stopped helping ur blood sisters, claiming they hv careers and can take care of themselves. But u still give a lot of money to ur wife’s parent and family. My question is’ Are ur inlaws family all disabled? Why cant they help themselves as u expected ur own family to help themselves? Idiot man. This is how u hopeless blacks be licking women’s asses in America so d masses and media can call u a nice married guy. What d hell! What a disgusting piece of news to read
What you sow you will reap
You’re a big full
You with held your support but God didn’t. Tell you the truth your parents and sisters are doing great without you.
You are stupid.
Foolish man goin down in his own distruction..hiw many things dd u wrong your parents n they forgave u?
C how stupid u re nd ur wife should be ashame of herself for u to abandon ur familys nd she is happy na. Wat u sow u shall reap.
Very useless idiot barsterd animalistic OMO ALE . No matter what your parents who bring you to this world brother think twice. To cut the story short you are a epitome of jackals shallows brain and woman rapper
Ppl need to come out of other ppl family life. A lot of u have money and not helping your family. Maybe thats just part of the problem.
You’re a fool! That’s all I have to say!
You guys don’t get Kobe Bryant’s point, I can feel his pain. Am a black and from my opinion, we never get to give enough to our families. Some black parents and families are never satisfied with the support their children give them. Someone’s memorabilia, especially a guy like Bryant is a very high valued asset and it’s totally wrong for the parents to sell it without his consent. If u bring a child to this world, it is your parental responsibility and that child’s right to be cared for, brought up and be educated and made to become successful. On the flip side, it is only considered a privilege if the child grows up and in turn supports you the parents.
For the sisters, he has supported the sisters until they have careers of their own today. It should only be another privilege and not a right for them if Bryant continues supporting them. The black race will continue to suffer and remain poor so long as we don’t limit or control this culture of ours. It only makes some of very lazy.
If I GET FREE MONEY FROM SOMEONE, WHY SHOULD I BOTHER TO HUSTLE TO MAKE MY OWN MONEY? Food for thought!
White parents won’t do what Bryant’s parents did. If u sell my stuff without my consent, that is synonymous to stealing and u won’t expect me to smile with you. Period.
Don’t even want to know what happened if they had abandon you for 72 hours when you on the cradle you won’t be alive today.
Don’t even want to know what happened if they had abandon you for 72 hours when you on the cradle you won’t be alive today.
This is so sad.It is true that family may be over demanding sometimes. They may be terrible people. But at the end of the day they are your people. Linked by blood. You can never find a subtitute of your mother or father. She is the woman who suckled you, washer your dirty underpants and wiped your nose when you were young. Seriously you need to forgive and forget. A real man does not forget the breast that first breastfed him is how we say from Kenya .
This is so sad.It is true that family may be over demanding sometimes. They may be terrible people. But at the end of the day they are your people. Linked by blood. You can never find a subtitute of your mother or father. She is the woman who suckled you, washer your dirty underpants and wiped your nose when you were young. Seriously you need to forgive and forget. A real man does not forget the breast that first breastfed him is how we say from Kenya .
I will not comment because you said what I was thinking thx
I will not comment because you said what I was thinking thx
Julius just keep quiet if you don’t know what to say. That guy is a fool.
Julius just keep quiet if you don’t know what to say. That guy is a fool.
If my parents like let them sell all my properties they’re still my parents not just parents my heart
If my parents like let them sell all my properties they’re still my parents not just parents my heart
Western world is another planet entirely, you hear people say I haven’t spoken or even seen my parents for over 10yrs. Sometimes I wonder what kind of people are this? You see an old elderly man that cant even walk properly living alone but has kids which are never around. Well Kobe you have no choice but to forgive your family. They are your responsibility. Even if they were witches they are still your biological parent.
Western world is another planet entirely, you hear people say I haven’t spoken or even seen my parents for over 10yrs. Sometimes I wonder what kind of people are this? You see an old elderly man that cant even walk properly living alone but has kids which are never around. Well Kobe you have no choice but to forgive your family. They are your responsibility. Even if they were witches they are still your biological parent.
I am just speechless right now. Kobe Bryant needs God’s forgiveness and prayer. What a mess
I am just speechless right now. Kobe Bryant needs God’s forgiveness and prayer. What a mess
Julian Juliet Najjemba. Thanks dear. Besides, that clearly shows what ‘witch’ of a wife he is married too. Its obvious she and her family has no conscience at all. A good woman will go on her knees and beg her husband to forgive d parents whatever wrong they did to him, as long as they hv publicly apologized. The money is just too much for one family to be enjoying it alone. What a wicked and heartless world we re living in
Julian Juliet Najjemba. Thanks dear. Besides, that clearly shows what ‘witch’ of a wife he is married too. Its obvious she and her family has no conscience at all. A good woman will go on her knees and beg her husband to forgive d parents whatever wrong they did to him, as long as they hv publicly apologized. The money is just too much for one family to be enjoying it alone. What a wicked and heartless world we re living in
I would have commented Buh I read ur name and I wasn’t surprised it was coming from an Igbo man
Michael Solomon . I would hv answered u, but I checked ur profile and wasnt surprised u were just a babyboy.
adebayo is not in this alone
Valentine did u just call 500k ordinary? They have started with selling an asset worth 500k who knows what they will sell next. Forgive and forget, but guys don’t crucify Bryant. Don’t forget he has supported this family all along, even bought million dollar house for them yet that’s not enough. Some of us talking insulting Bryant in this forum, ask yourself when is the last time u even called your parents just to say hello. Let us not even talk about sending them money or supporting a brother or sister in school.
If a man is not a man or a good son to his family he will not be a good husband to you.. No family is perfect but they your family.. They Bible says your days will be long on the earth if you honor your parents.. Jordan had a great relationship with his dad and look him. He making millions cause God blessed him like that..
This pain cannot be compared to the pains the mother went through b4 give birth to him
He shouldn’t have treated them in such way
No excuse what so ever
Not black parents but kobe’s parents, for the part of white, you just prove yourself a slave, all families ain’t same, be it black or white, taking care of your parents when they’re in need is a necessity all over the world, but some parents abuse that privilege, so it’s your choice to put them where they belong, it’s your money.
The family of the wife, at they imbesiles that he has to help them .
I respect your opinion Osas Marv Ikhihibhojere, just like I believed u should do to mine and needless addressing someone a slave. Am glad u just acknowledged the fact that some parents abuse it and that’s just what Bryant’s parents just did to my opinion. Am also super happy u just acknowledged the fact that it’s any person’s choice to put the parents where they belong because it’s his/her money. Again I think it’s that right of choice which Bryant has exercised here. So my African bro, I don’t really see your side on this debate. Please take a side.
I have lived out of our people motherland Africa for many years, I have seen good, bad and ugly. Friend of mine returned from UK to Kenya, his plans was not to return back to UK. He had sent over £40000 to the mother to construct him a house, unfortunately the mom took this money spent it with a drunkard boyfriend. Meanwhile she sending photos of another person’s house under construction to her son. When guy developed mental issues when returned to find the piece of land standing virgin with no house. So bro, what would u do if u were this guy? Food for thought! I love my parents and I have supported them since I became a independent, but there is limit to certain problems. Again my humble argument. Thanks
Adonni Bezek treatment shall visit Kobe in due time
My son , kindly take care of your parents is very important because they brought you in to world.
No matter what Your parent does to You, You don’t need to ignore them, through them,God did great to You.
U need deliverance,bcos am very such is not ordinary
Kobe I liked you very much… How you can do this to your parents? U r a high level fool your mother she has all rights she can even sell you stop being foolish because of a woman? Ur wife she doesn’t use her brains too coz if sh did sh won’t let you part ways with ur parents U0001f621
You have no reason to do that.
Mh imagine, the people who brought you to this world, took care of you unconditionally and you have the guts to forsaken them! In my own religion, your parents have every right to prudently spend your money at any given time without even asking you for it.
Julius Che Tangyie. Dont go personal because u dont know anyone’s life here. We Africans in d diaspora, our money re usually being mismananged by our families and we forgive, get wiser and move on. 500k is not up to koby’s weekly salary, so dont saying what u dont know or accusing folks of not speaking to their parents. Read d column well, his parents already apologosed publicly. And what did his sisters do to stop helping them?
Kobe Bryant is a mad man. He takes care of his inlaw but don’t have anything to do with his parents. He is a big fool and under spell.”Honour your Father and Mother, so that your day’s may be long”
@valentineezeonwuka u’ve spoken my mind I don’t have anything to add.well done
Kobe Bryant remember that yr children will do the same to you if only u have
Dull students in my secondary school days used to say he or she has already said what I wanted to say. So dear Paula what have u just said? You asked me to keep quiet if I don’t know what to say, after which I said a lot even if u didn’t buy to my school of thought! LOL. This is a debate and personal opinions are personal opinions. Thanks
he is foolish
which western world are you talking about? do you think you care for your parents more than them? Bryant issue is quite different.
No matter wat u can’t abandoned ur parent becaus no mater wat they gave birth to u young man
When you were bad at your young age… They were there for you …..but Y,!! No excuse!!!!! So pls stop it now! Honor ur father&your mother….so it shall be well with you
U will never understand him until u been in his shoes
That’s what makes u a mad man
Well said Maxwell Cobbie
Thanks Erico, u and I can form a party. We can flow well together
Kobe I love you and i respect what you have done for yourself. But nevertheless Kobe, no matter the Constance, no matter how terrible you think your parents are toward you, you can not TURN YOUR BACK ON THEM. Without your father in your life you wouldn’t have gotten the exposure you got for basketball. I know you are grown and you are a man of yourself but you are WRONG. I fight for you when people try to put you down but on this issue you are dead wrong and I hope you can go to them and seek for their forgiveness because without them you are nobody. Good luck
Remember your parents give birth to you not your in law .what ever you do to your parents your children we do it back to you
I am talking about this same western world I live in. Bryan doesnt care about his parent. Am sure while growing up he did something that could make his own parent stop caring for him but they cant. He’s their child weda good or bad. You cant change that
Kobe Bryant will die a lonely old man in a pathetic public elderly home if he didn’t correct his ways.
If u say family may be over demanding, how much would kobe gives his parents n sisters compare to billion of dollar he owns.
Lost respect for kobe
@julius, parents r Gods heritage, if kobe had manage his parents n sisters financial life well, they wont be tempted in selling is asset, for yr kenyans friend, he knew d situation of his mum, he knows her life style, all he need to do for her is take care of her daily needs, wen u come back home den u build yr house yrself, kobe dont need to go on air and abuse is parents n sisters, i got yr point and i hope u got mine, family obligations u cant avoid it but rather u manage it not become crisis, and most women dont help thier husband manage it well
I agree with you 100 /100 no other news in the world write this message, except Nigerian
I thought kobe was a good man
Disobeying your parents is a sin
Bitter truth he must av wrong dem a million times b4 he became famous and rich and they still forgive and care for him,now he’s not ready to forgive dem for theirs. So sad
This man is an idiot before doing for my in laws my family comes first in everything I can’t see what can make me in this life to forget about my family they are all I have
I am currently having similar issue where it seems my fam is demanding “appropriately” to me, and the wife thinks its just too much. The way around it is that, naturally ladies don’t like hearing the whole truth, it hurts them and they will always quarrel with u once they know it. So i stopped letting her know whatever i give to my fam and also take care of her n her fam, thereby balancing it. For now, problem solved, but as u know, NO WOMAN NO CRY. As long as there’s a woman in ur life, u’ll always have new issues to quarrel about.
Kobe, you are a nice dude. Come what may, mend your roof. Get it together with your parents. You have only one mother and one father in life, but you can marry as many wives and have as many divorces as you can. When they are gone, they are gone. You won’t see them again and will only live to relish your experience and encounter with them. Moreover, my culture believe that the way you treated your parents, is the way your own children will treat you. Your kids are watching your drama with them now. It’s not a good example to your kids. They are the god you have hear on earth. Obey thy father and mother and God will bless you and your days may be long, so the Bible says. In my culture, we never sue our parents to court for any reason. Your property also belongs to your parents. From what is going on now in the world, you should thank your God that they let you live to be what you are today. Have you not heard of or read of parents killing their children? How did Marvin Gay die? This is just one example. Make peace with your parents while they are still alive. No matter what, your battle with them is a no win battle.
Na Big Mumu… Idiot
Call yourself lucky if you find a lady who effortlessly brings the two families together, treats them equally and wishes them both good. I am lucky though 🙂
some family are ur enemies, before he made this comment he as find out that his / family is his enemies,he ware the shoes he knows where d pain is coming from, abi una never see family where kill pikin? abi una never see mama where dey witch her . pikin?
His family was wrong for selling his memory’s, for how much so much the money will finish and the son will still be around so who all judging Kobe, please think if it was you, iam a mother I was never going to sell something that I was do proud of about my son or daughter. Because the money will finish then what? SO Don judge my #24 the Black mamba
U know culture is very important and that’s what the wife family have when u don have that culture u will never understand so Don side