During his career, Kobe Bryant became a basketball and cultural icon, admired by fans, celebrities, and world leaders. His tragic death elicited shock and sadness worldwide, including from the small Italian city of Reggio Emilia, where he spent part of his childhood. Reggio Emilia is known for its contributions to educational philosophy, Parmesan cheese, and now, as the hometown of the legendary Kobe Bryant.
‘Forever One of Us’
The Reggio Emilia basketball team paid tribute to Kobe with a tweet saying, “Forever one of us,” accompanied by photos of a young Bryant in their team uniform. The local paper, Gazzetta di Reggio, ran the headline, “Kobe Bryant, a champion grown in Reggio Emilia.”
According to Davide Giudici, a former teammate and friend from Reggio Emilia, Kobe Bryant stood out even at a young age. Giudici said, “He was obviously already really good. We had a strong team, but he was better than all of us. At 11 years old, he was already very secure in his power and what he would become.” It was clear to anyone who saw him play that Kobe would go on to become a professional player and achieve international success.
Image Source: kobebryant@Instagram
