This biography traces basketball superstar Kobe Bryant from his childhood in Italy (where his father played professional basketball) to his status as a high school basketball prodigy and NBA rookie sensation, through his five NBA championships and ongoing dynamic, all-star-caliber play for the team that drafted him directly out of high school, the Los Angeles Lakers. Readers learn what makes Bryant such a talented player and valuable team member and thrill to the sheer grace, skill, and dominance that has helped make him a 16-time All-Star and 15-time member of the All-NBA team.