Widely considered to be among the greatest players of all time, Los Angeles Lakers and NBA legend Kobe Bryant will be spotlighted in a new docuseries being released by CNN, the network revealed on Friday. The three-part series, which is titled Kobe: The Making of a Legend, officially makes its premiere on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 9 p.m. EST and will air on the two Saturdays to follow at the same time. The project will be available for cable subscribers on CNN, and they can also tune in using the CNN website or mobile application.
This new docuseries tells the story of Bryant from his childhood in Italy to how he rose to stardom as an athlete. Furthermore, the project delves into his post-playing aspirations in storytelling and his time as a father. The project features personal interviews with Bryant’s former coaches, teammates and family friends, providing a look into the life of the sports legend. This original series also features conversations with New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Tracy McGrady, WNBA Hall of Fame member Sheryl Swoopes and former Los Angeles Lakers head athletic trainer Gary Vitti. Eric Johnson, Amy Entelis and Katie Hinman served as executive producers on the project.
“Five years after his passing, we are honored to share the story of Kobe Bryant – arguably one of the greatest and most competitive professional athletes of all time,” Johnson said in a statement. “While his legendary career on the court is widely celebrated, this series explores some of the lesser-known dimensions of his life. We’re proud to present a deeper, more nuanced portrait of Kobe and the complicated journey that shaped his legacy.”
Bryant, an 18-time All-Star and five-time NBA champion, is viewed as a seminal figure in the world of basketball and sports at large. He and his daughter, Gianna, along with seven other occupants, passed away in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. in January 2020. The Lakers have commemorated Bryant’s legacy by retiring both his uniform numbers and commissioned three statues to be created in his honor, the first of which was revealed this past February.
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