Happy 35th birthday Kobe Bryant!
The Los Angeles Lakers introduced him to the world at the tender age of 17 when they traded for him after he was picked 13 by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft, and since then, Kobe Bean Bryant has morphed into possibly the biggest Hollywood star of them all. He awes the likes of Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio nightly with his seemingly-impossible dunks, long threes, crowd-rupturing dunks and clutch game winners, but Kobe is no stranger to acting. He has taken part in numerous entertaining print and commercial advertisements throughout his career, some serious, most of them funny, all of them highlighting one of the most determined, talented and successful athletes the world of sports has ever seen.
As a celebration of Kobe’s birthday, here are the top 10 Kobe Bryant advertisements.
10. Very Rare Adidas Commercial (1997/98)
Remember when Kobe was with Adidas? He had some pretty cool commercials, including one where he dunked from the free throw line, but this one of him playing streetball in L.A. showcases the athleticism and flashiness of the once 17-year-old kid from Philadelphia who went from high school straight to the pros.
9. Turkish Airlines Commercial with Lionel Messi (2012)
What do you get when you put the best basketball player and the best soccer player in the world on the same plane? An enthused little kid, boastful tricks, and………ice cream?
8. Count on Kobe (2013)
The world revolves around Kobe.
7. Kobe System Level #1: Success (2012)
This series of commercials featured Kobe teaching a room full of stars, from Serena Williams and Jerry West to Kanye West, Aziz Ansari and even Tony Robbins, how to achieve success. Success for the successful, to be precise. As usual though, nothing beats the original.
6. Sprite Commercial (2007)
Kobe’s thirst is proving all the doubters wrong, which he has done time and time again. What’s yours?
5. Black Mamba Action Flick (2011)
Kobe Bryant, Kanye West and director Robert Rodriguez all star as themselves in one of the best unknown Kobe advertisements period. Well done, Nike.
4. Adidas “Hand” Commercial (1999/2000)
Kobe has always been a pretty inspiring person because of his work ethic and determination, but this commercial serves to let us know that he moves at a pace that anyone can go.
3. The Kobe and Lebron Puppet Commercials (2009)
Kobe and Lebron……..as puppets? Genius. These commercials featured the two boasting and bragging to each other about their awards and different feats, and instantly became fan-favorites and Kobe and Lebron classics.
2. Love Me or Hate Me (2006)
The title says it all.
1. You Showed Us (2013)
This is not a commercial, and Kobe doesn't collaborate with any famous celebrities. In fart, this ad is a re-do of the page spread print ad that went with the "Love Me or Hate Me" campaign back in 2006. At a time when Kobe Bryant needed us the most, support from everyone else, Nike had his back. They came up with this heartfelt ad just one week after Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles in April of this year, sidelining him for the end of the season and playoffs, putting his future in jeopardy.
Photo courtesy of Twitter