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Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) stands for the National Anthem before their first round NBA playoff game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, April 29, 2012. AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post (Photo By AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) stands for the National Anthem before their first round NBA playoff game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, April 29, 2012. AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post (Photo By AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
It’s that time of the year when the NBA world is going to remember the legend Kobe Bryant on his 43rd birthday. Mamba left behind a trail of phenomenal basketball moments for his fans to cherish. Unfortunately, on 26 January 2020, Kobe died in a helicopter crash with eight other people including his daughter Gianna Bryant.
Born on 23rd August 1978 in Philadelphia, he was the youngest child of former basketball player Joe Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant. Kobe started with a basketball in his hand at the age of three and eventually joined the league as an 18-year old. The 20-year career of Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers is a separate chapter in NBA history.
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Kobe Bryant, USA, with his Gold Medal during the Men’s Basketball Final between USA and Spain at the North Greenwich Arena during the London 2012 Olympic games. London, UK. 12th August 2012. Photo Tim Clayton (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
On this special occasion of Bryant’s 43rd birthday, let’s take a look at the current NBA players who share their birthday with the Lakers star!
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Seth Curry
Seth Curry turns 31 today on 23rd August 2021. Despite going undrafted in the 2013 NBA draft, he tried his hands at the D-league and some short stints with NBA teams. Son of former NBA player Dell Curry, Seth currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers that he joined in 2020. In 1990, Seth was born in North Carolina, the great Michael Jordan’s soil, while sharing his birth date with Kobe Bryant. Those are some legendary affiliations for an NBA player. At the moment, Seth is stamping his success in the league after early jolts in his career.
Join us in wishing @sdotcurry of the @sixers a HAPPY 31st BIRTHDAY! #NBABDAY #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/zwl6DcqlOt
— NBA (@NBA) August 23, 2021
Jusuf Nurkic
Going by the sobriquet, ‘the Bosnian Beast’, Jusuf Nurkic has made it to 27 years today on his birthday. Nurkic was born to a 7-ft tall police officer, Hariz on 23rd August 1994. The Portland Trail Blazers center was drafted in 2014 as the 16th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls but immediately got traded to the Denver Nuggets. Nurkic is making an impact in the league at this age and since he joined the Blazers.
READ MORE: “M*****f**kers Better Come Play”: DeMar DeRozan Recalls the Time He Faced Kobe Bryant in Drew League
Devin Vassell
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San Antonio Spurs rookie Devin Vassell also shares his birthday with Kobe Bryant. That could be something to cherish for the 21-YO as most find inspiration from Mamba’s mentality. Born in 2000, Vassell grew up in Suwanee Georgia. He was drafted by the Spurs in 2020 as the 11th first-round pick. He currently plays at the small forward position for his team.
PJ Washington
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PJ Washington is another newbie in the league, haven’t spent two years with the Charlotte Hornets. The 6ft-7-inch power forward was born on 23rd August 1998 and is turning 23 years old today alongside Kobe’s 43 years. Washington was selected in the 2020 NBA All-Rookie Second team.
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