Haute 100 Los Angeles Update: Kobe Bryant

Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets—Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These people continue to make moves, so rather than waiting for the next Haute 100 issue to come out, we thought we’d provide you with regular updates on those Haute 100 members who are making headlines. Check back daily for more info on the most powerful people in your city. Kobe Bryant repays his high school basketball education by donating to the school.

Kobe Bryant

Category: Athletes

Industry: Basketball

Company: L.A. Lakers

What Made Him Haute: The All-World shooting guard for the Lakers will go down in history as one of the greatest players ever in the NBA. After earning back-to-back NBA Finals MVP, the now five-time NBA champ is looking to grab another title and MVP this season.

What Makes Him Haute Now: “Humble” is not the first word to come to the minds of many people who have watched Kobe Bryant over the years, but the basketball star hasn’t forgotten where he came from. Thursday night, Kobe donated $411,000 to Philadelphia’s Lower Merion High School as a way to pay tribute to the good basketball education he received from attentive teachers and coaches. “I really had a great high school coach. I really had a great high school. I had the will to learn the game, but he had the knowledge to teach me the game. He would get there early to work with me on the basic things: mid-range game, footwork.” He is talking about coach Gregg Downer, the high school coach that claims his star pupil soaked up new moves like a sponge.

Lower Merion High School has now named their gymnasium after Kobe Bryant.

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