What teams did Kobe Bryant root for?
Kobe Bryant named three teams as his own across soccer and football, and a fourth, the LA Galaxy, shows up only as a tie. In his own words, he was an AC Milan fan and a Philadelphia Eagles fan. FC Barcelona is reported, through a quote carried by Everything Barca. The Galaxy connection comes from the club itself and is not something Bryant said. Bryant died on January 26, 2020, so all of it is written in the past tense.
What was Kobe Bryant's favorite soccer team?
AC Milan. Bryant's connection to the club goes back to childhood. After his father was traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to the then-San Diego Clippers, the family moved to San Diego in 1979. Two years later they moved to Reggio Calabria, then to Pistoia and Reggio Emilia, and when Bryant was 13 they went back to Philadelphia.
He spoke about Milan several times. He told Sportskeeda in July 2013, "Milan has always been my favourite team and it's always in my heart." In March 2016 Forza Italian Football quoted him saying, "I grew up in Milan and AC Milan was my team, it was the team I supported whole-heartedly." A CBS Sports report from January 28, 2020 carried another line from him: "Milan have always been my favorite side." None of the three sources has him ending the fandom.
Did Kobe Bryant like FC Barcelona?
Reportedly, yes. Everything Barca reported on July 1, 2017 a quote from Bryant: "I still love AC Milan — though they don't wear my brand of choice — and FC Barcelona." The attribution rests on that outlet's report, so this is a reported fandom and not a standalone confirmation. The quote also puts Barcelona next to Milan, with Milan named first. Chris Paul is reported as a Barcelona fan too. Jaylen Brown is listed as someone who used to be a fan, and that status is disputed.
What was Kobe Bryant's favorite NFL team?
The Philadelphia Eagles, a childhood team and the clearest case of his fandom in his own posts. Bryant was born in Philadelphia on August 23, 1978, and returned there at 13 to attend Bala Cynwyd Middle School and then Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. The Eagles tie lines up with that: it is a hometown team for a player born in the city who went to school in its suburbs.
On January 21, 2018, he posted on X, "Getting there wasn't the goal @Eagles let's finish the job #focus #superbowl". After the Eagles won the Super Bowl, he posted on February 4, 2018, "YES!!!!!!!!!!!! #EAGLES #SUPERBOWLCHAMPS #PHILLY YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Section 215 wrote in January 2020 that Bryant "remained a life-long fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, and would often rep the team whenever possible." Sportskeeda wrote in August 2021 that the best-known moment of him discussing the team is the clip of him watching Philadelphia win the Super Bowl.
Did Kobe Bryant like the LA Galaxy?
Nothing Bryant said puts him in the Galaxy's corner. The tie comes from the club's own site, which called him "One of the LA Galaxy's most famous fans" when he announced his retirement from basketball at year's end. That is a background tie described by the team, not a stated fandom. His career fits the location, since he played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2016, but no fact here says why he was linked to the club.
Which other players share a team with Kobe Bryant?
On the Eagles side, Charles Barkley, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Kyle Lowry have said in their own words that they are fans. Tyrese Maxey and Kahleah Copper are reported as fans. For Barcelona, Chris Paul is reported as a fan.
Questions people ask
What team did Kobe Bryant root for growing up?
In his own words, AC Milan was the team he grew up supporting, and he named the Eagles as a childhood team too. He lived in Italy for part of his childhood before the family moved back to Philadelphia when he was 13.
Did Kobe Bryant like AC Milan?
Yes. He told Sportskeeda in 2013, "Milan has always been my favourite team and it's always in my heart."
Did Kobe Bryant like the Philadelphia Eagles?
Yes. He posted about the team on X before and after their Super Bowl win in February 2018.
Did Kobe Bryant like FC Barcelona?
Reportedly. Everything Barca reported in 2017 that he said he still loved AC Milan and FC Barcelona, though the claim rests on that outlet's report.
Did Kobe Bryant like the LA Galaxy?
Only as a background tie. The Galaxy's own site called him one of its most famous fans, but he never said so himself.