Kobe Bryant's impact on the basketball court was not just felt in the city of Los Angeles, and the U.S. Basketball fanatics across Italy celebrated all those championship trophies and individual accolades KB collected throughout his illustrious 20-year career.

Bryant lived in Italy between the ages of six and 13 while his father, Joe Bryant, played professionally for several teams in the country. Those were formative years for the young Kobe, both in life and in basketball. The country remembers Bean not just for his superior basketball prowess but also for his affinity with Italian culture.