Kobe Bryant Tribute Panel At Wynnewood Jewish Community Center

WYNNEWOOD, PA — Lower Merion's own Kobe Bryant died on Jan. 26, 2020.

The basketball star spent his formative years in Lower Merion, leading the Aces to a PIAA State Championship in 1996.

And one of the places he honed his basketball skills is hosting an event to honor the late Bryant.

At 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6, Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood is hosting an event called "Kobe: As We Knew Him."

The tribute event will bring together many who knew Bryant well from his days at the Kaiserman JCC, Lower Merion High School, and professionally, to share stories as part of a panel discussion.

The panel discussion features author and Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski, who wrote the definitive book on Kobe Bryant’s origin story, "The Rise: Kobe Bryant and the Pursuit of Immortality;" NBA Hall of Fame senior photographer Andrew D. Bernstein, who collaborated with Bryant on the book "The Mamba Mentality: How I Play;" former JCC employee Anthony Bannister, who gave keys to the JCC gym to Bryant; and former Lower Merion assistant coach Mike Egan, who gave up a collegiate coaching position for the opportunity to coach Bryant.

The event will also feature a silent auction of 24 20-inch-by-30 inch signed prints of iconic Bernstein photos of NBA legends including Kobe Bryant, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and more.

Copies of both "The Rise" and "The Mamba Mentality" will be available for purchase, with Sielski and Bernstein autographing copies of their respective books.

"Kobe Bryant is the most famous person to ever set foot on the Kaiserman JCC’s basketball court," said Alan Scher, CEO, Kaiserman JCC. "His rise continues to be an inspiration to all of us. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary we want to remember our friend, Kobe, who spent many a day here developing his talent which is well captured in Mike Sielski’s book, 'The Rise.'"

Tickets at $36, and $18 for students.

Get tickets online here.

Several VIP packages are also available.

This event is a fundraiser for the Kaiserman JCC.

Additionally, those in attendance will be among the first to view the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in its new home, the Kaiserman JCC, as the Hall will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony prior to the panel discussion.

The Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame is a sponsor of the Kobe: As We Knew Him event.

Kaiserman JCC is located at 45 Haverford Road in Wynnewood.