He participated in the league's NBA Cares initiatives, where he helped build homes and basketball courts, stocked food pantries and supported reading initiatives. Bryant was the official spokesman for After-School All-Stars, a national children's charity that provides after-school programs to 72,000 kids

He had appeared for Make-A-Wish more than 100 times over 20 years. And that was just one example of Bryant’s philanthropic work, some of it through the Lakers and the NBA, and other times on his own.

Basketball was also part of his charity work. He volunteered for the Boys & Girls Club of America, often hosting basketball camps. He participated in the league’s NBA Cares initiatives, where he helped build homes and basketball courts, stocked food pantries and supported reading initiatives.

Bryant also supported cancer initiatives. For instance, he participated in a fundraising effort for Stand Up To Cancer in 2012 that raised more than $80 million for cancer research.