Wynnewood

Fitting in is a challenge that I’ve never been able to master. When my father decided to retire from basketball, he moved our family back to America, which meant leaving behind eight years of friendships and comfort I had established in Italy.

I was a tall, skinny 13-year-old kid who spoke Italian better than English. I knew very little of American culture and people knew me only as “the son of a former NBA player.” The Wynnewood chapter of my upcoming documentary focuses on how during this time, the game of basketball became more than only a refuge, it became my OUTLET. Basketball became the place where I could channel my frustrations about being different — where I could scream from the top of the mountain and allow myself to be heard.

Kobe Bryant’s MUSE premieres on Showtime on Feb. 28 at 9 ET/8 C.