Kobe Bryant's books surging in popularity

Posted February 05, 2020 6:00 am

By TIM REYNOLDS

Spectators pay tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant prior to the start of the Italian Basketball second division match between Rieti and Scafati in Rieti's PalaSojourne, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020. Bryant spent seven years of his childhood in Rieti, where his father, Joe Bryant, made his Italian basketball debut in 1984 when Kobe was 6 years-old. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) The Associated Press

Books created by Kobe Bryant's content company soared in popularity in the days following the basketball legend's death in a helicopter crash.

A trio of the books created by Bryant's Granity Studios will occupy the top three spots on the Middle Grade Hardcover portion of The New York Times' best-seller list for Feb. 16. 'œEpoca: The Tree Of Ecrof'ť will be No. 1 on that list, followed by 'œLegacy And The Queen'ť and 'œThe Wizenard: Training Camp.'ť

All three of the books were written for children between the ages of 10 and 14. Bryant, in an interview with The Associated Press in 2018, said his mission for the books was 'œto combine education and inspiration and build around the concepts of what kids go through when they are playing a sport."

Another of Bryant's books, 'œThe Mamba Mentality: How I Play'ť has also reached No. 1 on Amazon's non-fiction sales charts this week. Bryant released that book in 2018, the same year that he won an Academy Award in the best animated short for his ode to the game called "Dear Basketball."

Granity additionally produces a podcast series called 'œThe Punies," tales about a boy who plays sports with friends. Bryant was also the creator and writer of the 'œDetail" sports analysis series of programs on ESPN, and Granity has said it will continue as Bryant wanted - 'œusing creative education to inspire people to be the best versions of themselves."

Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed on Jan. 26 when the helicopter they were riding in crashed into a hill in Calabasas, California. The group was on its way to a basketball tournament at Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy.

Bryant played 20 seasons in the NBA, all with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five championships and being selected as an All-Star 18 times.

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More AP coverage of the life and death of Kobe Bryant: https://apnews.com/KobeBryant

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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A boy walks by a standing board with messages for the late Kobe Bryant at a memorial for Bryant in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star who won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday, Jan. 26. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) The Associated Press

In this Feb. 14, 2016, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (24) kisses his daughter Gianna on the court in warm-ups before first half NBA All-Star Game basketball action in Toronto. Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and several others are dead after their helicopter went down in Southern California on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Alicia Keys, second left, and members of Boys II Men, from left, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman, sing "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" during a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant, seen on screen, at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP) The Associated Press

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