https://www.siliconvalley.com/2020/01/27/whicker-kobe-bryant-grew-up-before-our-eyes-and-kept-us-on-our-toes/ > Kobe Bryant had L.A. long before hello. > When he showed up for the Summer League at Long Beach State’s Pyramid in 1996, the place was already packed. He scored 27 in 26 minutes and shot 20 free throws, against older Detroit Pistons. He saw a sports writer from Philadelphia who had come cross-country and said, “Hello, Mr. Smallwood.”