Kobe Bryant’s Mother, Pam Bryant Biography: Husband, Age, Children, Net Worth, Family, Career

Pamela Cox Bryant, also known as Pam Bryant, is an American former social worker and homemaker, widely recognized as the mother of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and the wife of former NBA player and coach Joe Bryant.

Her son Kobe was a celebrated shooting guard who spent his entire 20-year professional career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Profile

• Full Name: Pamela Cox Bryant
• Stage Name: Pam Bryant
• Born: March 23, 1954
• Age: 71 years old
• Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Former Social Worker, Homemaker
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Cox
• Siblings: John “Chubby” Cox
• Spouse: Joseph Washington Bryant (m. 1975-2024)
• Children: Sharia Bryant, Shaya Bryant, Kobe Bryant
• Relationship: Widowed
• Net Worth: $2 million

Early Life and Education

Pamela Cox Bryant was born on March 23, 1954, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to parents whose names are not publicly documented. She grew up alongside her brother, John “Chubby” Cox, who later played in the NBA.

Details about her early life are scarce, as she has kept this private. Pamela attended a local high school in Philadelphia, but information about her college education, if any, is not available.

Her ethnicity is African-American, and her religion is Christianity.

Career

Pam Bryant began her professional journey as a social worker in Philadelphia, where she focused on community outreach and support programs. Following her marriage to former NBA player Joe Bryant in 1975, she chose to step away from her career to raise their three children—Sharia, Shaya, and Kobe.

When Joe transitioned to a basketball career in Europe, Pam relocated with the family to Italy in 1983, where she managed the household and ensured a stable upbringing for the children amid a new cultural setting.

Although Pam maintained a private life, she is best known publicly as the mother of Kobe Bryant, one of the most iconic figures in professional basketball. Kobe served as a shooting guard throughout his 20-year tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA), where his athleticism, skill, and leadership left a lasting legacy.

Kobe Bryant’s career was marked by extraordinary achievements, including five NBA championships, 18 All-Star selections, and two NBA Finals MVP awards. He was the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player and earned a place on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

Posthumously, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice—first in 2020 as an individual player and again in 2025 as part of the 2008 U.S. Olympic basketball team.

Social Media

Pam Bryant does not have any active social media accounts.

Personal Life

Pam Bryant married Joseph Washington “Joe” Bryant in 1975, and they remained together until his death from a heart attack in 2015. They had three children: Sharia (born 1976), Shaya (born 1977), and Kobe (born 1978).

The family lived in Italy from 1983 to 1991 during Joe’s European playing career, where Pamela immersed her children in local culture. Her relationship with Kobe was strained at times, notably during a 2013 legal dispute over memorabilia and Kobe’s disapproval of her and Joe’s support for his 2003 legal case.

However, they reconciled in 2020 before Kobe’s death in 2024.

Net Worth

Pam Bryant has an estimated net worth of around $2 million USD. Her wealth primarily stems from shared assets accumulated during her marriage to Joe Bryant, whose NBA and European playing career, along with coaching roles, provided financial stability.

Additional income may have come from family investments and settlements related to Kobe’s estate after his 2020 passing.