On April 29, 1996, Kobe Bean Bryant stood at the podium inside his Lower Merion High School gymnasium to announce his decision to forgo college and enter the upcoming NBA draft. It was rumored for months around the greater Philadelphia area that the uber-talented 17-year-old would turn pro. Much of the local and national press was there to capture this special moment. One such media member there to cover it was Rusty Kennedy, a longtime sports photographer from the region. Four of the photos he took that day are offered here in their original negative form straight from his camera along with 8x10 photographs printed off these original negatives.

As Kennedy's attests in his included letter, he knew Kobe’s father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, from Joe's NBA playing days with the Philadelphia 76ers when he covered the team. Earlier that winter, he connected with Joe at a La Salle University basketball game where Jellybean had played in college and was then serving as an assistant coach. Joe and Rusty arranged a private photoshoot (see Lot 421) in March '96 at Lower Merion with the purpose of these pictures going to the Bryant family.

Looking slender and youthful dressed in a very 90s-era suit with his sunglasses playfully hiked up on top of forehead, Kobe is pictured speaking into a dozen major network mics at the podium. Getting personal ownership and access to the original shots straight from the photographer who took them is a rare opportunity for collectors. The four photos were printed recently so they would be designated Type II if submitted for authentication to Henry Yee at PSA/DNA.Come with LOA from Rusty Kennedy.