CNN Uncovers "Kobe: The Making of a Legend" in New CNN Original Series, Premiering Saturday, January 25 at 9PM ET/PT

NEW YORK, NY - (December 12, 2024) - Considered one of the greatest players of all time, his mononymous name became a household symbol for legendary basketball. Kobe: The Making of a Legend chronicles the private story of the unseen forces that propelled his ascension and the personal transformations he confronted along the way. The three-part series premieres Saturday, January 25 at 9pm ET/PT. The series will air on Saturdays at 9pm.

Kobe: The Making of a Legend traces the story of Kobe Bryant from his childhood in Italy to his athletic superstardom and provides an intimate look at his post-NBA aspirations as a storyteller and as a father. Featuring personal interviews with Kobe's former coaches, teammates and family friends, this illuminating series reveals the conflicts and the complications behind the man with the Black Mamba mentality.

"Five years after his passing, we are honored to share the story of Kobe Bryant - arguably one of the greatest and most competitive professional athletes of all time," said Eric Johnson, Executive Producer for CNN Original Series. "While his legendary career on the court is widely celebrated, this series explores some of the lesser-known dimensions of his life. We're proud to present a deeper, more nuanced portrait of Kobe and the complicated journey that shaped his legacy."

The CNN Original Series features notable basketball names including NBA All-Star Jalen Brunson, NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady, WNBA Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes and former head athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Lakers Gary Vitti.

Kobe: The Making of a Legend is executive produced by Eric Johnson. Amy Entelis and Katie Hinman are executive producers for CNN Studios.

Kobe: The Making of a Legend will stream live for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN connected TV and mobile apps on Saturday, January 25. It will also be available on demand beginning Sunday, January 26 to pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN connected TV and mobile apps, and Cable Operator Platforms.

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About CNN Originals

The CNN Originals group develops, produces and acquires original, long-form unscripted programming for CNN Worldwide. Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Originals and creative development, oversees the award-winning CNN Originals portfolio that includes the following premium content brands: CNN Original Series, CNN Films, CNN Presents, and the newly formed CNN Studios, an internal production studio which creates long-form programming for CNN's global platforms. Since 2012, the team has overseen and executive produced more than 45 multi-part documentary series and 60 feature-length documentary films, earning more than 110 awards and 445 nominations for the cable network, including CNN Films' first Academy Award(R) for Navalny. Acclaimed titles include the Peabody Award winning and 13-time Emmy(R) Award-winning Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown; five time Emmy(R) nominee, Apollo 11, directed by Todd Douglas Miller; Emmy(R) nominated Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico; the Emmy(R) Award-nominated "Decades Series": The Sixties, The Seventies, The Eighties, The Nineties, The 2000s, and The 2010s, executive produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman; The Last Movie Stars, directed by Ethan Hawke about the lives and careers of actors and humanitarians Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman; Grammy(R) Award nominee Little Richard: I Am Everything, directed by Lisa Cortés; The Many Lives of Martha Stewart; This is Life with Lisa Ling; Primetime Emmy(R) and duPont-Columbia Award-winning, RBG, directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen; See It Loud: The History of Black Television, executive produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter; Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight in partnership with the BBC; the Producers Guild Award and three-time Emmy(R) Award-winning Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy; BAFTA nominee and Directors Guild Award winner, Three Identical Strangers, directed by Tim Wardle; and the five-time Emmy(R) Award-winning United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell; and the five-time Emmy(R) Award-winning The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper. CNN Originals can be seen on CNN, the CNN Original Hub on Max and discovery+, the CNN Originals FAST channel, and for pay TV subscription via CNN.com, CNN apps and cable operator platforms.

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