
Kobe Bryant was born in Lankenau Hospital, Philadelphia, on 23 August 1978. Despite what his birth certificate said, he was born just across the border in Montgomery County. At the time, Lankenau Hospital was officially located in Philadelphia, but its address is now in Wynnewood, Lower Merion Township.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hospital Name | Lankenau Hospital |
| Location | Philadelphia (now Wynnewood) |
| Year | 1978 |
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What You'll Learn

Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood
Lankenau Hospital was initially chartered in 1860 as the German Hospital of Philadelphia, founded by John Lankenau. It first opened its doors in 1866 on Morris Street in North Philadelphia, where it remained for nearly a century. However, in 1953, the hospital relocated to Wynnewood, occupying the former site of the Overbrook Country Club or Overbrook Golf Club near City and Lancaster Avenues. This move placed the hospital in Lower Merion Township, which has always been administratively separate from Philadelphia. Despite this, the hospital continued to use Philadelphia on its stationery and official address due to the prestige associated with the city's rich medical history.
The use of Philadelphia as the official address led to some confusion about Kobe Bryant's place of birth. While his birth certificate stated Philadelphia, contemporary newspaper accounts and local officials confirmed that the hospital was indeed located in Lower Merion Township, specifically in Wynnewood. This discrepancy was finally clarified in the 1980s when the hospital transitioned to a Wynnewood zip code, bringing its official address in line with its physical location.
Today, Lankenau Hospital, also known as Lankenau Medical Center, is a 370-bed acute care and teaching hospital. It offers a range of clinical services, including cardiology, gastrointestinal medicine, cancer care, pulmonology, orthopaedics, obstetrics, and maternity. The campus is also home to the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research and the Annenberg Center for Medical Education.
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Address change from Philadelphia to Wynnewood
Kobe Bryant was born in Lankenau Hospital, which at the time of his birth in 1978 was officially located in Philadelphia. However, the hospital's address later changed to Wynnewood.
Lankenau Hospital was founded in 1866 by John Lankenau as the German Hospital and was situated in North Philadelphia for nearly a century. In 1953, the hospital moved to the former site of the Overbrook Golf Club in Wynnewood, Lower Merion Township. At the time of its move, this section of Wynnewood shared a Philadelphia zip code of 19151.
When Kobe Bryant was born in 1978, the hospital's official address was listed as Philadelphia, despite its location in Lower Merion Township. This was because the township fell under a Philadelphia zip code.
It wasn't until sometime in the 1980s, around the time Kobe Bryant's family returned from Italy and settled in Lower Merion, that the hospital's address changed to Wynnewood, with a new zip code of 19096.
Therefore, while Kobe Bryant's birth certificate states he was born in Philadelphia, the hospital's address has since changed to Wynnewood due to a zip code update. This change reflects the hospital's accurate location in Lower Merion Township.
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Birth certificate listed Philadelphia as birthplace
Kobe Bryant was born in 1978 at Lankenau Hospital, which was officially located in Philadelphia at the time. However, it is important to note that Lankenau Hospital moved to Wynnewood, Lower Merion Township, in 1953. This area was previously known as Overbrook Golf Club and was located near City and Lancaster Avenues. Despite the hospital's relocation, it continued to use Philadelphia on its stationery and official address. As a result, birth certificates issued for babies born at Lankenau Hospital, including Kobe Bryant, listed Philadelphia as the place of birth.
Lankenau Hospital, founded in 1866 by John Lankenau, was originally named the German Hospital and situated in North Philadelphia. When Kobe Bryant was born in 1978, the hospital had been in its new location in Wynnewood for over two decades. However, the section of Wynnewood where the hospital was located shared a Philadelphia zip code with the neighborhood across City Avenue. This led to Philadelphia being listed as the place of birth on birth certificates, including that of Kobe Bryant.
Kobe Bryant, the son of NBA player Joe Bryant, was born in Philadelphia and spent part of his childhood in Italy. Despite being born in Philadelphia, Bryant was not a native Philadelphian. His actual birthplace was just across the border in Montgomery County. When Joe Bryant returned to the United States with his family in the 1980s, they settled in Lower Merion, which had a Wynnewood zip code. This change in zip code occurred sometime around the time of their return and further contributed to the listing of Philadelphia as the birthplace on Kobe Bryant's birth certificate.
The discrepancy in Kobe Bryant's listed birthplace is a result of the hospital's historical association with Philadelphia and the shared zip code between Wynnewood and Philadelphia at the time of his birth. While the hospital had physically moved to Wynnewood decades prior, the use of Philadelphia on official documents and stationery continued. This led to a technical error on birth certificates, including that of Kobe Bryant, which listed Philadelphia as the place of birth instead of the accurate location in Wynnewood, Lower Merion Township.
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Born in Montgomery County, near Philadelphia
Kobe Bryant was born in 1978 at Lankenau Hospital, which at the time was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, despite what his birth certificate said, he was born just across the border in Montgomery County, near Philadelphia.
Lankenau Hospital was founded in 1866 by John Lankenau as the German Hospital and was situated in North Philadelphia for nearly a century. In 1953, the hospital moved to the former site of the Overbrook Golf Club in Wynnewood, Lower Merion Township, which is in Montgomery County. When Bryant was born in 1978, the hospital's address was listed as Philadelphia because that section of Wynnewood shared a Philadelphia zip code.
Although Bryant was not a native Philadelphian, he had deep roots in the city. His father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, played for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1975 to 1979, and the family lived in Philadelphia during that time. After his playing career ended in 1991, Joe Bryant moved back to the Philadelphia area with his family and took a job coaching basketball at Akiba Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr. Bryant and his sisters enrolled at nearby Lower Merion High School, where he became a basketball prodigy.
Bryant himself considered Philadelphia his hometown and maintained a connection to the city throughout his life. He once said triumphantly, "Dreams do come true," in a message to the people of Philadelphia. After his death in 2020, the city of Philadelphia mourned the loss of the local legend, and many places were lit up with purple lights in his honour.
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Father Joe Bryant played for the 76ers
Kobe Bean Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, was born on August 23, 1978, at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Pennsylvania. His father, Joe Bryant, was also a professional basketball player and was playing for the Philadelphia 76ers at the time of Kobe's birth.
Father Joe Bryant, also known as "Jellybean," had a lengthy and illustrious career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played for the 76ers, now known as the Philadelphia 76ers, from 1975 to 1979. During his time with the 76ers, Joe Bryant primarily played as a small forward and power forward. He was known for his smooth scoring ability and versatile skillset. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches tall, he possessed a unique combination of size and skill that made him a formidable presence on the court. While playing for the 76ers, Joe Bryant averaged 8.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, providing valuable contributions to the team during his four seasons with them.
Joe Bryant's time with the 76ers was a formative period in his career. He joined the team straight out of high school, drafted by the franchise in the first round of the 1975 NBA draft. As a young player, he had the opportunity to learn from established stars such as Julius Erving, George McGinnis, and Doug Collins. During his first two seasons with the team, the 76ers reached the NBA Finals, providing Joe Bryant with valuable playoff experience and a taste of competing at the highest level. While the 76ers fell short of winning the championship during his time with the team, losing to powerhouse teams like the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers, the experience Joe Bryant gained during these deep playoff runs was invaluable.
Playing in a talented lineup that included future Hall of Famers, Joe Bryant accepted a role as a valuable rotational player, providing scoring bursts and energetic play whenever he stepped onto the court. His time with the 76ers also allowed him to develop his all-around game, as he worked on his shooting, ball-handling, and passing skills to become a more well-rounded player. The influence of his teammates and coaches during this period contributed to his growth as a basketball player and helped shape his understanding of the game, which he would later pass on to his son, Kobe.
Although Joe Bryant moved on from the 76ers after the 1978–1979 season, signing with the San Diego Clippers, his time with the 76ers held significance in his career trajectory. It was during his tenure with the 76ers that he welcomed the birth of his son, Kobe, who would go on to become a basketball legend in his own right. Kobe Bryant's deep connection to the game of basketball began at an early age, as he was immersed in the world of the NBA from his birth, with his father's career serving as the catalyst. Joe Bryant's playing career with the 76ers not only contributed to his own personal development as a player but also set the stage for the emergence of another future superstar in the making—his son, Kobe Bryant.
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Frequently asked questions
Kobe Bryant was born in Lankenau Hospital.
In 1978, when Kobe Bryant was born, Lankenau Hospital was officially located in Philadelphia. Now, the hospital's address is in Wynnewood, Lower Merion Township.
Joe "Jellybean" Bryant.
Pam Bryant.
Yes, despite not being a native Philadelphian, Kobe Bryant considered himself to be from Philadelphia.










































