If you’ve spent any time on NBA Twitter or scrolled through a Lakers subreddit during a late-night binge, you’ve seen the question pop up a thousand times. Is Thomas Bryant related to Kobe? It’s one of those things that feels like it should be true. The name. The jersey. The high-energy play style that sometimes looks like a big man trying to channel a guard's ferocity.
Honestly, the answer is a lot less dramatic than a secret family tree, but the actual connection between the two is way more interesting for basketball junkies.
The Name Game: Are They Actually Family?
Let’s kill the suspense. No, they aren't related. Not even a little bit.
Kobe Bean Bryant was the son of Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, a Philly legend who spent years playing in Italy. Thomas Bryant, on the other hand, was born in Rochester, New York, in 1997. While Kobe was busy winning his first three-peat with Shaq, Thomas was probably just learning how to tie his shoes.
Sharing a last name in the NBA is basically a coin flip anyway. We’ve had roughly a dozen Williamses, a handful of Johnsons, and plenty of Currys (who actually are related). But with a name as heavy as "Bryant" in Los Angeles, the confusion is understandable. When Thomas was drafted 42nd overall in 2017 and landed with the Lakers, the "Junior" rumors started flying immediately. People wanted there to be a lineage. They wanted a piece of the Mamba to stay in the building.
That Lakers Connection
Even though there’s no DNA link, Thomas Bryant related to Kobe through the franchise’s culture in a way that most rookies never get to experience.
Think about the timing. Thomas arrived in LA just one year after Kobe’s legendary 60-point retirement game against the Jazz. The Staples Center—now Crypto.com Arena—was still vibrating with Kobe’s energy. The weight of that jersey is real. Thomas has talked before about the surreal feeling of walking those same hallways.
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The G-League Grind
Most people forget that Thomas spent a huge chunk of his first year with the South Bay Lakers. He wasn't some pampered lottery pick. He was a second-rounder scratching for every minute. That’s where the "Mamba Mentality" actually shows up in Thomas’s career. It’s not about being a superstar; it’s about the obsession.
"I can't relate to lazy people. We don't speak the same language." — Kobe Bryant.
Thomas took that to heart. If you watch him play today—now with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2026—you see it. He screams after dunks. He sprints back on defense like his life depends on it. He’s 6'10" and plays with the motor of a guy who thinks he’s about to be cut. That’s the "Bryant" way, even if it’s not the "Bryant" bloodline.
Mentorship and the "Mamba" Influence
While Kobe was known for being a bit of a loner during his playing days, his post-retirement era was all about the "Mamba Invitations." He reached out to everyone. Giannis, Kyrie, Jayson Tatum—they all got the call.
Thomas Bryant didn't get the same private mountain-top training sessions that some superstars did, but he was part of the generation that grew up viewing Kobe as the blueprint. In interviews, Thomas has been vocal about how he modeled his work ethic after #24.
He basically had to.
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Coming out of Indiana University, scouts worried about his mobility. They wondered if he could survive in a league that was getting faster and smaller. Instead of sulking, Thomas turned himself into a knockdown shooter. By the time he hit his stride with the Washington Wizards a few years back, he was one of the most efficient scorers in the league. That kind of evolution doesn't happen by accident. It happens because you're obsessed with the details.
Why the Comparison Still Happens in 2026
It’s 2026. Thomas is 28 years old now. He’s a vet. He’s got an NBA Championship ring from his time with the Denver Nuggets in 2023.
Yet, when he checks into a game for the Cavs, you’ll still see a stray comment on a broadcast or a social media post asking about the family connection. It’s a testament to how much Kobe still looms over the game. We look for him everywhere. We see a guy with the same name, wearing purple and gold (back then), playing with a certain "edge," and our brains want to connect the dots.
The Real Stats
If you look at the numbers, they couldn't be more different:
- Kobe: A high-volume assassin who lived in the midrange and at the rim.
- Thomas: A rim-running center who specializes in high-percentage finishes and the occasional floor-spacing three.
But the "statistical connection" is usually where people get it wrong. The connection is about the spirit of the game. Thomas has this habit of getting "too hyped." Coaches sometimes have to settle him down. Kobe was the same way, just more calculated.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception isn't just the "are they father and son" thing. It’s the idea that Thomas Bryant is trying to be Kobe.
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He’s not.
He’s carved out a very specific, very successful niche as a high-level role player. He’s earned over $37 million in his career. He’s been on six different teams. He’s a survivor. In the NBA, surviving for nearly a decade as a second-round pick is its own kind of greatness.
What You Should Take Away
If you came here looking for a secret birth certificate, sorry to disappoint. Thomas Bryant related to Kobe is a myth of geography and nomenclature.
However, if you’re looking for why Thomas Bryant matters in the context of Kobe’s legacy, look at the way he approaches his "DNPs" (Did Not Play). Even when he’s buried on the depth chart behind guys like Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley, he’s the first one off the bench cheering. He’s the first one in the gym.
That’s the "Mamba" part. It’s the refusal to be outworked, even when you aren't the star of the show.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to see the "Bryant" energy in action, watch a Cavs replay from this season. Don't look at the box score. Watch Thomas when the ball isn't in his hands. Watch how he sets screens. Watch how he reacts to a teammate's success. That’s where the real connection to Kobe's late-career mentorship lives—in the total commitment to the win, regardless of the role.