On Tuesday (March 31), Kobe Bryant’s young adult novel “The Wizenard Series: Season One” was posthumously released. The late NBA legend was an accomplished author and created several inspirational children’s books, including “Legacy and the Queen,” “Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof” and New York Times best-seller “The Wizenard Series: Training Camp.”
Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant announced the release of his latest “The Wizenard Series” installment on Instagram.
“Welcome back to Dren! We hope you are all ready to catch up with the West Bottom Badgers for another magical basketball season,” she captioned a promotional image of the book. “The #Wizenard Series: Season One is OUT NOW.”
The book’s release was also announced through Kobe’s Instagram, which marked the account’s first post since Kobe and Gianna tragically passed away, along with seven others, earlier this year in a helicopter crash.
“The Wizenard Series: Season One” was created by Kobe and penned by Wesley King. The series follows a young athlete named Reggie who hopes to become the basketball star.
On Instagram, King also announced the book’s bittersweet release, noting that “we can all take solace in knowing [Kobe’s] vision lives on.”
“This is going to help a lot of readers reframe their self-worth, chase their passions, and dream big,” King wrote. “Your goal was to help kids realize their value. To challenge them to look in the mirror every morning and see a giant. This story is the embodiment of that message, and of the wider #mambamentality: work harder, want it more, challenge your fears.”
According to TMZ, the book includes a note from Kobe which dedicates the series “to young athletes who commit to doing the hard work,” adding that “the process always pays off.”
Kobe launched his post-NBA literary career back in 2018 with “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play.” The book included photos and reflections from his legendary 20-season career. At the time of his passing, he was also collaborating on a children’s book aimed at inspiring underprivileged kids. However, the concept was abandoned after his death.