Kobe Bryant’s latest book to debut atop bestseller list

Kobe Bryant is back atop the bestseller lists, days after the late Los Angeles Lakers superstar was selected to the Hall of Fame.

The latest release from Bryant’s Granity Studios, “The Wizenard Series: Season One” will debut at No. 1 on The New York Times’ middle-grade hardcover list that will be published April 19. Earlier this week, it had already hit No. 1 on Amazon’s bestseller list for children’s basketball books.

Bryant and daughter Gianna were among nine who died in a helicopter crash in late January

Season One, the latest installment of Bryant’s Wizenard story line that follows the progress of a young basketball player dealing with various trials and tribulations, was released last week. Bryant’s company describes it as “a story of strain and sacrifice, supernatural breakthroughs, and supreme dedication to the game.”

Bryant was the series creator and envisioned the story lines.

Other books created by Bryant’s content company soared in popularity in the days following the basketball legend’s death in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26.

Those other books from Granity to make bestseller lists earlier this year include “Epoca: The Tree Of Ecrof,” “Legacy And The Queen” and “The Wizenard: Training Camp” — the prequel to this bestseller.

Bryant’s 2018 book “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play” was also a bestseller and has been on Amazon’s top lists for much of this year as well.

Much of Granity’s work has continued after Bryant’s death, including installments of the “Detail” sports analysis series of programs on ESPN. Granity, after Bryant’s death, said it would continue his mission of “using creative education to inspire people to be the best versions of themselves.”

Bryant won five NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, retiring in 2016 to spend his full-time focus on Granity and his passion for content and storytelling. The two-time Olympic gold medallist also was an Academy Award winner in 2018, and this past weekend was announced as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020.

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Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press