Kobe Bryant was about 21 years old when he first met Vanessa Bryant in 1999, and Vanessa was 17.

Quick scoop

  • Their first meeting is commonly placed in late 1999.
  • Kobe was 21 at the time in most accounts, though a few sources describe him as 20 depending on the exact month they use.
  • Vanessa was 17 when they met.

What that means

So the simplest answer is: Kobe was 21 when he met Vanessa.