Being born into the lineage of a professional athlete and carrying forward their legacy is undoubtedly a daunting task. Yet, when your uncle happens to be Kobe Bryant, the challenge intensifies. Jett Washington, son of Sharia Washington—Kobe’s sister—embodies this unique scenario.
While Sharia boasts a background in volleyball, her husband Jerrod pursued football. Currently, Jett is navigating his sophomore year at Nevada’s Bishop Gorman High School, actively engaged in two sports.
In a recent conversation with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Washington delved into the intricacies of his journey, discussing football, family dynamics, and the weight of expectations while competing in his high school basketball games, notably at the Crypto.com Arena—a venue emblematic of his uncle’s illustrious career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Acknowledging the palpable pressure preceding the game, Washington revealed his approach: to channel his focus as if it were any other ordinary match. Reflecting on his mindset, he shared, “I did feel a little bit of pressure going in there, but I tried not to think about it and play like it was any other game. And I think people started noticing after I played, and the Los Angeles Times had posted it and that’s really when it happened.”
Elaborating further, he emphasized the importance of maintaining a sense of enjoyment amidst the pressures, elucidating, “But going into the game I wasn’t really trying to think about it. I was trying to play normal. I think everyone now and then feels a little bit of the pressure now and then, but I want to go out and have fun with it. That’s how I fell in love with the game and so I just try to go out there and have fun and take it day by day and just play.”
Washington’s performance on the court was nothing short of spectacular, as he notched an impressive 33 points for Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High, culminating in a dramatic buzzer-beater to tie the scores in regulation time. Despite their valiant efforts, the team succumbed to a narrow 82-81 defeat against San Francisco Riordan in the Coastal Catholic Classic showcase event.
The symbolism of Kobe Bryant’s jersey adorning the arena provided ample inspiration for Washington. Notably, the number 33, synonymous with Bryant’s legacy, added another layer of significance, as he too sported this number during his high school tenure.
Reflecting on the profound significance of playing in the arena crafted by his uncle’s legacy, Washington conveyed to the Los Angeles Times, “It means a lot playing in the house he built and playing where he played.”
