Kobe Bryant's Wife Files for Divorce

Lakers star player and spouse of more than 10 years call it quits

By Bruna Nessif Dec 17, 2011 1:30 AMTags
Kobe Bryant, Vanessa Bryant, 2009Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

What a roller coaster this NBA season has been so far (and it hasn't even started!).

We jumped with joy once the lockout was over, then forced ourselves to get used to the Lakers' roster shake-up—and let's not even get into the whole Chris Paul and Dwight Howard situation—and now, it looks like Kobe Bryant is up for grabs.

Don't worry, he'll still be rockin' a purple-and-yellow jersey, but it doesn't look like we'll see his wife Vanessa Bryant cheering on the sidelines, as E! News confirms that Bryant's wife has filed for divorce today.

Bryant married his soon-to-be ex-wife of more than ten years ago—which in California, grants Vanessa guaranteed spousal support for some time—in April 2001and they have two daughters together, Natalia Diamante, 8, and Gianna Maria-Onore, 5.

"We ask that in the interest of our young children and in light of the upcoming holiday season, the public respect our privacy during this most difficult time," the couple told The Insider.