Lakers' Kobe Bryant and wife, Vanessa, reconcile and end divorce proceedings
The Bryants have announced their reconciliation. (Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)
ByBen Golliver
Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, have announced a reconciliation that will put an end to divorce proceedings that began in Dec. 2011.
Vanessa Bryant made the development official on her Instagram account.
"We are pleased to announce that we have reconciled," she wrote. "Our divorce action will be dismissed. We are looking forward to our future together."
The note was signed "Kobe & Vanessa."
The couple has been married for more than 11 years and has two daughters. The Associated Press reported on Dec. 16, 2011, that Vanessa Bryant filed divorce papers in California, citing "irreconcilable differences." In June 2012, TMZ.com reported that the couple was working on a reconciliation.
Bryant, 34, is in his 17th season with the Lakers. He's earned more than $221 million in NBA salary over his career and is making $27.8 million this season. The highest-paid player in the NBA, Bryant will make $30.5 million next season, the final year of his current contract. Bryant also takes in an estimated $28 million in endorsements annually, making him the fourth highest earning athlete in 2012 -- behind Floyd Mayweather, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods -- and the top-earning NBA player, according to SI.com's Michael McKnight. Reports indicated last year that a divorce could have cost Bryant as much as $75 million.
Last week, Bryant finally joined Twitter. He used the social networking service to share photographs of his wife and daughters over the holiday season using the @NikeBasketball account.
In other Lakers-related relationship news, legendary coach Phil Jackson recently proposed to longtime girlfriend, Lakes vice president Jeannie Buss, daughter of Lakers owner Jerry Buss.
