Vanessa Bryant Honors Late Husband Kobe Bryant in Birthday Tribute
Vanessa Bryant will always honor her late husband Kobe Bryant’s legacy.
More than five years after the NBA star died at age 41 in a helicopter crash alongside his and Vanessa’s 13-year-old daughter Gigi Bryant and seven other people, his wife paid tribute to the pair on what would have been Kobe’s 47th birthday.
“We love and miss you and Gigi so much,” Vanessa wrote on Instagram Aug. 23 alongside a throwback photo of her kissing the basketball legend on the cheek. “Sending our love to you. Happy birthday, baby.”
Vanessa’s emotional tribute to Kobe comes just one month after the 43-year-old—also mom to Natalia Bryant, 22, Bianka Bryant, 8, and Capri Kobe Bryant, 6—shared a glimpse into how their youngest has been following in his athletic footsteps.
“Like father, like daughter,” she wrote on a July 24 Instagram post, which featured a split image of Capri—whose middle name is a nod to her dad—emulating Kobe’s stance while holding a basketball. And if her spot-on pose wasn’t enough proof, Vanessa also referred to her little one as, “Baby Mamba” and her nickname “KoKo Bean.”
Two months earlier, Natalia honored her dad in her own special way during a very important milestone: her college graduation.
While graduating cum laude from the University of Southern California (USC) in May, the 22-year-old included her late father’s trademarked “Sheath” logo—made up of three sets of quadrilateral trapezoids—on her cardinal red and gold stole.
"4 ever," Vanessa captioned a closeup of her daughter’s stole on Instagram at the time, adding emojis of heart hands, a red heart, a crown and a snake.
For her part, Bianka celebrated her 8th birthday last December, which presented the perfect opportunity to further honor her dad’s legacy. After all, her age now reflects the late NBA legend’s first jersey number.
"BB-8! BB is 8 today!" Vanessa wrote on Instagram at the time alongside a photo of the birthday girl. "Happy birthday to our Sunshine. We love you so much, Bianka! You bring so much love and laughter into our lives. You are so loved mama!"
"You say it’s your BB8 birthday,” she continued, “and I’ll keep reminding you it’s your daddy (#8 ) year.”
For a look back at Kobe and Vanessa’s family photos, keep reading…
The basketball star posed with his parents Joe Bryant and Pamela Bryant after winning the NBA Championship on June 19, 2000.
The duo were all smiles while posing for a portrait in November 2000.
Vanessa showed off her baby bump at the 2019 Baby2Baby Gala in Los Angeles.
"Happy Birthday B.B. I Can't believe you are 3 already!" Kobe wrote on Instagram back in December 2019. "We love you little mamacita."
"My Bianka Bella Bryant (BBB)," Kobe wrote on Instagram back in November 2019.
"Happy Thanksgiving! Thankful for my family!" Kobe wrote via Instagram back in November 2019.
The Bryants dressed up as characters from The Wizard of Oz back in October 2019.
"My Gigi," Kobe wrote on Instagram back in September 2019.
The father-daughter duo sat courtside at the the Lakers vs Mavericks game at the Staples Center in 2019.
"@vanessabryant surprised me by bringing our two little babies B.B and KoKo to my @granity book signing of #legacyandthequeen at @barnesandnoble," the caption of the September 2019 post read.
"Happy Mother's Day @vanessabryant we love you and thank you for all that you do for our family," Kobe wrote on Instagram back in May 2019, about a month before Capri's birth. "You are the foundation of all that we hold dear. I love you #mybaby #lioness #mamabear #queenmamba."
"Had a great trip to @uconnwbb for senior night and the retirement of basketball legend @promise50 with my baby Gigi," Kobe wrote on Instagram in March 2019. "Thank you Gampel, Thank you Coach Geno and Cd for the warm welcome. Good luck the rest of the way."
Kobe and Gianna Bryant shared a special moment at a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks.
Vanessa, Kobe, Natalia and Gianna attended the world premiere of A Wrinkle in Time in Los Angeles back in 2018.
"Surprise family trip to Cabo for my bday #bryantbunch #40 #queenmamba #mambacitas," the caption of the 2018 post read.
Kobe and his family members attended a women's basketball game in Los Angeles back in 2017.
Kobe was all smiles as he posed with his family members during his jersey retirement ceremony in 2017. Magic Johnson was also there.
Kobe attended the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Awards with Vanessa, Gianna and Natalia in 2016.
Here, the family members were pictured at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Bryant celebrated his major win with his daughter Gianna by his side.
Warming up! The basketball icon got a sweet hug from his daughter ahead of his game at the NBA All-Star Game in 2016.
Kobe's wife and daughters attended his hand and footprint ceremony in Hollywood, California back in 2011.
Kobe, his wife and their daughters celebrated the Lakers' NBA championship at Disneyland in 2010.
The basketball star celebrated a Lakers victory with Vanessa and the kids at a parade in Los Angeles back in 2009.
During a 2017 interview with Extra, Kobe referred to his daughters as "Daddy's little princesses." Here, he was pictured with Vanessa and Natalia in 2007.
Vanessa Bryant shared a sweet photo of her and Kobe's youngest daughter, 6-year-old Capri Kobe Bryant, 6, following in his athletic footsteps.
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