Current:Home > ScamsVanessa Bryant Attends Kobe Bryant Statue Unveiling With Daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri -TradeCircle
Vanessa Bryant Attends Kobe Bryant Statue Unveiling With Daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri
View
Date:2025-04-15 08:27:59
Kobe Bryant's family continues to honor his legacy.
Four years after the Los Angeles Lakers legend, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash, his wife Vanessa Bryant and daughters Natalia, 21, Bianka, 7, and Capri, 4, showed their support as a life-sized statue of Kobe was unveiled at the Lakers' Crypto.com arena Feb. 8.
"‘LEAVE THE GAME BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT,'" Vanessa, quoting her late husband, wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of her and her daughters in front of the statue. "‘AND WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR YOU TO LEAVE, LEAVE A LEGEND.' ~ @kobebryant."
The date of the Feb. 8 dedication was meant to specifically honor Kobe and Gianna as their jersey numbers are represented in the 2/8/24 date. Gianna—who had followed her father's footsteps as a passionate basketball player—donned a No. 2 jersey for her Mamba Ballers AAU team. As for Kobe, before retiring from the NBA in 2016, he wore both No. 8 and No. 24. (The Lakers have since retired both numbers.)
At the unveiling, which revealed a statue of Kobe donning his No. 8 jersey and pointing upward, Vanessa also gave a heartfelt speech honoring her late husband and daughter.
"It goes without saying that today is an especially sad day for us since Kobe and Gigi aren't here for what is supposed to be an incredibly joyous moment, and Kobe's legacy," Vanessa said at the Feb. 8 ceremony, per People. "Kobe has so many people that have supported him all over the world from the very beginning. And this moment isn't just for Kobe, but it's for all of you that have been rooting for him all of these years."
She also shared that two more statues of Kobe, one of which will also feature Gianna, were also in the works.
"As I see today's current generation of star players following Kobe's footsteps with huge scoring games," the 41-year-old continued. "I know he would take pride in knowing that he is still pouring inspiration into the game that was so special to him."
Keep reading to look back at the Bryant family's most heartwarming moments.
"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.
Vanessa showed off her baby bump at the 2019 Baby2Baby Gala in Los Angeles.
"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.
veryGood! (57156)
Related
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Israel says 3 terror suspects killed in rare raid inside West Bank hospital
- Report: Baltimore Orioles set for $1.725 billion sale to David Rubenstein, Mike Arougheti
- How U.S. Marshals captured pro cyclist Moriah Mo Wilson's killer
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Elon Musk cannot keep Tesla pay package worth more than $55 billion, judge rules
- Taylor Swift, Drake, BTS and more may have their music taken off TikTok — here's why
- Grave peril of digital conspiracy theories: ‘What happens when no one believes anything anymore?’
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Family of child burned in over-chlorinated resort pool gets $26 million settlement
Ranking
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- UK lawmakers are annoyed that Abramovich’s frozen Chelsea funds still haven’t been used for Ukraine
- Why that rain scene in 'Killers of the Flower Moon' is so 'beautiful' to Martin Scorsese
- Academy of American Poets receives its largest ever donation
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Adam Sandler to Receive the People's Icon Award at 2024 People's Choice Awards
- Shark attacks and seriously injures woman swimming in Sydney Harbor: I heard a soft yell for help
- Super Bowl 58 uniforms: What Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers will wear in Las Vegas
Recommendation
Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
Massachusetts state troopers among 6 charged in commercial driver's license bribery scheme
Justin Timberlake reveals he's 'been in the studio' with NSYNC following reunion
Massachusetts man shot dead after crashing truck, approaching officer with knife
How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
Environmentalists See Nevada Supreme Court Ruling Bringing State’s Water Management ‘Into the 21st Century’
Taylor Swift, Drake, BTS and more may have their music taken off TikTok — here's why
Elon Musk can't keep $55 billion Tesla pay package, Delaware judge rules