Current:Home > NewsVanessa Bryant Attends Kobe Bryant Statue Unveiling With Daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri -Wealth Pursuit Network
Vanessa Bryant Attends Kobe Bryant Statue Unveiling With Daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri
View
Date:2025-04-15 12:17:35
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! (88)
Related
- Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
- Legal fights over voting districts could play role in control of Congress for 2024
- 'AGT': Simon Cowell's Golden Buzzer singer Putri Ariani delivers 'perfect act' with U2 cover
- Summer of Record Heat Deals Costly Damage to Texas Water Systems
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- Things to know about aid, lawsuits and tourism nearly a month after fire leveled a Hawaii community
- Authorities try to flush out escaped murderer in suburban Philadelphia manhunt
- Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner Break Silence on Their Divorce and Speculative Narratives
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- How Megan Fox's Bold Red Hair Transformation Matches Her Fiery Personality
Ranking
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Maya Hawke jokes she's proud of dad Ethan Hawke for flirting with Rihanna: 'It's family pride'
- Maria Menounos Reveals How Daughter Athena Changed Every Last One of Her Priorities
- George Washington University sheltering in place after homicide suspect escapes from hospital
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Chuck E. Cheese to give away 500 free parties to kids on Sept. 7, ahead of most popular birthday
- Ukraine counteroffensive makes notable progress near Zaporizhzhia, but it's a grinding stalemate elsewhere
- Texas prison lockdown over drug murders renews worries about lack of air conditioning in heat wave
Recommendation
Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
Howie Mandel Reacts After Getting Booed by America's Got Talent Audience for Criticizing Kids Act
Will he go by plane or train? How Kim Jong Un may travel to Russia for another meeting with Putin
Green groups sue, say farmers are drying up Great Salt Lake
McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
Alaskan fishers fear another bleak season as crab populations dwindle in warming waters
Man wrongfully convicted in 1975 New York rape gets exoneration through DNA evidence
Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry goes solo — and we got exclusive backstage access