Like all of you reading this, my heart is deeply saddened by the very untimely and tragic loss of NBA legend and Hall of Fame athlete, Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna Maria Onore, this past Sunday in a helicopter crash, outside of Calabasas, CA. As a daughter myself, who, growing up had a very similar relationship with my dad, I am incredibly shaken by their tandem deaths. The pain is immeasurable and simply depleted of words to explain.
We can all agree Kobe’s legacy is rightfully seated in his maniacal talent as a basketball player with the Los Angeles Lakers, acute businessman, community leader, and philanthropist. Yet his biggest accomplishment and noted passion was being a father to 4 beautiful daughters. Specifically, his bond with Gigi was the kind every daughter yearns and every other man wants to emulate. It’s the kind of love and respect that cements a love story that allows their memory to remain alive and change lives. It’s not ironic that his obsession and passion for the game, which he was nurturing in her, was ultimately the foundation for their destined journey.
His greatest love was for family and empowering his daughters to be even greater than he was.
Here are 24 moments between Kobe and Gigi we will always remember and hopefully translate into our own relationships.
Kobe Bryant was 41, Gianna 13 and are survived by wife of 20 years, Vanessa, and three daughters.
Elsa/Getty Images
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jessica Hill/AP/Shutterstock
Kobe and Gigi Bryant at the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks in December 2019. Getty Images.
Kobe coaching his daughter, Gigi, at a Mamba Academy game.
Atiba Jefferson
Gianna Bryant and her father, former NBA player Kobe Bryant, attend the WNBA All-Star Game 2019 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on July 27, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty.
Kent Horner / Getty Images
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant celebrates with his daughter following the Lakers 99-86 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, Sunday, June 14, 2009. (Photo by Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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Via Kobe’s IG
This clip of Kobe explaining the game to his daughter went viral just last week too. pic.twitter.com/LM73m3a9Zk
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) January 26, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuiMT7cn6in/
We end with this dynamic interview Kobe did where he fondly talks about the love Gigi had for basketball and how their passion for the game bonded them for life, making him a quintessential #GirlDad.
The bond between Kobe and Gigi was made stronger by basketball. pic.twitter.com/jq4CNmvZf1
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) January 27, 2020
LOVE HARD.
LOVE DEEP.
LOVE PASSIONATELY.
LOVE RELENTLESSLY.
LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY.
LOVE UNAPOLOGETICALLY.
LOVE TRULY.
LOVE SWEETLY.
JUST LOVE.
Eat well, love unapologetically, pray with true intention, and take care of yourself.
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