Kobe Bryant was not only a basketball legend, but also a caring father. The 41-year-old and his wife Vanessa had four daughters (Natalia 17, Gianna 13, Bianka 3, Capri 7 months). One who knew exactly how the “Black Mamba” ticked outside the court was his former teammate with the Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O’Neal. After Bryant’s death, O’Neal wrote on Twitter: «Kobe was much more than an athlete, he was a family man. We had that most in common. I would hug his children like they were my own. And he would do the same with my kids. His daughter Gigi was born on the same day as my youngest daughter Me’Arah. »
Kobe was so much more than an athlete, he was a family man. That was what we had most in common. I would hug his children like they were my own and he would embrace my kids like they were his. His baby girl Gigi was born on the same day as my youngest daughter Me’Arah. pic.twitter.com/BHBPN5Wq8V– SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 26, 2020
Gianna, or Gigi, died together with her father in the helicopter accident on Sunday. The two were on their way to Bryant’s Mamba Academy. As CNN reported, Gigi should have played a game there, her father coached the girls’ team “The Mambas”. Gigi was well on the way to play in the WNBA, the professional league for women. Her father was convinced, as he said on Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show (see video above). She was determined to achieve this goal, Bryant said.
Baby Mamba brought father back to the NBA
A video of daughter and father has been circulating on the Internet in recent weeks. This shows how the two watched an NBA game. Bryant seemed to be giving important tips to his Gigi. She understood.
Kobe and Gigi courtside breaking down the game? pic.twitter.com/FxqSjVx6ew– ESPN (@espn) December 22, 2019
It was also Gigi who had brought her father back to the NBA games. Bryant had no longer followed NBA games on his own initiative, his daughter convinced him of an NBA League Pass (with which all matches can be followed live), which he apparently then used lively.
Further images show how agile the 13-year-old was able to handle basketball, but also how accurate she was. Because of her “fade away” jump, which is very similar to that of her father, she was also called Mambacita or Baby Mamba.
Gigi was accurate even in high heels:
RT @nostalgiaonfilm: the last video I remember Vanessa posting of Gigi was her coming to play basketball from a dance in heels? pic.twitter.com/gZAss7IHkn– Gypsy (@ScorchedByRa) January 26, 2020
For Bryant, who had an extremely intimate relationship with Gigi, it was always clear that he would support his daughter. He once said: “When you train young people, it is important to do it seriously. Because it helps the children to go through an emotional development. So it is clear that you shouldn’t be too critical, but you have to show understanding when mistakes happen. »As a coach, Bryant understood how to teach the girls the basics of basketball.
A mentor for many
He not only did this with young girls, current NBA players also repeatedly sought the advice of the five-time NBA champion. For many, Bryant, who was born in Philadelphia and grew up mainly in Italy, was a kind of mentor. He was one of those players who kept pushing himself under pressure. He won several games for the Lakers in the closing seconds.
Bryant also fought for women’s rights. He said recently that there are players in the WNBA who could also exist in the NBA. “Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore and Elena Della Donne could certainly keep up with the NBA rhythm,” said the former shooting guard. In the back of the mind, the Black Mamba surely also had its Baby Mamba.
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