Vanessa Bryant Pays Tributes To Late Husband Kobe Bryant And Daughter Gianna

The world was struck with tragedy on Sunday, January 26 when NBA legend Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in suburban Los Angeles.

The news of his death was made even more tragic when it surfaced that his 13-year-old daughter Gianna was one of the other eight victims of the crash that left all nine aboard dead.

It was a double tragedy for Vanessa Bryant who not only lost a husband but also a child.

In an Instagram post made on Wednesday, January 29, the 37-year-old widow broke her silence saying that there “aren’t enough words to describe” the turmoil felt following the sudden loss of her “adoring husband Kobe”  and their daughter Gianna.

Yet to get over her loss, Vanessa has now shared another post to pay tribute to her late husband whom she refers to as the “best daddy”, her “best friend” and “loving husband”.

She shared a smiling photo of him and wrote:

Kobe Bryant | @Vanessabryant

“#mybestfriend #thebestdaddy Miss you so much. #handsome #sweet #funny #silly #lovinghusband Miss you saying “Bonjourno principessa/reina.”

In a similar vein, she also took to her Instagram page to share a tribute to her late daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant. This came after Gianna’s jersey was retired by her private school, Harbor Day School.

Prior to her death, Gianna was actively involved in basketball and like her father, played the sport.

Following her death, her school, Harbor Day School held a retirement ceremony at the school’s gym to retire her No. 2 jersey.

Sharing photos from the sombre event that held at the teenage basketball star’s middle school, Vanessa revealed she misses her daughter and feels lucky to have known her face and smile for thirteen years.

In another of the videos she shared from the retirement, she wrote:

“My Gigi. I love you! I miss you. You’ve taught us all that no act of kindness is ever too small. Mommy is still and will ALWAYS be so proud of you mamacita.”

Her basketball coach said as he stood beside Gigi’s teary-eyed teammates: “Gianna was a warrior who gave 110 percent every time she stepped on the floor.

“In my 20 years of coaching basketball, Gigi was one of the fiercest competitors that I’ve ever seen.”

In the wake of Kobe and Gianna’s deaths, Vanessa has also changed the image of her official Instagram account to a photo of the 41-year-old doting dad lovingly embracing their 13-year-old daughter at his final NBA All-Star game in 2016.