Vanessa Bryant, 39, widow of basketball player Kobe Bryant (1978-2020), and daughter Natalya Bryant, 19, took to social media to honor Gianna Bryant for her 16th birthday this Sunday (1st). Gigi, as she was called, died in a plane crash with Kobe in January 2020.
To honor Gigi, Vanessa shared a video she narrated, in the same style as her late husband Kobe Bryant’s award-winning animated short “Dear Basketball”, featuring her late daughter’s drawings and her passion for the sport the family loved so much.
“Dear Gianna, from the first time you imagined winning a WNBA championship, I knew one thing was real – you were special,” Vanessa said in the narration. “You came from greatness, but it was never about what you inherited. It was about what you gave to others.”
She continued: “When someone stands up for gender equality, I see you next to them. And every time someone plays harder, I know it’s you on the court. I love you always,” said Vanessa, who captioned the post. : “I love you always! Happy birthday, Gianna.”
Natalia shared a photo of her child kissing Gigi’s cheek while her sister smiled from ear to ear. Next to the picture, the older sister said that she will love Gig “forever and ever”. “Happy sweet sixteen my dear Gigi. “I love you to the moon and back.”
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