Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant’s Horrific Death Is Still a Fresh Wound for the NBA World
Kobe Bryant arguably remains one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. He debuted in the league in 1996 and famously played all twenty seasons with the Lakers. Kobe’s determination to be a better version of himself is unmatchable. When he and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, it was a dark day in the NBA.
Even when the news broke, everyone was shaken to the core. Notably, Vanessa Bryant couldn’t believe her ears and Kobe’s teammate Shaquille O’Neal refused to believe until legal confirmation came in. Furthermore, even after three years, their horrific death is still a fresh wound for the NBA world. Everyone has their ways to pay tribute to the legacy that Kobe left. Be it by trying to save murals or dedicating a basketball court.
4 years ago, we saw Gigi absorbing everything from Kobe Bryant while sitting courtside at a Nets-Hawks game in Brooklyn.
The basketball world misses you, Mamba and Mambacita 🐍
pic.twitter.com/EhRmwC2nFX— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 21, 2023
Additionally, more often than not posts about Kobe and Gigi storm the internet. Not only do fans have an emotional roller coaster but they also flood the comment section. Thereby proving that their horrific death is still a fresh wound that isn’t getting healed easily. Recently, Clucthpoints posted a video of Kobe and Gigi wherein they are breaking down and absorbing the game.
Fans reacted to the post massively and it went viral shortly after going live. They spoke about how it breaks their hearts and that they won’t ever get over this. One commented, “I still pinch myself every time I see anything that reminds me of their passing.” In similar lines, another said, “So dam sad! I will never get over this!” and continued to talk about how their heart gets heavy for Vanessa.
Gianna Bryant wanted to carry on Kobe Bryant’s legacy
On that unfaithful day, not only did an iconic player Kobe Bryant die but also another future iconic player Gianna Bryant. She shared the same fierce determination and love for basketball as her father. Even when the helicopter crashed, they were on their way to a tournament where Kobe coached Gigi and her dream.
In 2018, Kobe spoke to late-night host Jimmy Kimmel about how Gianna wanted to join the WNBA and continue his legacy. The Lakers star shared how one of the best things is when they go out and meet fans who tell him how he needs to have boys to carry on the tradition and the legacy. “And [Gigi] is like, ‘I got this!’” Bryant revealed.
Congrats Giannis, NBA champion and Mamba Mentality forever 🏆
Original tweet from 8:24pm on June 24, 2019 pic.twitter.com/NtOaS1WNxZ
— Kobe & Gianna Bryant Murals (@kobemurals) July 21, 2021
Furthermore, Gigi wanted to have her college career with the University of Connecticut‘s women’s basketball team before making her WNBA debut. Interestingly, even fans commented on Clucthpoints’ recent tweet that she would have ruled the league. One said, “Gigi would’ve ran the WNBA,” whereas, another commented, “Gianna no doubt would’ve been a huge college basketball player and WNBA Superstar.”
It is undeniably heartbreaking how Kobe and Gianna‘s life suddenly came to an end. Fans and their family had high hopes and were looking forward to seeing where their lives would be headed. Kobe spent twenty years of his life playing in the NBA and fans wanted to see him enjoy his retirement. On the other, they wanted to witness Gigi take the legacy forward in the best way possible.
