Over a week after the death of ex-basketball icon Kobe Bryant (1978-2020) and their daughter Gianna "Gigi" (2006-2020), Bryant's widow Vanessa (37) let her grief run free on Instagram. "My Gianna. God, how I miss you," she writes about her pain. "For 13 years I was lucky enough to wake up to see your beautiful face and smile. I wish I could have done it until my last breath. Mommy loves you to the moon and back." The photo she published for this comes from a special ceremony.
Gianna's jersey number is no longer awarded
Gianna's school remembered her in a special way. Your back number, number 2, will no longer be assigned in the future. For the Los Angeles Lakers, this honor also applies to her father and his jersey numbers 8 and 24. In a touching speech that Vanessa Bryant posted, a speaker at the event reminded Gianna of her compassion for others and her strong will. Bryant's daughter always gave "110 percent" on the pitch: "She had this special mindset. She always helped us find a way to win." One would now always think of their wish to "make the world better."
Kobe and Gianna Bryant were killed in a helicopter crash west of Los Angeles on January 26, along with seven other people. They were on their way to a youth basketball game for Gianna to play. The 13-year-old was considered a great talent and had accompanied her father to his games from an early age. The five-time NBA champion coached his daughter after retiring from professional sports in 2016 and repeatedly talked about her great talent in interviews.