Vanessa Bryant was spotted at Wilson Park in Compton, California on Friday (June 16) – alongside WNBA Hall of Famer, Lisa Leslie, and current NBA point guard, Trae Young. The trio was unveiling a basketball court that was refurbished by the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation and BodyArmor.
The basketball court features numerous murals of Vanessa’s late husband, Kobe Bryant, and their late daughter, Gianna Bryant. It’s part of a $24 million pledge by BodyArmor and MMSF to support youth sports – they’ve already unveiled courts in Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Philly, D.C., Atlanta, and Phoenix.
Kobe and Gianna were involved in a fatal helicopter crash on January 26, 2020 – they died along with the seven others on board. Their deaths shook the sports community as millions of people paid tribute to one of the greatest basketball players of all-time and his daughter, who was an aspiring basketball player.
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“LOS ANGELES Thank you for showing up and showing out for our exclusive court reopening at Wilson Park in honor of Kobe and Gianna,” Vanessa Bryant wrote in an Instagram caption. She gave a special thanks to Sloe Motions, the artist behind the murals, as well as Leslie and Young for their support.
She also gave a special shoutout to those who support Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation – either through donations or buying merchandise. It’s those donations that go ‘toward our mission of creating positive impact for underserved athletes and boys & girls in sports,” the four-time mother wrote.
Vanessa met Kobe in November 1999 when he was working on his debut album – several years after entering the NBA. They started dating right away and got engaged six months later in May 2000. The couple tied the knot on April 18, 2001 – they filed for divorce in 2011, but eventually called it off in 2013.
Vanessa Bryant stands in front of new murals made in honor of Kobe Bryant and Gigi Bryant in Compton ????????️ pic.twitter.com/Do6hmpWV7v
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) June 16, 2023
Between 2003 and 2019, Kobe and Vanessa welcomed four daughters – Natalia, 20, Gianna, 13, Bianka, 6, and Capri, 3 – into this world as the name Kobe became synonymous with ‘girl dad.’ He took his role as a father seriously and devoted himself to ensuring they had everything they needed to succeed in life.
Vanessa Bryant Attends the Unveiling of Kobe’s Handprints and Footprints at TCL Chinese Theatre
The unveiling of the refurbished basketball court in Compton came just two days after Vanessa Bryant and her children attended the unveiling of Kobe Bryant’s handprints and footprints outside the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, CA – which will now be permanently displayed as a part of LA forever.
The first athlete to have their hand & footprints outside of the Chinese Theater: Kobe Bryant. Originally cast in February 2011, this week the city of Los Angeles honored Kobe and his family where his mark will be forever enshrined.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 17, 2023
Mamba Forever ???? pic.twitter.com/8mCcKA4Xkf
Vanessa’s eldest daughter, Natalia Bryant, spoke at the ceremony and described her father as the ‘MVP of girl dads.’ She also described being his daughter as ‘one of the greatest joys of my life’ and devoted herself to embodying and cherishing all the lessons he taught her in his short time on this Earth.
Natalia Bryant honored her father Kobe Bryant's incredible legacy at the unveiling ceremony of his handprint at the Chinese Theatre. pic.twitter.com/uEaITqBnxk
— People (@people) March 15, 2023
“It is only fitting that my dad, Kobe Bryant, is the very first athlete to get their hand and footprint displayed here in the city of Los Angeles. This day symbolizes the impact that he has had on a city that he loved and cared for so deeply,” she said at the ceremony – as everyone stopped what they were doing to listen.
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Vanessa Bryant has done an excellent job of continuing her husband’s legacy, even after he passed away. Despite being a single mother to three living children and having her own life to maintain, she finds a way to honor and pay tribute to her late husband each and every day – never missing a single moment.