A picture ofKobe Bryantwearing his Los Angeles Lakers uniform in his daughterGianna’sclassroom shows the touching bond the father-daughter duo shared.
The photo — part of a collection of personal pictures included in a pamphlet passed out to attendees of Bryant and Gianna’sCelebration of Lifeon Monday — shows the NBA legend smiling proudly next to his daughter, who is beaming while wearing his Olympic gold medal.
According to ESPN’sDave McMenamin, the photo was taken as a part of Career Day at Gianna’s school. She may have been around 4 years old in the picture,The Blastreported.
The sweet picture is another example of the connection Bryant had with Gianna, who had dreams of following her father’s footsteps and playing professional basketball before theJan. 26 helicopter crash that killed her, Bryant and seven others.
During Monday’s event at Staples Center, Vanessa Bryant made her first public appearance since the crash and gave a moving tribute to her daughter and husband.
“She had the best laugh,” Vanessa, 37, said. “It was infectious, it was pure and genuine. Kobe and Gianna naturally gravitated toward each other.”
Of her husband of 20 years, Vanessa called Kobe “the MVP of girl dads, or MVD,” and praised his “tender heart.”
“He never left the toilet seat up,” she said. “He always told the girls how beautiful and smart they are. He taught them how to be brave.”
The couple have three surviving daughters, Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and 7-month-old Capri.
Kobe and Vanessa Bryant with their daughters.Vanessa Bryant Instagram
The memorial, of which the date honors Gianna’s No. 2 jersey at the Mamba Sports Academy, and Kobe’s No. 24 in the latter half of Lakers career, also honored victimsJohn Altobelli,Keri Altobelli,Alyssa Altobelli,Sarah Chester, Payton Chester,Christina Mauserand pilotAra Zobayan.
If you would like to help the families of the victims of the crash, consider donating to theMamba on Three Fund. Contributions to theMamba & Mambacita Sports Foundationwill help support youth sports.
source: people.com
