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\n Related: <\/span>Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant: A Timeline of Their Relationship<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tA lasting love. Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant\u2019s decades-long romance came to a tragic end when the NBA legend died on January 26, 2020. Despite their relationship\u2019s heartbreaking conclusion, their romance was filled with many highs over the years. The love between Kobe and Vanessa began not long after the duo first met in November [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Many of the family\u2019s friends sent along their best wishes, including Kris Jenner<\/strong>, retired WNBA player Lisa Leslie<\/strong> and Kimora Lee Simmons<\/strong>. Kobe\u2019s former Los Angeles Lakes teammate Pau Gasol<\/strong> marked the late athlete\u2019s birthday with his own emotional post.<\/p>\n\u201cHappy Birthday, hermano. I miss you and love you always,\u201d he wrote<\/a> alongside a photo of himself and Kobe on the court.<\/p>\nVanessa has continued to honor the life and legacy<\/a> of her late husband, as well as her daughter Gigi, more than five years after their deaths. In May, Vanessa\u2019s Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation launched the Gianna Bryant Scholarship Award in tandem with the Variety Boys and Girls Club in Boyle Heights, California in honor of her daughter.<\/p>\n\u201cWith the support of the Variety Boys and Girls Club in Boyle Heights @varietybgc, we\u2019ve selected exceptional young people who embody Gigi\u2019s Mamba Mentality through their resilience, commitment to equal opportunities, and ability to inspire others,\u201d the foundation announced.<\/p>\n
Their statement continued, \u201cTo our recipients, you are representatives of Gianna\u2019s vision \u2014 to create a world where young people have every opportunity to follow their dreams regardless of gender or the pressures and expectations we receive from society. Sending all our love to you and your bright futures ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n![\"GettyImages-510348716](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-510348716-Vanessa-Bryant-Shares-Emotional-Birthday-Tribute-to-Late-Husband-Kobe-e1756001474413.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Vanessa Bryant and Kobe Bryant in February 2016.<\/span> Bobby Metelus\/FilmMagic<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nVanessa previously reflected on the heartbreaking loss<\/a> of her daughter on what would have been Gigi\u2019s 18th birthday in May 2024.<\/p>\n\u201cHappy birthday to my gorgeous girl, Gigi! I love you. I miss you. I\u2019m so proud of you,\u201d she wrote via Instagram at the time. \u201c2024 was your year. You would\u2019ve been graduating high school and choosing which college to go to. (I would\u2019ve been trying my hardest to convince you to stay close to home).\u201d<\/p>\n
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You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
The working mom has kept very busy throughout this summer, having visited Disneyland with her family in June. Earlier this month, the Bryants attended a Los Angeles Dodgers game<\/a> where Kobe bobble head dolls were given away, plus Vanessa handed out Kobe sneakers<\/a> at back-to-school events organized by the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHappy Birthday, hermano. I miss you and love you always,\u201d he wrote<\/a> alongside a photo of himself and Kobe on the court.<\/p>\n Vanessa has continued to honor the life and legacy<\/a> of her late husband, as well as her daughter Gigi, more than five years after their deaths. In May, Vanessa\u2019s Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation launched the Gianna Bryant Scholarship Award in tandem with the Variety Boys and Girls Club in Boyle Heights, California in honor of her daughter.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the support of the Variety Boys and Girls Club in Boyle Heights @varietybgc, we\u2019ve selected exceptional young people who embody Gigi\u2019s Mamba Mentality through their resilience, commitment to equal opportunities, and ability to inspire others,\u201d the foundation announced.<\/p>\n Their statement continued, \u201cTo our recipients, you are representatives of Gianna\u2019s vision \u2014 to create a world where young people have every opportunity to follow their dreams regardless of gender or the pressures and expectations we receive from society. Sending all our love to you and your bright futures ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n Vanessa previously reflected on the heartbreaking loss<\/a> of her daughter on what would have been Gigi\u2019s 18th birthday in May 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cHappy birthday to my gorgeous girl, Gigi! I love you. I miss you. I\u2019m so proud of you,\u201d she wrote via Instagram at the time. \u201c2024 was your year. You would\u2019ve been graduating high school and choosing which college to go to. (I would\u2019ve been trying my hardest to convince you to stay close to home).\u201d<\/p>\n You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n The working mom has kept very busy throughout this summer, having visited Disneyland with her family in June. Earlier this month, the Bryants attended a Los Angeles Dodgers game<\/a> where Kobe bobble head dolls were given away, plus Vanessa handed out Kobe sneakers<\/a> at back-to-school events organized by the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n Vanessa Bryant and Kobe Bryant in February 2016.<\/span> Bobby Metelus\/FilmMagic<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThank You!<\/h3>\n
![\"Vanessa](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Vanessa-Bryant-Instagram-Kobe-Bryant-Daughters-Are-All-Grown-Up-in-Video-Posted-by-His-Wife-Vanessa.jpg?crop=0px%2C475px%2C1289px%2C728px&resize=400%2C225&quality=86&strip=all\")
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