Kobe Bryant was heavily invested in the lives of his daughters and wore the “girl dad” moniker proudly, embracing the father to three daughters, Natalia Diamante Bryant, Bianka Bella Bryant, Capri Kobe Bryant, and Gigi.
Last month X post by LakeShowYo brought up an old photo of late NBA legend captures an emotional photo opportunity when Bryant visited the school of his daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant for Career Day wearing his signature Lakers gear, showcasing his humble engagement with Gigi’s world.
The school photo that breaks and builds hearts – the photo shows, Bryant, who is wearing the number 24 yellow Los Angeles Lakers jersey, is kneeling beside his child, smiling. Gigi is wearing school attire of a white shirt over a plaid dress with a medal around her neck.
when Kobe showed up to Gigi’s school for Career Day in his Lakers uniform 🥹💜 pic.twitter.com/2PY98QiN3r
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) March 4, 2025
The snap’s background shows a school setting where there are school materials as well as books. Kobe kept his arm around Gigi, smiling at the camera along with her.
Gigi dreamed of competing at the WNBA level and vowed to carry on her father’s legacy on the court. But Kobe and Gigi found an untimely demise to their lives by way of helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, so this photo is a heart-wrenching reminder of the relationship that they shared; Gigi, who went by the nickname “Mambacita,” was on course to play for UConn.
It breaks hearts with the recollection of the tragedy that befell them.
A year later after the unfortunate incident which broke fans, WNBA player Sabrina Ionescu, Gigi’s mentor, talked to NBC Sports and said:
“I don’t think people understand how great of a father he was and a family man he was,” Ionescu said. “Everything he stood for as a father, as a husband, is really what spoke to me. He dedicated everything to Gigi and his family.”
"She was going to be great. She reminded me of him playing."@WNBA star @sabrina_i20 reflects on Gigi Bryant and the type of athlete she was at a young age.
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) January 26, 2021
Listen to #SportsUncovered's 'My favorite Kobe story' here: https://t.co/W44xYre79F pic.twitter.com/f0FwhgBKTR
Gigi Bryant wished to carry on the legendary torch
Gigi Bryant inherited her father’s passion for basketball and wished to carry on the legendary torch. Kobe referred to it as “pretty cool” that her desire to join this “family basketball industry” made her want to follow in his footsteps.
“It’s pretty cool. It’s pretty cool,” Bryant told SNY television. “She started out playing soccer, which I love. But she came to me about a year and a half ago and said, ‘Can you teach me the game?’ I said, ‘Sure.’ We started working a little bit and the next thing you know it became a true passion of hers. So, it’s wonderful.”
Kobe coached Gigi’s team, the Los Angeles Lady Mambas, through strenuous practices five to seven times per week. They learned the triangle offense, a system he mastered himself.
In off-court sessions, they’d review game tape with one another. Kobe and Gigi were ubiquitous at games—NBA, WNBA, and college games—found courtside with Kobe deconstructing plays and analyzing game action.
He proudly shared Gigi’s highlight reel on social media and spoke about her competitive spirit to reporters. The one thing that really stood out about her? She didn’t want some brother to pass on the torch—she wanted to pass it on.
“The best thing that happens is when we go out and fans come up to me, and she’ll be standing next to me,” Bryant said. “They’ll be like “you gotta have a boy, have somebody carry on the legacy… she’s like, “oh, I got this! And I would say “Yes, you do, you got this.”
Watching Kobe Bryant on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ gushing about his daughter, Gianna, crushes me even more
— 𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗬 𝗛𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗘𝗦 (@TommySledge) January 26, 2020
Gotta get off Twitter for awhile … Going to play basketball with my daughters #RIPMAMBA pic.twitter.com/gA3PzTJsJy
Gigi studied his game, mimicked his moves, and practiced tirelessly to mirror his intensity. Kobe frequently said Gigi reminded him of why he played. And he was hardly the only one who believed she possessed the talent.
Russ Davis, an old-school women’s basketball coach, said Gigi had “bright future” potential due to her great understanding of the game.
WNBA All-Star Jewell Loyd, who became close to the Bryants, observed the same fire—singling out Gigi’s work ethic, concentration, and intense drive to be better.
READ: The Game When Kobe Bryant Punished Michael Jordan for Trash Talking Him
I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
