She had next: Gigi Bryant, 13, was going to carry on a basketball legacy | CBC Sports (2024)

She had next.

Her name was Gianna Maria Onore Bryant. The world, now and forever, knows her as Gigi. Her dad, Kobe Bryant, called her Mambacita. He was Mamba, of course, and she was going to be basketball's female version of him. She was going to play at Connecticut and head to the WNBA. That was the plan.

  • As It HappensKobe Bryant's daughter Gianna was his best friend, says L.A. Times columnist

Over the years, the world watched her grow from a babe in her father's arms, to a small child trying to hold his Finals MVP trophy to his companion at WNBA, college and NBA games around the country, listening to her father break down play and watching every detail on the court, just as he always did.

"Gigi was really turning into a special player," said Russ Davis, the women's basketball coach at Vanguard University in Southern California and someone who became close with Bryant in recent years. "It's hard to predict her future, but with the way she was improving and the way she understood the game, she was going to have a bright one."

Gigi was 13. She was one of the nine people, her father also among them, on the helicopter that crashed Sunday morning into a hillside in Calabasas, Calif., as the group made its way to a basketball tournament where she was supposed to be playing. The helicopter burst into flames. All nine — including two of her teammates — died, officials said.

  • NBA postpones Lakers-Clippers game 'out of respect' for Kobe Bryant's old team

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant had four daughters. Gigi was the baller of the group. She was going to carry on the Bryant name in basketball. Few things in life made Bryant happier than that realization.

"I try to watch as much film as I can," Gigi said in an interview with Las Vegas CBS affiliate KLAS in 2019, when she and her dad attended the Las Vegas Aces' WNBA opener. "More information, more inspiration."

WATCH |CBC's Kim Brunhuberspeaks with Kobe's mourners in Los Angeles:

She had next: Gigi Bryant, 13, was going to carry on a basketball legacy | CBC Sports (1)

The impact of Kobe Bryant's death

5 years ago

Duration 2:39

CBC's Kim Brunhuber speaks with several of the NBA legend's fans in Los Angeles on "The National".

She was even sounding like her dad.

The film study was working. So, too, was the five or sixor seven-times-a-week workouts that Bryant would host for Gigi and her teammates on the team he coached. They ran the triangle offence, the one where Bryant had so much success with during his career. Grown men, professionals, the best players in the world, struggled with the triangle. Bryant had pre-teen girls figuring it out.

"He never yelled or anything," Davis said. "They just listened to him."

Earlier this month, Bryant posted a short video clip of Gigi in a game. The sequence: dribble-drive, pass to the corner, post up, wait for the ball to come back, catch, footwork, shoot the fadeaway.

Her father's unstoppable fadeaway.

She scored. Of course.

"Gigi getting better every day," her dad wrote.

Bryant and Gigi went to a UConn home game against Houston last March. Bryant wore a UConn shirt — just like Gigi was — and told SNY television during an in-game interview that he was thrilled that one of his daughters wanted to follow in his sneakers and take up the family basketball business.

"It's pretty cool. It's pretty cool," Bryant said. "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."

Many of Gigi's favourite players had UConn ties, like Katie Lou Samuelson — she had played for Davis, which led to the initial connection between he and Bryant — and Gabby Williams.

"From what I saw," Williams said Monday, "she was going to be heaps better than me."

Kobe talking about how passionate his daughter Gianna was for the game of basketball. 💔<a href="https://t.co/ej7arbYr4a">pic.twitter.com/ej7arbYr4a</a>

&mdash;@SNYtv

Williams was floored when Gigi told her she was her favourite player. She would FaceTime with the Bryants before games, gave Gigi her Chicago Sky uniforms, even practiced with Gigi and her teammates and was blown away by how hard she had to play against them.

"She had the right mentality, so confident, relentless, so mean and aggressive," Williams said. "And then [she would]walk off the court with the biggest, sweetest smile on her face. But my favourite part about her was just seeing how much she loved the game and loved to learn.

"It's intimidating to have to follow in those footsteps," Williams added, "but she really embraced it."

The UConn allegiance made all the sense in the world. Bryant played in Los Angeles, but he was a Philadelphia guy. So is UConn coach Geno Auriemma, who was heartbroken by the news of the crash Sunday. UConn has been the gold standard in the women's college game for a generation, driven by excellence. Bryant identified with that quality.

UConn was aware of Gigi's affinity for the Huskies and paid a fitting tribute. Before its game with the U.S. women's national team Monday night, UConn draped a No. 2 jersey with a bouquet of flowers across it on the team's bench. Gigi wore No. 2 for her dad's team.

.<a href="https://twitter.com/UConnWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UConnWBB</a> is honoring Gianna Bryant ahead of their game vs. Team USA tonight. <a href="https://t.co/tzK0IVrfjm">pic.twitter.com/tzK0IVrfjm</a>

&mdash;@espn

Jewell Loyd of the WNBA's Seattle Storm knew plenty about Gigi. Loyd sponsors an AAU team in Seattle. They played against Bryant's team, and over the years Loyd and Bryant forged an extremely special, extremely close bond. They looked at one another as family.

Her description of Gigi? "Awesome," Loyd said.

"When I went to work out with Kobe, most kids her age would be on the tablet," Loyd said. "She stayed still and watched the entire time. Didn't say anything. She was studying the game of basketball. If that didn't say Kobe, I don't know what does."

...This S*** can’t be real... this the first moment I was able to meet Gianna Maria, she’s been to only 3 games this year... 2 of them were mine... She told me I was her favorite player to watch🙏🏽 I can’t believe this😢😭<br><br>Rest Easy Gigi❤️ <a href="https://t.co/IfDrE9Gjlv">pic.twitter.com/IfDrE9Gjlv</a>

&mdash;@TheTraeYoung

Even NBA players were impressed. Atlanta's Trae Young couldn't believe it when Bryant told him that Gigi was a huge fan of his and was trying to emulate parts of his game. So Young paid tribute Sunday by opening a Hawks game in a No. 8 jersey, before switching back to his customary No. 11.

Afterward, Young recalled some of his final conversation with Bryant.

"He said how proud he was of me and how he wants me to continue to be a role model for kids growing up, for Gigi," Young said.

There were similarities in how father and daughter looked — the dark, piercing eyes, especially — but Loyd also saw similarities in the way father and daughter played the game. Both, she said, were methodical. Both were willing to outwork their opponents. Gigi knew who her father was and knew that meant a lot of eyeballs would be on her, that comparisons between her and her dad on the court were going to be inevitable.

Gigi didn't care, either.

She wanted to be like Dad.

"That's his legacy," Loyd said.

That's now Gigi's legacy as well.

She had next: Gigi Bryant, 13, was going to carry on a basketball legacy | CBC Sports (2024)

FAQs

What was Kobe Bryant's legacy? ›

Bryant won five championships for the purple and gold and was recognized for his talent on the court as well as his philanthropy work, which was dedicated to "improving the lives of youth families in need and encouraging young people to stay active through sports."

Was Gianna Bryant buried? ›

LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were buried Friday in a cemetery near the family's Southern California home, according to death certificates.

How old was Gigi Bryant when she died? ›

Gigi died at age 13 alongside Kobe, 41, in January 2020 helicopter crash. At the time, the father-daughter duo were heading to a kids basketball game at Kobe's Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Where did Gianna Bryant want to play basketball? ›

Gianna, the second of Bryant's four daughters, shared her father's love of the game. She hoped one day to play for the University of Connecticut and make it to the Women's National Basketball Association.

What will Kobe Bryant be remembered for? ›

Kobe Bryant has beaten the most 50+ win teams in NBA history. He holds the record for the second most points scored in a single game NBA history, and has the first most scored in the modern era of the NBA.

What was the most important thing to Kobe Bryant? ›

“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.”

Did they find Kobes remains? ›

Flames engulfed the wreckage, but burns on the bodies were determined to have occurred after death. Bryant's body was found on one side of the wreckage, and his daughter's was found in a ravine on the opposite side.

Will Kobe Bryant be buried with his daughter? ›

Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were buried Feb. 7 in a private ceremony in Corona del Mar, California, according to death certificates released Tuesday by Los Angeles County officials. The burial occurred at Pacific View Memorial Park, which is near the family's home in Orange County.

What is Gianna Bryant mixed with? ›

Her father was African-American, and her mother is Mexican. Her mother Vanessa was a model, and her father Kobe Bryant was a famous basketball player who played for the Los Angeles Lakers and won five N.B.A.

What was Gigi's number? ›

I'm a girl dad.” Today's installation date marks special significance as 8/2/24 honors both numbers Kobe wore during his career with the Purple and Gold (8 and 24), and the number Gigi wore playing competitive youth basketball (2).

What is Kobe Bryant's wife now? ›

Vanessa Marie Bryant (born May 5, 1982) is an American businesswoman, philanthropist, and model. She is the widow of American professional basketball player Kobe Bryant. With her husband, she founded the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Foundation in 2007 to provide scholarships to minority college students worldwide.

Was Gigi good at basketball? ›

Gigi Bryant video highlights: Kobe's late daughter was already a great basketball player.

Did Gigi want to go to UConn? ›

Gianna Maria Onore Bryant. She always wanted to be a UConn Husky. She wanted to participate in the team who, at the time, had a record 11 championship trophies. The Bryants attended UConn basketball games as fans.

Why did Gianna Bryant wear number 2? ›

Gianna was inspired by Sydney Leroux to wear a No. 2 jersey. Vanessa Bryant explained why her daughter Gianna chose to wear a No.

What did Kobe Bryant do that was special? ›

In his second season with the Lakers, Bryant was voted a starter for the 1998 All-Star Game, becoming the youngest All-Star in NBA history at 19. The shooting guard then teamed up with superstar center Shaquille O'Neal to win three consecutive NBA championships and was voted first-team all-NBA from 2002-2004.

What was Kobe well known for? ›

Bryant became one of the NBA's most popular players and the face of the Lakers during his career. Winning a record four NBA All-Star Game MVP awards, he was the overall league MVP in 2008, a two-time NBA scoring champion and 12 All-Defensive selections.

Why was Kobe Bryant a hero? ›

Throughout his remarkable career, Bryant developed a heroic figure as he pursued Michael Jordan's footsteps and overcoming him toward the end of his career. He is considered a hero because he has the trait of being determined, fearless, and inspirational. Kobe Bryant's was successful because of his determined mindset.

What was Kobe Bryant's obstacles? ›

Despite this, Kobe faced his own unique set of challenges on his path to greatness. One of the biggest struggles Kobe faced was moving to Italy at the age of six, where his father played professionally. He had to adjust to a new culture and learn a new language, all while maintaining his passion for basketball.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Carlyn Walter

Last Updated:

Views: 6019

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Carlyn Walter

Birthday: 1996-01-03

Address: Suite 452 40815 Denyse Extensions, Sengermouth, OR 42374

Phone: +8501809515404

Job: Manufacturing Technician

Hobby: Table tennis, Archery, Vacation, Metal detecting, Yo-yoing, Crocheting, Creative writing

Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.