Yahoo News Vanessa Bryant Honors Late Daughter Gigi’s 18th Birthday by Hosting Basketball Camp in Her Memory
Gianna died alongside her father Kobe Bryant in January 2020
Monica Schipper/Getty; Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty
Vanessa Bryant, Gianna Bryant and Kobe BryantVanessa Bryant is honoring her late daughter Gianna "Gigi" Bryant in celebration of what would've marked her 18th birthday.
On Saturday, May 4, Vanessa, 42, shared a post on Instagram, in which she revealed that she and her family hosted a basketball camp for girls and boys in memory of her daughter — who died alongside her father Kobe Bryant in 2020.
“In honor of Gianna’s 18th birthday, we hosted a special @MambaMambacitaSports Skills Academy basketball camp with @nikela, @lakers, and @uscwbb to share my daughter’s PLAY GIGI’S WAY™ spirit for boys and girls from local LA community organizations,” Vanessa wrote in the caption while sharing photos from her time at the camp.
“We loved seeing their passion for basketball by embracing joy, curiosity, and competitiveness, while never taking any opportunity for granted, just like Gigi. #PlayGigisWay❤️#HappyBirthdayGigi #18,” she continued, signing off with Gianna’s birthdate of May 1.
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Vanessa hosted a bastketball camp in honor of her late daughter Gianna's 18th birthday on May 1Related: Vanessa Bryant Tells Late Daughter Gianna ‘I Miss You’ on What Would Have Been Her 18th Birthday
At the start of the clip, Vanessa could be seen posing with dozens of children for a photo as she sat with her daughters Natalia, 21, Bianka, 7, and Capri Bryant, 4, on the floor of a basketball court.
The kids each wore back T-shirts with "Mambacita" written across the front with angel wings and Gianna’s nickname "Gigi" on the back.
Vanessa was next seen joined by her daughters as they stood on the court together. She and Natalia wore matching "Mamba" basketball jerseys in Gianna and Kobe’s honor, while Bianka and Capri wore matching sweaters.
Vanessa was also seen chatting and taking pictures with young fans and signing basketballs at the camp.
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty
Gianna would have celebrated her 18th birthday on May 1Vanessa also posted another montage video from her time at the camp on Instagram on Sunday, May 5.
“Today, we brought together over 100 boys and girls from @bgcofwhittier, @wsgvbgc, @bgclaharbor to join us at the @lakers facility for a memorable @MambaMambacitaSports Skills Academy Basketball Camp to honor my Gigi’s 18th birthday,” she wrote in that caption.
“We are grateful to our dedicated partners @nikeLA, @uscwbb, and all the coaches who made the day extra special 🦋 #GiannaBryant #MAMBACITA #PlayGigisWay❤️#2 🖤🤍," she added.
In that clip, Vanessa said in a speech, “We’re here to celebrate Gigi’s 18th birthday. So I am so happy to see you all here to play with joy and curiosity like she always did.”
She added that the children would also be gifted with basketballs and “Gianna's brand-new shoes”— referring to the new Nike Kobe 8 Mambacita sneakers.
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty
Gianna died alongside her father Kobe Bryant in January 2020Gianna tragically died at the age of 13 alongside her father Kobe in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020.
On May 1, Vanessa shared a touching birthday tribute to Gianna on Instagram, writing, “Happy birthday to my gorgeous girl, Gigi! I love you. I miss you. I’m so proud of you. 2024 was your year. You would’ve been graduating high school and choosing which college to go to. (I would’ve been trying my hardest to convince you to stay close to home). I’m proud of the change in sports you and daddy worked so hard on."
"You continue to motivate me and inspire young women and girls daily. I love you always, mommy," she concluded.
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