Angel On The Court: Kobe Always Saw Daughter Gianna, As Heir To His Legacy
The days have gone by so slow, the tears are still falling, the shock won’t leave us. It has now been several days since the helicopter accident that killed Kobe Bryant, and his 13 year old daughter, Gianna.
We think of all the good things Kobe did not only for his family, but for other children, for the community. How he had no limits when it came to serving and helping others. And, his mirror figure, was his daughter, Gianna.
Just like her dad, she was a highly motivated, and unstoppable person. She also shared the same love and passion for basketball. So much so, that at just 13 years old, she had already set her goal of playing for UConn Women’s Basketball team.
The UConn women's basketball team paid tribute to Gianna Bryant by draping her No. 2 jersey over a chair at the arena before Monday's exhibition game. via Fox23 News
Gianna was determined to play for the WNBA one day, and her dad Kobe was proudly helping her in every way possible, to make that dream come true. Kobe started coaching Gianna's basketball team when he retired in 2016, ending his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bryant enjoyed inspiring and teaching others so much, that in 2018 he opened up the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California. This academy is a multisport training center for young athletes. Gianna played for the academy’s basketball team. In fact, the day before the crash, her and Kobe bonded at a one of her team’s games.
“The Black Mamba” was a self proclaimed nickname Kobe gave to himself. He was inspired to call himself this because of the film, “Kill Bill”, in which the Black Mamba is described as a deadly assassin because of the snake's agility and aggressiveness. To him, it was a mentality, a lifestyle, that would get you through everything and anything. It was ultimate strength, and passion.
Gianna was a prime product of that Mamba mentality. She was fierce, strong, yet humble and feared nothing. She was a dreamer both on and off the court, and if she hadn’t died on January 26th, she would have conquered the basketball world, just like her father did. RIP Gianna and Kobe.