Remembering the Life of Kobe Bryant's Daughter Gianna Bryant

Kobe Bryant's daughter Gianna Bryant died alongside her father in the helicopter crash!

Kobe Bryant was a legend among the NBA community and inspiration to millions, but on top of all, an amazing father who dreamed of guiding his second oldest child Gianna Bryant down the path of his legacy. Alas, the dream of a father died with him, and the one who was supposed to take up his torch was snuffed out with him.

Gianna Bryant, Kobe Bryant's hope as a heir to his legacy, lost her life alongside her father in the helicopter crash. Imagine approaching that last moment of your life and realizing that your daughter is right beside you. How do you fathom that fear, that emotion not for your own life but that of your child? Kobe felt that when the helicopter went down into a hillside in Calabasas, California, on a Sunday morning, killing everyone on board.

Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant bonded over basketball.
Source: Entertainment Tonight

One cannot even possibly visualize that terror in Gianna's eyes, a mere 13 years old child, as she screams for her father, embraced into his protective arms for one last time, not realizing that even that hug won't save her anymore. Nobody aboard that helicopter knew that they'd meet a terrible faith while on the way to the Mamba Sports Academy, which the late NBA great co-founded. His daughter was expected to play in a game that very day.

The legendary Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant died in a helicopter crash.
Source: Mpasho

Gianna Bryant's life, no matter how short, was well lived, and she never felt to make her father proud. Her game did not disappoint as Gigi showed she could score like Kobe, who ranks No. 4 in the all-time NBA scoring list with 33,643 points. 

Also See: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's Father Rocky Johnson Passes Away at 75

Born May 1, 2006, as Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, Gigi was the second blessing in the Bryant family. Talented basketball player, just like her father, she attended Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, California. Gigi, along with her older sister Natalia and mother Vanessa, frequently went to Los Angeles Lakers games before Kobe retired. She was there, cheering her father oh his last game when he played his final game in 2016 as he dropped 60 points against the Utah Jazz in a storybook ending to a celebrated career.

Post-retirement Kobe trained and coached Gigi's AAU team, the Los Angeles Lady Mamba, after which she came out to be one of the most promising prodigies for WNBA. The father-daughter duo bonded over watching NBA games live, with the older Bryant dissecting the plays to his daughter as they sat along the sidelines.

Watch: Kobe Bryant Describes Passing On 'Basketball Gene' To Daughter Gianna In 2018 Interview

In another interview with Access, Kobe said,

The basketball genes, I've completely and fully passed on to Gianna. She's got it. That's on her now.

For her excellence in the game plays Gigi was called 'Mambacita' by followers, a derivative for the 'Black Mamba' that her father was famously known as.

Also See: Renee Zellweger Opens Up About Playing Judy Garland

Such promises and hopes went up in flames with the tragic death of Kobe and his daughter. It's needless to say that WNBA lost a gem without even getting a chance to try her out. The loss can never be fulfilled by anyone ever.

Watch: Kobe Bryant Life is too short

In the wise words of late Kobe Bryant,

Have a good time enjoy life and its life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged, or you have to keep moving you have to keep going put one foot in front of the other smile and just keep on rolling you know

Our heart and condolence go out to the Bryant family.

For more celebrity news, head on over to Idol Persona.