Vanessa Bryant has shared a heartbreaking post on social media to remember her late husband, Kobe Bryant, on what would have been their 23rd wedding anniversary.
Kobe, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, was among nine individuals who lost their lives in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
The 18-time NBA All-Star spent his entire 20-year career with the LA Lakers, winning five NBA championships and amassing two scoring titles, the MVP award in 2007-08, two finals MVPs, and 15 appearances on the all-NBA team.
Kobe wore No. 8 and 24 for the Lakers, both of which were retired by the franchise.
Kobe and Vanessa. Credit: Donato Sardella/Getty
To celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary, Vanessa has shared snapshots capturing some of the couple’s happy moments on Instagram.
“Happy Anniversary @kobebryant #23,” wrote Vanessa in the caption, accompanied by a heart emoji.
Among the images was one of the pair sharing a kiss, showing how close they were as a couple.
Support and love poured in from friends, family, and followers, with celebrities like Jessica Alba, Ciara, and Vanessa’s daughter Natalia expressing their affection with heartfelt messages with numerous heart emojis.
Earlier this year, Vanessa Bryant, joined by her three surviving daughters, attended a Los Angeles Lakers game commemorating Kobe Bryant’s legacy.
The occasion marked the unveiling of a towering 19-foot bronze statue honoring the basketball icon on February 8, 2024, as reported by ABC News.
Speaking to PEOPLE in 2021, Vanessa opened up about the struggle of navigating life without her husband and daughter by her side.
“I can’t say that I’m strong every day,” she shared. “I can’t say that there aren’t days when I feel like I can’t survive to the next.”
Amidst the heartache, Vanessa displayed resilience and grace, all while remaining a pillar of support for her daughters.
“This pain is unimaginable [but] you just have to get up and push forward,” she reflected. “Lying in bed crying isn’t going to change the fact that my family will never be the same again. But getting out of bed and pushing forward is going to make the day better for my girls and for me. So that’s what I do.”
Kobe (second left) and Gianna (right) lost their lives in a helicopter crash. Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty
Drawing strength from the love of Kobe and Gigi, Vanessa said: “I guess the best way to describe it is that Kobe and Gigi motivate me to keep going. They inspire me to try harder and be better every day. Their love is unconditional and they motivate me in so many different ways.”
Through the darkest moments, Vanessa finds light in the unwavering love and support of her daughters. “My girls help me smile through the pain,” she acknowledged. “They give me strength.”
