his nine-year-old daughter Gianna mimicked her dad's serious face on TV
Kobe's wife Vanessa posted the adorable video on her Instagram account doesn't
get much cuter than little mamba imitating her dad before Gianna Brian
would be born into one of the most influential sports families of the 21st
century
before Gigi Bryant would be caught courtside with her father absorbing the
game of basketball and every single opportunity
there's mr. Bryant his daughter Dianna is she decided before Gigi planned on
revolutionising the sport of basketball for women the world over Kobe's door to
want it to be just like her dad she wanted to rule the WNBA and I think she
was gonna get there and that's what makes this day even more tragic because
you know you knew she was coming you know she had her dad he was gonna be
they were thankful and even wanna be so great to see her one day get to the WNBA
and to have a life taken like that is just as a set now goes without saying
that the last thing that someone wants to be well known for is passing away
before their time and it's an extremely unfortunate thing that for Gigi Bryant
in many ways well that's exactly what happened but a tragic death is not all
Gigi was now in the short span of time that she was alive well Gigi left her
mark on the planet and the world of female sports now her dad he often doted
on his athletic daughter posting videos to his massive social media following
about her gameplay much like her remarkable father Kobe Bryant well Gigi
she was a force of nature that could not be denied and we think it's only fair
that we do our part to spread a little light on her story during these tragic
and tough times what's going on guys it's Michael McCrudden and today I'm
taking a look back at the short but very sweet life of Gigi Bryant here for you
one before they were gone no earlier this week we released the 20 minute
video honoring the late and great Kobe Bryant and we make these videos with the
utmost respect and deep condolences go to the family and loved ones of all
involved in this tragic crash alright let's get into this video
gianna Murray on row Bryant was born on May 1st 2006 in Orange County California
now her father Kobe Bryant he was entering his tenth season playing for
the Los Angeles Lakers at the time of her birth
now her mother Vanessa Bryant had formerly worked as a model now the two
they initially met on the set of a music video where Vanessa she was a dancer a
COPI he was there while considering a career as a rapper at the time now Gigi
she was raised with an older sister Natalija she also had two younger
sisters Bianca and Capri though she also is the granddaughter of Joe jellybean
Bryant and the great niece of John chubby Cox and needless to say
basketball was everywhere around her growing up the dad well he got her
involved in all of it there were father Kobe he was a hero and the reason GG
started playing basketball in the first place
no Bryan he once said it's pretty cool it's pretty cool 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 she
played for both the harboured a school team in Corona del Mar California and
the mapa sports academy that was on the competitive team with the club that you
ten through you 15 levels know Kobe ever the loving father well he was her coach
at the Mambo Academy it was always Gigi's intention to play college
basketball at the powerhouse University of Connecticut or UConn as its otherwise
affectionately known the Huskies have lifted a record 11 championships over
the years and many of Gigi's favorite players had UConn ties like Gabby
Williams a current WNBA player for the Chicago Sky now Gabby she had this to
say about GG from what I saw she was gonna be heaps better than me she had
the right mentality so confident relentless so mean and aggressive and
then she would walk off the court and the biggest sweetest smile on her face
but my favorite part about her was seeing how much she loved the game and
loved to learn it's intimidating to have to follow in those footsteps
now that's massive praise coming from someone as decorated
gaby Williams no Yukon was aware of Gigi's affinity for their school and
paid a fitting tribute now soon after her death they traped a number-two
Jersey with a bouquet of flowers across the team's bench number two was the
number Gigi wore during her games though harbored a school also retired her
number in a ceremony attended by her mother Vanessa to Jersey we appraised
she was regularly seen attending games at UConn the WNBA and Lakers games as
well always with Kobe at her side Kobe and
his daughter in the building breaking down the game when asked about the idea
of his children carrying on his legacy in the world of basketball
well Kobe he had this to say do you think your daughter might want to play
in the WNBA she does for sure she'd I don't it means this kid man well that'd
be great to go out and fans that come up to me and she'll be standing next to me
and be like and you gotta have a boy you and Vee gotta have a boy may have
somebody carry on your tradition the legacy she's like oh yeah I got this
according to Kobe Gigi would practice two hours a day and it's shoked
now the girls she has tools a talent and a jumper that was already looking as
smooth as her five-time champion of a father the Black Mamba had a little
mamacita all his own now in an interview Gigi she once told Las Vegas CBS
affiliate I tried to watch as much film as I can more information more
inspiration a protege of Kobe without a doubt UConn star and then a WNBA
professional who knows what could have happened from there we could have even
seen Kobe coaching her at that level as well now it certainly was a possibility
in a perfect world the two of them would have brought a level of exposure to the
WNBA the world of woman's basketball that had
never existed before the possibilities with these two working side by side well
they were endless which makes what happened well all the more tragic now on
January 26 2020 while on their way to one of Gigi's basketball games
well the helicopter carrying Gigi Kobe and seven others mothers fathers and
daughters and all well it crashed into the side of a mountain in Calabasas
everyone aboard lost their life a February seventh Kobe and Gianna they
were buried in a private funeral and Pacific View Memorial Park in the Corona
del Mar neighborhood of Newport Beach California now a memorial service will
be held on February 24th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles now some people
will tell you it's better to be a star and burn out brightly than to fade away
now usually understand that statement I think it goes without saying that in the
short time that she was on this planet well GG her star it son very brightly
most kids in her situation being the child of one of the most famous people
on the planet well they recede into the background and her content living in the
shadow of the much more famous parent but GG well she was never like that
though she was always front and center with Kobe proving that she belongs right
there with them at his side and now well that's exactly where she'll be forever
rest in peace Gigi we're all thinking of you down here and lamenting what could
have been with your remarkable talents thanks guys for watching this video
man I'm just back from a holiday and this is like the third before they were
gone obviously we make biographies but 2020s been kicking our ass this is very
sad very tragic stuff please leave your condolences in the comments down below
we do these videos because a lot of people want to know more about these
people you know we this is a celebrity channel the the biographies we do go
into great detail and what we think it's a fitting tribute anyways um that's it
I'll see you guys another video let's get back and also hug your family guys
you know because when you have the chance don't miss it okay