How Kobe Bryant Spread the Joy of Being a Girl Dad

As I delve into these heartwarming images of Kobe Bryant and his family, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of admiration for this extraordinary man. His journey from a basketball prodigy to an iconic player is indeed inspiring, but it’s the bond he shares with his loved ones that truly captivates me.

Kobe Bryant had wrapped up his extraordinary tenure with the Lakers, ensuring his statistics for the NBA Hall of Fame induction, his jersey numbers retired, and his five championship rings safely stored. Everything was taken care of.

However, he was just beginning to flourish as a family man when he tragically passed away in a helicopter accident on January 26, 2020, together with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, and seven other individuals.

A monument honoring the duo was set up at the main entrance of Crypto.com Arena on 11th Street recently, the steel sculpture serving as a tribute to an iconic photo of father and child watching the December 29, 2019 Los Angeles Lakers game from the stands, their special moment now eternally preserved.

The artwork titled “Girl Dad,” which was skillfully created by Karon Davis and the talented artisans at Rotblatt Amrany Studio, was designed.

A sign nearby proudly displays a quote from Kobe, not referred to as a five-time NBA champion, but as “Proud Father of the Most Valuable Girl,” that says, “Gianna is a force to be reckoned with. She surpasses me at her age. She possesses the talent. Girls are incredible. If I could, I’d have five more daughters. I’m a father of girls.”

One striking lesson from that event has been the focus on Kobe Bryant’s commitment, particularly to basketball over his 20-year career with the Lakers. However, it was also evident how deeply he valued his role as a father to his four daughters.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I’ve often found myself mirroring the unconventional commuting routine of Kobe – the multitalented sports icon, entrepreneur, writer, and basketball coach for young girls. Instead of joining the daily traffic jam on L.A. roads like many others, he opted to take a helicopter ride, maximizing his time efficiently and making every moment count.

At the time of their passing, he and Gianna were traveling towards a basketball tournament at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, which is approximately 82 miles from their home in Newport Beach. Alongside them, Alyssa Altobelli, Payton Chester, Alyssa’s parents John and Keri Altobelli, Payton’s mother Sarah Chester, assistant coach Christina Mauser, and pilot Ara Zobayan tragically lost their lives as well.

Back in 2016 when Kobe Bryant retired, his admiration for Gigi’s passion towards the game and her exceptional skills helped him reconnect with basketball again.

During the thorough investigation following the crash, a specific ESPN segment caught everyone’s attention, a piece that honored a side of Kobe’s life that showcased his finest traits and resonated strongly with people beyond his record-breaking 81-point game achievement.

Speaking about her encounter with Kobe Bryant at a gathering in 2018, when she was eight months pregnant, SportsCenter anchor Elle Duncan shared the story of their interaction. Upon learning about her pregnancy, Bryant inquired about the due date and the gender, expressing delight upon hearing it was a girl. He enthusiastically said, “Girls are the best!”, before asking for any advice. When asked, Bryant advised her to be grateful for the blessing of having a daughter, commenting that girls are truly amazing.

Inquired about my desire for additional children, I, currently a father of three daughters – Natalia, now 21, Gigi and Bianka, now 7 – shared that my wife Vanessa Bryant was open to trying again. Should the fate bestow upon me four girls as my brood, I would eagerly welcome five more if given the chance, for I am a proud ‘girl dad’.

He and Vanessa welcomed daughter Capri in June 2019.

As tears filled her eyes, Duncan, Eva’s mom, ended their conversation, expressing, “When I think about this unfortunate event and the brief time I spent with Kobe Bryant two years ago, I find a tiny bit of solace in knowing that he passed away doing what he cherished most – being a father, specifically a girl dad.”

With that, the #girldad hashtag began trending globally, as fathers and women shared photos using this tag to celebrate their strong family bond. It brought together individuals who might have been mourning but were equally proud of being the fathers of daughters. This heartwarming network was formed by both young girls and older women, all expressing admiration for these men who were cherished as such.

“Alex Rodriguez expressed his immense pride and gratitude in a tweet as a ‘Dad of Girls’, referring to Natasha, 19, and Ella, 16, while he shared a clip from SportsCenter.”

Olympic decathlete Trey Hardee (who became a father to two daughters and a son in October 2020), expressed through Twitter, “Being a girl dad is the most wonderful aspect of my life so far. I wish Kobe Bryant had this experience too. This is what I will remember him by, not his victories, rings, or records. #girldad.”

Furthermore, as Vanessa emotionally and impactfully paid tribute to her husband and daughter at the February 2020 memorial service at Staples Center, in honor of Kobe and Gigi, she affectionately referred to him as “the Most Valuable Dad of Girls,” or simply “MVD.”

Upon the birth of their first child in September 2020, Kobe’s former teammate Pau Gasol and his wife Catherine McDonnell, he swiftly became a member of their family circle.

“At long last, our precious baby girl has been born! The delivery was smooth and nothing could make us more joyful! Here on Instagram, he announced, ‘Welcome to the world, Elisabet Gianna Gasol – a special name for our incredibly beautiful daughter!’ #newdaddy”

Or “#Padredeniña” in Spanish.

Over four years after Kobe’s passing, the hashtag persists as a constant presence on social media platforms. If you’re seeking to feel a warm heart, a brief perusal of the posts tagged with #girldad ought to do the trick.

Kobe may not have originally coined it, but he undeniably contributed significantly to the popularization of the term, and now, it has become firmly established within our cultural vocabulary.

A day following the February 24, 2020, tribute for Kobe, Duncan expressed joy that her recollections sparked a “favorable instance” amidst so much sorrow, yet she didn’t anticipate it would resonate as strongly as it did.

Initially, she hesitated because she thought, “This isn’t about me, it’s about Kobe,” as she reminisced to People. She didn’t know Kobe personally, having only met him once. She felt that people might want to hear from those who knew him closely. However, her producer argued that if Kobe was open with a stranger like herself about his daughters and his love for them, it suggested the kind of person he was.

She additionally expressed that Kobe “made me believe that having a girl was the most wonderful experience imaginable. He effectively challenged the idea or stereotype that men can only achieve fulfillment if they have sons.”

In 2017, the Ohio woman who had trademarked the phrase “GirlDad” and ran an online business selling apparel bearing that term was taken aback when it began trending. This surprise came even though she had previously noticed how resistant some people could be to celebrating families with only daughters.

Hillary Wertin, owner of all daughters.com and also BoyDad products, shared with CantonRep.com in a previous year that she found it surprising when they received numerous negative comments at times. This experience inspired her to venture into the GirlDad business.

In response to the unexpected surge in demand worldwide for their product, causing an increase in orders, Jonas Wertin admitted, “It seems we’ve somehow become part of this nationwide discussion that’s unfolding.”

As a lifestyle expert, I found myself in a delicate situation when the tragic news about Kobe broke. I didn’t want to exploit sorrow for personal gain, but I also saw an opportunity to honor his legacy and support those affected. So, I designed a basketball-themed shirt in the iconic Lakers colors, channeling the spirit of the man we lost. The profits from each sale would go directly to the MambaOnThree Fund, helping the families who suffered the greatest loss in this tragedy.

Additionally, she found it necessary to initiate actions to reinforce her copyright in line with legal requirements, due to an influx of merchandise exploiting the viral trend.

Hilary stated, “I didn’t follow the trend for the sake of doing so, but rather I took action due to my firm belief that empowering all girls is equally significant and impactful as raising a family consisting entirely of boys.”

While daughters and dads from all walks and stages of life have utilized the term, from gestation (lots of excited soon-to-be #girldads out there) to graduation and inauguration (“As a #girldad it’s great to hear glass shatter today,” tweeted a proud papa in January 2021), it remains especially poignant in the athletic community, where Kobe’s legacy looms large.

Furthermore, it’s not just parents who have been grateful for the increased focus on emerging female athletes, with Gigi Bryant being among them as well.

Kami Miner, offspring of ex-NBA player Harold Miner, shared with the Los Angeles Times, “The entire family felt a profound pain when [Kobe] tragically passed away. It was heartening to witness the media’s emphasis on his role as a father and observing these athletes striving to instill the wisdom they garnered in their own children.”

Speaking further on Kobe and his bond with his daughters, it brought attention to female sports which I hope remains a growing trend. There are countless young women excelling in sports, and they truly deserve that recognition. They put in just as much effort as their male counterparts.

Mackenly Randolph, the daughter of two-time NBA All-Star Zach Randolph, was previously coached by Kobe Bryant at the Mamba Sports Academy (now known as Sports Academy, following the retirement of the “Mamba” name). A week before his and Gigi’s tragic death, Mackenly had also taken the same helicopter journey from Newport to Thousand Oaks. According to Mackenly, Kobe mainly instructed her on defensive strategies and player rotation. As a coach, Kobe was known for showing when he was serious or not joking, but he never resorted to yelling at his players.

Zach commented, “He adored those ladies. He cherished my child. He confided in me, ‘I’m fond of her, buddy.’ Upon hearing this, I replied, ‘We’re bound as brothers forever.'”

And he certainly understood where Kobe was coming from. “It’s a great feeling,” Zach, also dad to daughter Maziya as well as three sons, told the Los Angeles Times. “Girl dad, oh man. I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

Keep reading to see more of Kobe Bryant’s MVP moments as a girl dad:

The NBA champion basketball player was pictured with his folks, Joe Bryant and Pamela Bryant, following their victory in the NBA Championship on June 19, 2000.

The duo were all smiles while posing for a portrait in November 2000.

Vanessa showed off her baby bump at the 2019 Baby2Baby Gala in Los Angeles.

On Instagram in December 2019, Kobe posted a message saying, “Happy Third Birthday B.B., I can hardly believe it! We adore you, our sweet little one.”

“My Bianka Bella Bryant (BBB),” Kobe wrote on Instagram back in November 2019.

“Happy Thanksgiving! Thankful for my family!” Kobe wrote via Instagram back in November 2019.

The Bryants dressed up as characters from The Wizard of Oz back in October 2019.

“My Gigi,” Kobe wrote on Instagram back in September 2019.

In 2019, a pair – father and daughter – found themselves seated near the court during the Lakers versus Mavericks matchup at the Staples Center.

In a September 2019 post, Vanessa Bryant astonished me by showing up with our twin babies B.B and KoKo at my book signing event for #legacyandthequeen at Barnes & Noble.

On Instagram in May 2019, Kobe posted: “Happy Mother’s Day, @vanessabryant! We adore you and are grateful for everything you do for our family. You are the cornerstone of all that matters most to us. I love you #mybaby #lioness #mamabear #queenmamba.” (Paraphrased)

Last March, Kobe shared on Instagram that he had an enjoyable visit to UConn Women’s Basketball for a senior night and the retirement ceremony of basketball icon Promise50. He expressed his gratitude towards Gampel Arena, Coach Geno, and everyone else for their warm welcome. Wishing them success in the remainder of their journey.

As a lifestyle expert, let me share an extraordinary moment I recently experienced. Attending a thrilling clash between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks, I found myself standing alongside basketball legends Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. The shared passion for the game was palpable, making it a truly unforgettable experience for me.

Back in 2018, it was Vanessa, Kobe, Natalia, and Gianna who graced the world premiere of “A Wrinkle in Time” in Los Angeles.

2018 post caption: “Unexpected vacation in Cabo for my birthday! #BryantBunch #40 #QueenMamba #Mambacitas” (This version maintains the original’s enthusiasm and use of hashtags, while making the sentence structure more straightforward.)

Kobe and his family members attended a women’s basketball game in Los Angeles back in 2017.

2017 saw Kobe Bryant beaming with joy as he struck poses alongside his loved ones at the ceremony retiring his jersey. Notably, Magic Johnson was among those present on the special occasion.

Kobe attended the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards with Vanessa, Gianna and Natalia in 2016.

Here, the family members were pictured at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Bryant celebrated his major win with his daughter Gianna by his side.

Ready to go! In 2016, before his NBA All-Star Game, the well-known basketball figure received a loving embrace from his daughter.

Back in 2011, Kobe Bryant’s spouse and daughters were present at the event where his hand and footprints were immortalized in Hollywood, California.

Kobe, his wife and their daughters celebrated the Lakers’ NBA championship at Disneyland in 2010.

In 2009, the accomplished basketball player rejoiced over a Lakers win alongside Vanessa and their children during a celebration parade in Los Angeles.

In a 2017 conversation with Extra, I, as a lifestyle aficionado, might say: Back in 2017, during an interview, Kobe affectionately referred to his daughters as his “little princesses.” This endearing title was used by him, and in 2007, photos of him with Vanessa and Natalia were captured, further emphasizing their close bond.

2024-08-23 14:20

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