Kobe Bryant was not just a legendary basketball player, he was a beloved husband and a father.
Though he was, of course, known for his iconic basketball career, Kobe was first and foremost a family man.
Jan. 26, 2021 marks the one-year anniversary of when the NBA star and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant — and seven others — were killed in a helicopter accident. He was 41.
IIn honor of the “girl dad,” we look back at his life with wife Vanessa Bryant and their daughters.
Kobe met Vanessa during a music video shoot in 1999 while she was still in high school and he was just 20 years old. They got engaged when she turned 18, and they got married in April 2001. Kobe shared a picture of the day they met on Instagram in April 2013.
“This pic is the day I asked @ladyvb24 for her number 11/28/99,” he wrote. “Thru the ups and downs she has been my love and best friend. 20 and 17 yrs old when we met, we have actually grown up together. A true honor and a blessing. Ti Amo Queen Mamba
Of course, it wasn’t exactly a fairy tale. Kobe’s parents didn’t approve of the wedding and didn’t attend the ceremony in Dana Point, California, and remained estranged from their son for years. Then, in 2003, he was accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman at a Colorado hotel. Kobe admitted he was unfaithful to Vanessa, but vehemently denied sexually assaulting the woman and said their interaction was consensual. The criminal case against him was eventually dismissed when the woman declined to continue with the case, and through it all, Vanessa stood by his side, infamously receiving an eight-carat purple diamond ring worth $4 million after the scandal.
At a press conference held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Vannesa sat by Kobe as he professed his love to her.
“I sit here in front of you guys furious at myself, disgusted at myself for making the mistake of adultery,” he said. “I love my wife with all my heart. She’s my backbone.”
But whatever personal issues Kobe and Vanessa may have had, they remained 100 percent committed to their family. Bryant welcomed his eldest child — now 18-year-old daughter, Natalia — in 2003. The couple would go on to have three more daughters — Gianna, 4-year-old Bianka and 1-year-old Capri.
Clearly, Kobe’s daughters were his life. He often proudly posted pictures of his kids on Instagram and supported their interests — whether it be basketball or ballet.
