Jan. 26, 2021 marks the one-year anniversary of the untimely deaths of Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.
The NBA legend and doting father of four died with Gianna in a helicopter crash while reportedly on their way to the Mamba Academy near Thousand Oaks, California, for basketball practice. There were nine people on the helicopter — including Kobe, Gianna, the pilot and six other passengers — and no survivors.
Gianna — Kobe’s second-oldest daughter, whom he affectionately called GiGi — was a student at Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles, California, and Kobe often proudly talked about Gianna having a similar passion for basketball. Gianna definitely appeared poised to carry on her father’s basketball legacy and he couldn’t have been prouder of her progress.
The teen was nicknamed “Mambacita” after Kobe’s “Black Mamba” moniker and clearly, Kobe already had big plans for Gianna, who had dreams of making it to the WNBA. ET learned that less than a month before the two tragically died, Kobe filed a “Mambacita” trademark for Gianna.
Like with all of his children, Kobe often posted about Gianna on social media, happily showing off her basketball games, and other milestones.
