The news surrounding the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna continues grow more and more heartbreaking by the minute.
Like her father, 13-year-old Gianna Bryant was a basketball enthusiast. According to TMZ, Bryant had recently filed paperwork to trademark the nickname “Mambacita” for Gianna. Kobe’s nickname, of course, was the Black Mamba. The trademark was to use the phrase for apparel. Bryant had included #Mambacita on some of his recent social media posts involving Gianna, including one in November where he complimented Gianna’s teammate Alyssa Altobelli for her defense.
Kobe and Gianna were on their way to basketball practice at the Mamba Academy on Sunday morning when their helicopter crashed. Altobelli and her father, John, were also on board. John Altobelli was the head baseball coach at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California.
Kobe gushed about Gianna during a recent appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” saying that she wanted to play in the WNBA. Bryant spoke about how fans used to come up to him in public and say he had to have a son to carry on the legacy, but Gianna would tell them “I got this.”
Kobe telling our pal Jimmy Kimmel about his daughter Gigi carrying on his legacy.
“I got this!”#RIPKobe pic.twitter.com/VXK0DJRgMI
— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldABC) January 26, 2020
Bryant has three other daughters. Thankfully, none of them or his wife Vanessa were involved in Sunday’s crash.
The tragedy of losing Kobe has been felt worldwide, but it makes it even more painful that children also lost their lives. Gianna and Alyssa had so much more to experience in life and appeared to be destined for success.
More Larry Brown Sports coverage of Kobe Bryant’s death:
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Other victims of the helicopter crash:
– John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash
– Christina Mauser, girls’ basketball coach, among the helicopter crash victims
– Sarah Chester, daughter Payton were also killed in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
– Ara Zobayan was the pilot in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
Tributes to Kobe:
– Dallas Mavericks retire Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 jersey
– Video: Raptors, Spurs start game with amazing tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Shaq posts heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Michael Jordan releases statement on death of ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant
– Video: Doc Rivers breaks down crying talking about Kobe Bryant
– Phil Jackson calls Kobe Bryant ‘a chosen one’ in statement on his death
– NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on death of Kobe Bryant
– Video: Dwyane Wade posts emotional message reacting to Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kendrick Perkins extends olive branch to Kevin Durant after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Video: Emotional Mike Breen sums up NBA world’s emotions about Kobe Bryant’s death
– Trae Young’s huge game was full of Kobe Bryant-related statistical coincidences
More coverage:
– Video: Kobe Bryant helicopter audio released
– Media errors, rumors, poor judgment run rampant in reporting of Kobe Bryant news
– NBA postpones Tuesday’s Lakers-Clippers game after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kobe Bryant recently filed for ‘Mambacita’ trademark for daughter Gianna
– Kobe Bryant checked in on Shaq’s son Shareef morning of helicopter crash
– No, Rick Fox did not die in helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Gianna Bryant
– Lakers fans start memorial to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center
– Kobe Bryant’s last tweet was congratulating LeBron James on passing him
– Sports world stunned over Kobe Bryant news
– Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash – dead at 41
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