Kobe Bryant and his daughter met an untimely death on January 26, 2020, when a helicopter carrying them crashed in Calabasas, California, around 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles, en route from John Wayne Airport to Camarillo Airport. Along with them nine other people were killed in the fatal accident. On the occasion of their one month death anniversary, Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant delivered an emotional speech. The speech was attended by a huge gathering at a sold-out memorial service for the two.
The service took place at the downtown arena where Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 17 seasons of his two-decade NBA career. The ceremony began with Beyonce’s singing two of her popular songs XO and Halo. After Jimmy Kimmel, who was the host for the show, welcomed the crowd, Vanessa Bryant’s Emotional Speech began.
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“Thank you all so much for being here, means so much to us. Love you too, said Vanessa to start her speech.” First I would like to thank everyone for coming today. The outpouring of love and support we felt from around the world has been so uplifting.I would like to talk about both Kobe and GG, but I would start with my baby girl first”.
Vanessa on GG
Gianna Bryant was an absolutely sweet gentle soul. She was always thoughtful. She always kissed me good night and good morning. There were days when I was absolutely tired from waking up with my other two childs. I text and say no kiss? and Gianna will reply with “Momma … I kissed you, but you were asleep and I didnt wanna wake you. She knew how important was her morning and night kiss was to me and she remembered to kiss me every day.”
“She was daddy’s girl but she also loved her momma. She would always tell me and show me how much she loved me. She was one of my close friends. GG would have become one of the best players in the WNBA. She would have made a huge difference for women’s basketball. GG was motivated to change the way everyone viewed women in sports.She wrote letters on school on how the unequal pay in the NBA and the WNBA was unfair. GG’s goal was to eventually play in the WNBA.”
Can I imagine life without her, Vanessa Bryant’s emotional speech continued. Mommy, Natalia, Capri, Biyanka and daddy love you so much GG”. I will miss your sweet hand-made cards to sweet kisses and your gorgeous smile.I miss you, all of you everyday. I love you.”
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Vanessa Bryant’s Emotional Speech on Kobe
Vanessa now shifted to Kobe in her emotional speech. ” Kobe was known as a serious competitor on the basketball court. The greatest of all time, a rider, an Oscar winner and the Black Mamba. But to me he was my Kobe Kobe, my boo-boo, my bebo”. He was the early bird and I was the night owl. I was fire. He was ice. Vice versa at times. We balanced each other out.”
Continuing with her speech she said ” I have no idea, how I deserved a man more than Kobe. He was charismatic, a gentleman, he was loving adoring and romantic. He was truly the romantic one in our relationship and looked forward to the valentine’s day and our anniversary every year. He planned special anniversary gifts and special traditional gifts for every year of our marriage. He even hand-made my most treasured gifts. He always thought outside the box and was so thoughtful even while being the best athlete.
We really had an amazing love story. We loved each other with our whole beings. Two perfectly imperfect people making a beautiful family and raising our amazing girls. Kobe was the MVP of girl dads. He never left the toilet seat up. He always told the girls how beautiful and smart they are. he told them how to be brave and how to keep pushing forward when things get tough.” “God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other,” she said. He had to bring them home to have them together. Babe, you take care of our Gigi.”
Coming back to Gianna in her speech she said “Her smile was like sunshine. “Her smile took up her entire face. Like me. Kobe always said she was like me. She had my fire, my personality and sarcasm. She was tender and loving on the inside. She had the best laugh. She had the best laugh. It was infectious. It was pure and genuine.”
Among the crowd who gathered to listen to Vanessa Bryant’s emotional speech were Lakers greats such as Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Pau Gasol. NBA commissioner Adam Silver joined Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson and dozens of current NBA players, including Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook.
Watch: Vanessa Bryant Delivers Heartfelt Eulogy to Kobe Bryant