Vanessa Bryant is commemorating her husband Kobe Bryant on what would have been his 45th birthday on Wednesday.
Vanessa, aged 41, expressed birthday wishes to the late basketball icon in a heartfelt post on Instagram, accompanied by vintage photos capturing their shared moments over the years. She wrote, "Happy birthday, my love. You will always have my heart. ❤️ #82378," using the hashtag to reference his birthdate.
Kobe and Vanessa were united in marriage for twenty years, their journey beginning when they first met on the set of a music video in 1999, when Kobe was 20 and Vanessa was 17. Their wedding took place on April 18, 2001, in Dana Point, California. Their family expanded with the birth of daughters Natalia in 2003 and Gianna in 2006. Following Kobe's retirement from a remarkable 20-season career in the NBA, announced through a poem on The Players' Tribune on November 29, 2015, he and Vanessa welcomed two more daughters: Bianka in 2016 and Capri in 2019.
Tragedy struck in January 2020, as Kobe, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, six of her basketball teammates and parents, along with the pilot, lost their lives in a devastating helicopter crash.
Additionally, on the same Wednesday, Vanessa introduced the new Kobe Bryant 8 Protro sneaker that she had designed. Nike explained on their website, "The Halo concept will be an annual release that will honor and celebrate this special date."
Vanessa also showcased a black-and-white teaser clip of the sneaker on her Instagram, writing in the caption, "Kobe 8 'Halo' 8.23.23 🤍 This will be one of many Kobe 8 'Halo' styles coming soon 🤍."
In March 2021, Vanessa shared how her daughters play a significant role in helping her cope with the pain and finding strength amidst heartbreak and grief. She noted, "This pain is beyond words, but you have to rise and keep moving forward. Remaining in bed and shedding tears won't alter the reality that my family will never be the same. However, getting up and facing the day contributes to making it better for my girls and for myself. So that's what I strive to do."
Regarding the notion of "finding light amidst darkness," Vanessa also expressed how the legacies of her late daughter and husband continue to thrive. "It's hard to explain, but Kobe and Gigi encourage me to persist. They motivate me to exert more effort and improve each day. Their love knows no bounds, and they inspire me in countless ways," she stated.