Gary Payton Gives a Harrowing Take on the life of Kobe Bryant’s Widow Vanessa

Back in 2020, the tragic loss of Kobe Bryant shocked the entire basketball world. It’s been over two years since the incident and his absence is felt to this day. Fans around the world mourn his loss, and the basketball community pays tribute to Kobe in every way possible. But the person affected most was his wife, Vanessa Bryant.

Vanessa lost her husband and her beloved daughter, Gianna Bryant, in the tragic helicopter accident. She was only 13 at the time of the incident. Losing your kid at a very young age would have been devastating for Vanessa. Gianna had just started playing basketball, and Kobe was her coach.

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The father and daughter duo attended many NBA games and Kobe used to mentor his young daughter. Upon her passing, Vanessa had created the Mambacita academy for young girls to learn and play basketball. But the loss she faced would have been very hard and a former teammate of Kobe gives an insight into her pain.

Gary Payton gives his take on what the widow of Kobe Bryant would have gone through

Gary Payton was a teammate of Kobe Bryant during his Lakers years and he gives his thoughts on the tragic loss of Kobe Bryant. He says his wife would have felt the most pain. Payton adds, “Yeah, you know… it’s gonna be tough for Vanessa to not see her go to her senior ball, not to see her put her gown on or get married or have grandbabies.”

“That’s the craziest thing about it, and especially not to be around Kobe anymore. You’re used to waking up to him every day and doing the same thing going to get her, get in car, get her coffee, and he taken the girls to school and picking them up. And you’ve seen that phone call from him every day, that what they did? You know, I’m saying so that’s at that’s a big change, too.”

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Not having Kobe and her daughter, Gianna, would be as tough for Vanessa as it would be for anyone. She has been strong, and she has advocated for social causes in her daughter’s name. Vanessa has tried to keep up the Black Mamba’s name and uphold it, and so far, she seems to be doing a good job.