January 26, 2020, was undeniably the biggest of shockers for the basketball realm and beyond. The sentiments continue to persist as Kobe Bryant gets a second statue unveiled in his honor, four years after the fatal crash. But this one remains a little more special as Gigi, his daughter, makes the whole of it; after meeting an end too soon of what would have been a promising basketball career and a bright life beside.

Gianna “Gigi” Bryant was just 13 years old when the crash claimed her life alongside Kobe and seven others. She was born on May 1, 2006, in Orange County, California and almost seemed destined to be a hooper. “Hey I got this,” were Gigi’s words when Kobe was approached to be told he needed a son to carry on his legacy.

The second child of the Bryant family was relentless in standing by her words. She had a maturity and drive that set her apart from others her age. “Gigi was definitely the type of player that would not back down from any challenge,” the 13-year-old’s teammate, Kat Righeimer said. Gigi attended Sierra Canyon School, a private institution in Chatsworth, California while also being a part of the Mamba Sports Academy.

She wished to make it to UConn and the WNBA one day and Kobe was all in for it. He’d train her team at the Mamba Academy and even took her to UConn basketball games. Unsurprisingly, it was she who sparked an interest in women’s sports in Kobe. “Before Gigi got into basketball, I hardly watched it (in retirement),” Kobe had said on All The Smoke podcast. In watching the basketball games through her eyes since, and heeding to her interests, Kobe’s mannerisms were reflected in Gigi.

“I feel like Gigi played a lot like Coach Bryant and you could see watching film of her how some of the mannerisms were the same,” Righeimer corroborated. Though heavily influenced by her father, Gigi idolized Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, and even Trae Young. She also shared a doting bond with New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu who isn’t just a UConn alum but also trained Gigi in her later years. The Liberty guard has honored the younger Bryant numerous times, wearing a bracelet with her number or customized jerseys during games.

One other person who continues to remember Gigi through similar ways is Shaquille O’Neal’s youngest daughter, Me’Arah. The two were born just six minutes apart and shared a bond ever so close. Today, as Me’Arah continues on a new chapter as a part of the Florida Gators basketball roster, she carries her late friend with her, wearing no.2 (Gigi’s number). “Always,” she had iterated when a fan commented, “Play 4 Gigi Always,” on her number reveal. Beside basketball and the connections it brought, Gigi seemed to have the best of life with her family.

Gigi Bryant’s forever summery life, family by her side

The 13-year-old was very big on TikTok dances and often showed it off with her three sisters – Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. The middle one is carrying on her legacy today, already excelling at shooting aged 7 and under the mentorship of Sabrina. But she still remains in the memories of each, every day.

Away from the sport, Gigi loved baking. Venessa once revealed, she’d bake birthday cakes and her favorite choco chip cookies. The most memorable one remains a cake that looked like ‘it had blue agate crystals’ she baked for, what was, Kobe’s last birthday.

“Cupcake Wars,” thus, naturally was one of her favorite shows, while “Survivors” and “NBA on TNT,” also held their places in the top. Gigi saved the Disney movies to be watched with her sisters.

While the whole family shared a doting bond, Venessa says “Kobe and Gianna naturally gravitated towards each other.” The 13-year-old was competitive, had the ability to listen to a song and memorize the lyrics, and was incredibly athletic just like her father. But she was also soft, had the best hugs, kept the family together, and had an “adorable sly side smile followed with a grin and a burst of laughter.” 

She now lives not just through her family’s memories but through the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, renamed in honor of her and her father. Through her friends and mentors, through the Day School that retired no.2, through UConn that placed a jersey bearing No. 2, on their bench in her memory, and through countless more. “Her smile was like sunshine,” Venessa reminisces and may it continue to be remembered so.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us in the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.