Russell Wilson adores Kobe Bryant. There’s perhaps no other sportsperson that he looks up to as much as he does Bryant. The Wilsons and the Bryants were friends beyond sports as well. But the Maker decided to separate them too soon. On January 26, a fatal helicopter crash took the lives of the NBA GOAT and his daughter.

Four years later, he still lives on in Russell’s heart. In fact, he paid tribute to him on his death anniversary. As he faces some of the toughest weeks of his life, he takes refuge in Bryant’s memory.

Russell Wilson remembers Black Mamba

A collage that would’ve brought tears to any Kobe fan’s eyes. It consisted of two pictures of Bryant with Gigi. One when she was a wee little girl. And in the second, posing for the camera with her father. The caption that Wilson used pretty much summarises everyone’s sentiments. “Forever in our hearts ❤️🐍”

However, he had also shared a story before that. In it, he had shared a Kobe reel. Black Mamba could be heard saying, “He swings big. He misses big.” He was actually quoting Babe Ruth, the baseball GOAT. Maybe Wilson wants to tell the world he is like that as well. He may have tanked with the Broncos, but he will soon rise.

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Moreover, the relationship between Bryant and Wilson goes beyond sports. And it’s not just the two. Both of their families are pretty close to each other as well.

The Bryants’ relationship with the Wilsons

Their families are intertwined in a close-knit bond. How so? Late Kobe Bryant’s daughter, Natalia, affectionately regards Wilson and his wife, Ciara, as her uncle and aunt. And it’s a two-way street. The Wilsons consistently display acts of affection towards the Bryants. They even sent Natalia flowers when she started college. And then when she finished it, they were there too. The Wilsons were part of her prom as well.

The Broncos’ QB openly declares Bryant as his idol. Now that he is gone, he pays his respect in different ways. From sharing Kobe reels to donning his jersey. Ciara too! She can often be seen sporting Mambacita attire at sports events. When the Bryants were mourning their loss, the Wilsons were beside them. To comfort and console them.

As Wilson enters the offseason, can he imbibe the Mamba Mentality as well? There can be no better way to show his love and respect for Bryant than that.

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