4 years 6 months and 29 days! That’s how long the sports world has felt the void left by Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, who tragically passed away in a helicopter crash with 10 others in Calabasas, California. Despite their absence, their legacy continues to resonate, with NFL celebrities like Kayla Nicole and Russell Wilson joining the world in paying tribute to the basketball legend on his special day!

Travis Kelce’s former girlfriend, Kayla Nicole, shared an Instagram story on August 23, 2024, to celebrate Bryant’s birth anniversary. She posted a series of pictures of him, writing, “He would have been 46 today. Happy Birthday Bean!” She also uploaded another photo from the past, showing her posing with the basketball star during an ESPN event. To mark Kobe Bryant’s big day, Nicole wrote, “I just want to witness our legends grow old.”

Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia. As his birthday approached, many took to social media to honor the late NBA player with emotional tributes. Before Nicole, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson also shared an Instagram story wishing late Bryant a happy birthday. Uploading Bryant’s post-game celebration photo, Wilson captioned it: “Happy Bday Bean Forever Legendary! Mamba Forever.”

Besides Wilson and Nicole, sports figures like LeBron James, Magic Johnson, and others also wished the Lakers’ “heart & soul” on his 46th birthday. MLB star Jack Flaherty also “pulled up to the Dodgers game wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey” on August 23. Even Russell Wilson’s wife, Ciara Wilson, who is currently on her Out of This World Tour, re-shared her husband’s IG story as a tribute to the legendary star.

A couple of weeks ago, Ciara also shared an IG story to send her warm love to Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, on a very significant day.

Trying to keep Kobe Bryant alive!

Four years after Kobe Bryant and his daughter’s passing, Vanessa Bryant announced in February that three statues would be created to pay tribute to him. The first one, showcasing Kobe in his No. 8 jersey, was revealed before a Lakers game against the Denver Nuggets. The second statue was unveiled outside the Crypto.com Arena.

This statue captured an emotional moment between Kobe and Gianna from the past, where both can be seen side-hugging each other during an NBA game. Sharing this on her IG story, Ciara Wilson expressed her love for Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, and their daughters. She wrote, “Love you guys so much,” showing her deep support for her friend. That story also featured Vanessa with daughters Natalia, Bianka, and Capri, standing proudly in front of the statue.

According to the rumors, the third and final statue of Kobe Bryant might be unveiled during the 2024-25 season.

Besides that, do NOT MISS out on our conversation with Chris Gronkowski, at the Dual Threat Show with BG12!