When Napheesa Collier last saw Gigi Bryant, the two were playing a little one-on-one at her father Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Academy. “She was just like him,” shared the 4x WNBA All-Star. According to Collier, Bryant’s daughter, at just 13 years old, was more “competitive” than some WNBA players. Who else could offer these insights better?

The relationship between Napheesa Collier and the Bryant family runs deep. In fact, they still share a close bond, with Vanessa Bryant often seen cheering for Collier from the sidelines. The last time she was spotted supporting Collier off the court was at the 2024 Olympics, alongside her daughters. But do you know how it all began?

“Yeah, so Gigi was a huge fan of UConn, and that’s where I first met them,” Collier shared during the latest episode of ‘Podcast P with Paul George’. At that time, Kobe frequently brought his daughter to the NCAA Women’s Final Four, where Collier played for the Huskies. The bond, however, grew stronger when Collier’s husband got the opportunity to coach the girls.

One summer, when Collier was in L.A., she texted Kobe, saying, “I’m in L.A., if Gigi ever wants to work out, let me know.” Spending time in L.A. was common for her since her husband, Alex Bazzell, was a skilled coach who worked with NBA and WNBA players. When she arrived, the Bryants were impressed with her training. “The workout I did turn out to just be me working out and all the girls watching,” she recalled.

Soon after, Kobe called Bazzell, who missed the call. However, Kobe left him a message, saying, “I absolutely loved your workout. I love what you’re doing. Train the girls.” How could Alex pass up such an opportunity? He began coaching the girls three times a week, with Collier there supporting her husband all through.

Bazell trained Gigi and her team from 2018-2020. He also went on to help run various camps for the LA Lakers star at Mamba Academy — established to create positive impact for underserved athletes. This bore an impact on Bazzell in return.

“So learning from Kobe, women’s basketball is a huge part of my life every day,” he shared once. But, the legacy wasn’t meant to be continued by the father-daughter duo as the two lost their lives in a tragic helicopter crash in 2020. So for him, the goal was to honor the legacy of his late friend. And, what else could have been better than promoting WNBA while advocating equality and inclusion for women in sports?

But it wasn’t just Bazzell lending a helping hand

Just like Bazzell, Kobe Bryant also shared his expertise with Alex’s wife Collier during the training sessions. He often broke down her gameplay during Huskies matchups. “He’d be like, ‘Okay, you have to know the shot clock. You have to count down in your head because she can’t go to the basket after a certain number of seconds. So you’re counting down, five, four.” The advice didn’t stop there.

He even encouraged the girls to press opponents to prevent them from taking “that shot.” Whenever Kobe attended Collier’s games, their post-game debrief was routine. “the way he saw the game, things you’d think of in real time—being able to pick his brain like that was amazing.”

But, tragically, all of Kobe’s excellence was cut short. Both Gigi and Kobe Bryant were among nine who lost their lives in California. “Just extreme sadness,’‘ she said. Collier, who shared a strong bond with them, was one of those deeply affected by the loss. For her, Kobe’s influence is something everyone is lucky to witness.

“he’s such a legend. Such an icon. Someone who changed the men’s game so much the fact that he’s openly rooting for women’s game. I think really helped elevate it and help other people,” she told in a Player FM interview. A tough loss to bear, but Collier and Bazzell continue to carry the memories with them.