Gianna “Gigi” Bryant died in 2020 along with her father, Kobe Bryant, in a tragic helicopter crash. Four years later, her mother, Vanessa, paid her a heartfelt tribute on what would have been Gigi’s 18th birthday, organizing a basketball camp for boys and girls.
Gigi, whose birthday was May 1, left a permanent mark on the hearts of her family and friends. After the accident, Vanessa and her other daughters, Natalia, 21; Bianka, 7; and Capri, 4, have kept the memory of the young Bryant alive with repeated tributes and charitable activities.
On this occasion, the Bryant family, the USC women’s basketball team, the Los Angeles Lakers, Nike, and the West San Gabriel Valley Boys and Girls Club (WSGVBGC) came together to provide a mini-training camp in the UCLA Training Center facilities.
In a video on her social media, Vanessa announced the activity “In honor of Gianna’s 18th birthday.” According to Bryant, the camp aimed to “share my daughter’s PLAY GIGI ‘S WAY spirit for boys and girls from local LA community organizations.”
Mambacita’s legacy
The Skills Academy Basketball brought together more than 100 boys and girls from various counties in California, who had the opportunity to take classes with some outstanding coaches. In addition, they received several gifts and souvenirs from the Mamba & Mambacita Sports foundation.
During the camp, Vanessa and her daughters handed out number 2 jerseys, which bore the names Mamba, on the front, and Mambacita, on the back, in honor of Gigi and Kobe Bryant’s nicknames. They also gifted the kids basketballs, caps, and Nike Kobe 8 Mambacita sneakers.
In a second video posted on her Instagram account, Vanessa said, “We are grateful to our dedicated partners @nikeLA, @uscwbb, and all the coaches who made the day extra special #GiannaBryant #MAMBACITA # PlayGigisWay #2.”
The kids were the winners
For its part, the WSGVBGC indicated, “A few of our members were selected by Nike Coaches for outstanding performances and were gifted a Gigi Bryant jersey! This really is a special honor to recognize and remember her legacy today as well. Thank you for this amazing opportunity partnership.”
Meanwhile, the University of Southern California basketball team reposted Vanessa’s original message as a sign of gratitude and respect for the effort she has put into sharing the legacy of her late daughter and husband.
