Ever since Kobe Bryant and his daughter died in January 2020, Vanessa Bryant has received a huge wave of support from the basketball community and Pau Gasol is the latest to make a gesture to the widow as the NBA legend presented her with an emotional gift.
Gasol and Bryant shot hoops together with the Los Angeles Lakers between 2008-2014 as they became two-time NBA champions in a successful period spurred on by their excellent partnership and the Spanish baller has never forgot the impact of the Black Mamba on his career.
Caitlin Clark and Iowa receive special gift from Vanessa Bryant
The 43-year-old, who retired from the NBA in 2019, has rallied around Bryant‘s family since the fateful accident four years ago as he has gone on vacation with them, sends Vanessa Bryant Valentine’s Day gifts and has been a very close friend.
Now his latest action has been in memory of the couple’s daughter, Gianna Bryant, who also died in the helicopter crash in California as what would have been her 17th birthday passed on May 1, 2024.
Gasol, who also turned out for the Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and the Milwaukee Bucks, celebrated her life and memory by sending the grief-stricken mother white flowers with purple butterflies decorating them, she revealed on Instagram.
How did Kobe Bryant die?
Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020 when the helicopter he was traveling in, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, California, under foggy conditions.
The group was en route to a basketball tournament at Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy. The Sikorsky S-76B helicopter departed from John Wayne Airport in Orange County and was headed to Thousand Oaks.
The accident resulted in the loss of all nine lives onboard. Kobe’s death sent shockwaves around the world, with an outpouring of grief from fans, fellow athletes, and celebrities who were all touched by his work ethic, determination, and philanthropy.
The exact cause of the crash was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), who later determined that the crash was likely caused by the pilot’s decision to fly into clouds, which resulted in spatial disorientation.
The pilot, Ara Zobayan, was experienced and certified, but the weather conditions on the day of the accident were challenging resulting in the tragic incident.
