Kobe Bryant’s admirers and family members are paying tribute to him today, August 23, which would have been his 44th birthday. The famous athlete, who was also a husband and father of four children, died on January 26, 2020, along with his daughter Gianna and seven other people in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, as previously reported by REVOLT.
Vanessa, Kobe’s wife, paid her late husband a brief yet heartfelt tribute. Happy birthday, little one! I miss you so much and I love you! “#44,” she captioned a photo on Instagram. The two can be seen smiling and hugging in a picture. The image, according to TMZ, was taken in 2009, the year Kobe won his fourth NBA championship and his first MVP award in the NBA Finals. Having been married since April 2001, the couple. ESPN also recalled the legend with affection. “A legendary final contest. Today would have been Kobe Bryant’s 44th birthday, they wrote in a tweet. A video of Kobe’s final game before retiring was included in the homage, in which JAY-Z and actor Jack Nicholson (The Shining, Batman) can be seen celebrating.
JAY-Z’s Roc Nation Sports also shared a few touching words: “Remembering @KobeBryant on his Birthday. Thank you for inspiring us every day. Mamba Forever,” they wrote. A video montage showing the highlights of the Lakers champion plays on a loop. One fan page shared footage of Kobe celebrating a past birthday with family and teammates. “LeBron and Team USA sing Happy Birthday to Kobe Bryant during the 2008 Olympics,” the post reads.
Kobe was one of the few NBA players to spend his entire career with one team. For 20 seasons, Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers. Following his death, the organization expressed its heartfelt condolences in an Instagram post. “We are devastated and have been forever changed by the sudden loss of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna,” it began.
They added, “We send our love to Vanessa, the Bryant family, and to the families of the other passengers. Words cannot express what Kobe means to the Los Angeles Lakers, our fans, and our city. More than a basketball player, he was a beloved father, husband, and teammate. Their love and light will remain in our hearts forever.”