Kobe Bryant Remembered on What Would’ve Been His 47th Birthday by Wife Vanessa and Daughter Natalia: ‘Love and Miss You’

Kobe Bryant is being remembered by loved ones on what would’ve been his 47th birthday.

The late athlete’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, and their eldest daughter, Natalia Bryant, shared tributes for Kobe on Instagram on Saturday, Aug. 23 — following his January 2020 death, when he and 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant were killed in a helicopter crash.

Sharing a photograph of herself kissing Kobe on the cheek during a European getaway, Vanessa, 43, wrote in her caption, “We love and miss you and Gigi so much. Sending our love to you. Happy birthday, baby.”

Natalia, 22, for her part, shared a silly snapshot of herself and her athlete father mimicking a nearby statue. “Happy Birthday Daddy,” she wrote with the image, adding a single red heart emoji.

Pau Gasol, Kobe’s close friend and former Los Angeles Lakers teammate, also honored the NBA star with his own post, writing, “Happy Birthday, hermano. I miss you and love you always ❤️,” alongside a throwback photo of the pair mid-game.

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Along with Natalia and Gigi, Kobe and Vanessa are also parents to daughters Bianka, 8, Capri, 6.

Earlier this month, on Aug. 8, the Bryant family honored Kobe when he was celebrated with his very own bobble head from the Los Angeles Dodgers. (The date paid tribute to the jersey number the athlete wore for the first half of his career.)

The youngest Bryant girls participated in activities at the event, with Bianka throwing out the first pitch to player Freddie Freeman, while Capri made the traditional pre-game announcement of: “It’s time for Dodgers baseball!”

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Last year, Vanessa marked what would’ve been her husband’s 46th birthday by sharing a sweet throwback photo on Instagram.

“Happy birthday @kobebryant . I love you for now, forever & for always. ❤️,” the caption of the 2024 post read.