Vanessa Bryant honored her late husband, Kobe Bryant, with a deeply emotional Father’s Day post that stirred hearts across social media. She shared a beautiful family photo and a short but powerful message that reminded fans of the strong bond the Lakers legend shared with his daughters.
While the world continues to remember Kobe for his basketball greatness, Vanessa’s post revealed the quieter, more personal side of the man his family still misses dearly.
Vanessa Bryant’s Heartfelt Message Shows Her Deep Love for Kobe Bryant
This Father’s Day, Vanessa marked the occasion by sharing a throwback photo of Kobe surrounded by three of their daughters — Natalia Diamanté, Bianka Bella, and Gianna Maria-Onore. In the picture, Vanessa was pregnant with their youngest daughter, Capri.
Along with the image, Vanessa wrote: “Happy Father’s Day @kobebryant are so missed. We love you so much. #GirlDad”
Interestingly, the same photo had once been posted by Kobe himself, back on May 13, 2019. On that day, he celebrated Vanessa on Mother’s Day with a loving message. “Happy Mother’s Day @vanessabryant we love you and thank you for all that you do for our family. You are the foundation of all that we hold dear. I love you”
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This exchange of messages, years apart, shows how deeply rooted their love and appreciation for one another were. Vanessa’s tribute is a reminder of the legacy Kobe built beyond basketball.
Since the tragic helicopter crash in January 2020 that claimed the lives of Kobe and their daughter Gianna, Vanessa has stood as the emotional pillar of the Bryant family. She has remained in the public eye, building on Kobe’s legacy through philanthropy, brand initiatives, and family milestones.
But Father’s Day has remained a deeply emotional time for the Bryant family. In June 2020, just five months after Kobe’s passing, Vanessa posted her first tribute on Instagram without him. She wrote:
“Happy Father’s Day to the BEST daddy in the world. We miss you so much. We love you forever and always. Love, Nani, Gigi, BB, Koko and VB. #BestOfTheBest #GirlDad.”
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She has kept the tradition alive since then. Last year, on June 16, 2024, Vanessa posted another photo showing Kobe holding all four of their daughters, including baby Capri. In that post, she added:
“Happy Father’s Day to the best daddy @kobebryant. #MostValuableGirlDad ❤️❤️❤️❤️ #GirlDad”
Vanessa and Kobe first met in 1999 on the set of a music video “K.O.B.E.” with Tyra Banks while Kobe was in his third season with the Lakers. They married in 2001, and their love story became one of the most admired off-court relationships in the sports world.
Each year, Vanessa has used Father’s Day to keep Kobe’s memory alive through the warmth of their family’s shared memories. Her messages continue to resonate with those who followed Kobe’s career and admired him as a father just as much as a basketball icon.