Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant is one of the NBA’s most significant competitors. The five-time NBA champion inspired a generation of fans and younger players with his relentless pursuit of greatness. Bryant’s Mamba Mentality became the standard that millions of athletes aspired to.
The tragic passing of Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and several family friends in a plane crash remains hard to fathom for many, and the NBA community paid tribute on the six-year anniversary of the unfortunate accident.
Kobe Bryant and Daughter Gianna Honored in Multiple Tributes
Eight-time All-Star and Hall of Fame Vince Carter reflected on the tragedy, posting on X: “Rest easy Kobe Bean and Gigi the world truly misses you both.”
Bryant and Carter have a close bond, playing on the same AAU team as children. The slam dunk champions were also two of the NBA’s most popular stars in the post-Michael Jordan era in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as they made millions of fans with their highlight-reel dunks and scoring.
Rest easy Kobe Bean and Gigi the world truly misses you both…🫱🏾🫲🏽 pic.twitter.com/O3oY5bBrJ7
— Vince Carter (@mrvincecarter15) January 26, 2026
One of Bryant’s significant investments heading into the next chapter of his life was supporting a new media entity, the Players’ Tribune. The media entity also paid tribute on X, saying: “In memory of Kobe, Gianna, John, Keri, Alyssa, Christina, Sarah, Payton, and Ara.”
Gianna, former college baseball coach John Altobelli’s daughter Alyssa, and Sarah Chester’s daughter Payton were teammates on the Mamba Sports Academy basketball team.
Altobelli’s wife, Keri, and Mamba Sports Academy assistant coach, Christina Mauser, were also on board when the helicopter carrying the party to Ventura County, California, for a basketball tournament crashed.
In memory of Kobe, Gianna, John, Keri, Alyssa, Christina, Sarah, Payton and Ara. 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/NMtaPpxvE8
— The Players’ Tribune (@PlayersTribune) January 26, 2026
Complex Sports also paid tribute on X, saying, “Today marks 6 years since we lost Kobe and Gigi Rest in Peace to Mamba and Mambacita.”
Today marks 6 years since we lost Kobe and Gigi 💜♾️
Rest in Peace to Mamba & Mambacita 💕🐍 pic.twitter.com/Qf0H017Nxa
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) January 26, 2026
Sports author Tommy Beer said, “Ugh, can’t believe it’s been six years since we lost Kobe. Always happy to share this incredibly poignant anecdote that Mike Breen shared on this day 6 years ago. Underscores the type of love, admiration, and emotion Kobe Bryant elicited from fans all over the World.”
Ugh, can’t believe it’s been six years since we lost Kobe…
Always happy to share this incredibly poignant anecdote that Mike Breen shared on this day 6 years ago.
Underscores the type of love, admiration and emotion Kobe Bryant elicited from fans all over the world.
Still… pic.twitter.com/dHtaX6G4KI
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) January 26, 2026
Beer shared a clip of sports broadcaster Mike Breen recalling that his can driver during the 2008 Olympics in China started crying just from being able to interact with someone who knew Bryant. Bryant’s impact on the NBA remains strong.
