Current:Home > MyVanessa Bryant Returns to Lakers Arena for First Time Since Kobe and Gianna's Memorial -GlobalTrade
Vanessa Bryant Returns to Lakers Arena for First Time Since Kobe and Gianna's Memorial
View
Date:2025-04-17 02:21:30
Vanessa Bryant has returned to The House That Kobe Built.
For the first time since husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant's public memorial service, the wife of the late Lakers legend visited Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Vanessa celebrated close friend (and Kobe's teammate) Pau Gasol as the Lakers retired his number on March 7. Before watching his jersey go to the rafters alongside her late husband's, the businesswoman shared a message on how much Pau had meant to Kobe.
"Pau was special to Kobe as a teammate as a man and as a friend," she said in an introductory video, going on to use the nickname her spouse used to call his pal. "Pablo, Kobe predicted you and he would be together in the rafters."
The Lakers then played a throwback video of Kobe praising Pau. Afterwards, Pau gave a speech in which he paid tribute to his late friend.
"I can't go on without talking about the person and the face that I don't see, the brother that elevated me, inspired me, challenged me to be a better player, just to be a better man overall," the retired center/forward said. "I miss him so much like many of us do."
Pau then expressed how he wished Kobe and Gianna, also known as "Gigi," could be there.
"But I think he'll be proud," he continued. "And he was looking forward to this moment. So, love you, brother."
The last time Vanessa was at Crypto.com Arena was when she attended Kobe and Gianna's memorial service in February 2020. The service took place about one month after Kobe, Gianna and seven others died in a California helicopter crash.
Since their passings, Vanessa—who is also mom to daughters Natalia, 20; Bianka, 6, and Capri, 3—has continued to honor Kobe and Gianna's legacies, writing on Instagram for his birthday in August, "I love you and miss you so much!"
During a jersey retirement press conference, Pau reflected on how Kobe impacted him as a player.
"He definitely inspired me and showed me what it took to be the best player that you could be, the work ethic, the dedication, the mindset going into it," he said. "He challenged me to be better with his actions, with his work. He was very, I think intentional with his actions. I was in. I was all the way in. So, I would go as far as he would want me to go, and I wanted to win. It was a very special time and very special years."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (467)
Related
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Nightengale's Notebook: Cody Bellinger's revival with Cubs has ex-MVP primed for big payday
- What to stream this week: Indiana Jones, ‘One Piece,’ ‘The Menu’ and tunes from NCT and Icona Pop
- Takeaways from AP’s investigation into sexual harassment and assault at Antarctica’s McMurdo Station
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- White Sox say they weren’t aware at first that a woman injured at game was shot
- Kentucky high school teens charged with terroristic threats after TikTok challenge
- Former Alabama deputy gets 12 years for assaulting woman stopped for broken tag light
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Some wildfire evacuations end in British Columbia, but fire threatens community farther north
Ranking
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Inter Miami vs. New York Red Bulls recap: Messi scores electric goal in 2-0 victory
- Ten-hut Time Machine? West Point to open time capsule possibly left by cadets in the 1820s
- Here's Your Invite to Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey's Wedding Date Details
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Members of US Congress make a rare visit to opposition-held northwest Syria
- Love, war and loss: How one soldier in Ukraine hopes to be made whole again
- Verstappen eyes ninth straight F1 win after another Dutch GP pole. Norris second fastest
Recommendation
Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
A gang in Haiti opens fire on a crowd of parishioners trying to rid the community of criminals
Massive emergency alert test will sound alarms on US cellphones, TVs and radios in October
Liam Payne postpones South American tour due to serious kidney infection
Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
Kremlin says claims it ordered Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's death an absolute lie
To stop wildfires, residents in some Greek suburbs put their own money toward early warning drones
What to stream this week: Indiana Jones, ‘One Piece,’ ‘The Menu’ and tunes from NCT and Icona Pop