Vanessa Bryant, the late Kobe Bryant’s wife, has nothing but praise for her father-in-law.
Following Joe Bryant’s death, the mother of four publicly honored him.
‘s passing with a heartfelt remark on her social media profile.
Vanessa Bryant’s father-in-law passed away at the age of 69 following a stroke, four years after the devastating deaths of his son Kobe Bryant and granddaughter Gigi Bryant.
Vanessa Bryant Wishes Things Were Different During Tribute
The businesswoman posted a quick tribute on her Instagram account when La Salle University’s head coach, Fran Dunphy, confirmed the death of the former 6’9 forward. Vanessa writes:
“We send our sympathies on the demise of my father-in-law. We wished things had been different. Despite the short time we spent together, he was always lovely and pleasant to be around. Kobe cared deeply for him. Our prayers are with the family.”
Joe had an outstanding basketball career, as did his late son, according to The Blast. He played basketball at both Bartram High School and La Salle University, where he averaged more than 20 points and 11 rebounds.
The athlete won the Public League Player of the Year award in 1972 and played in the NBA for eight seasons, beginning as a first-round draft pick by the Golden State Warriors in 1975, but his rights were sold to the 76ers less than four months later.
Inside Joe’s Journey Through Eight Seasons In The NBA
The basketball icon played four seasons for the 76ers, his local team. He subsequently came off the bench for the Sixers in 1976-77 before joining the Houston Rockets for the 1982-83 season.
Joe relocated to Europe and broke professional records in Italy, but his family eventually returned to the Philadelphia area and lived in Wynnewood. Despite his tremendous success in basketball, his relationship with Kobe was tense.
The two remained close during Kobe’s early years and basketball career at Lower Merion High School, but things changed when he joined the NBA and began an excellent career.
Kobe apparently desired greater freedom and independence from his family, which did not sit well with his father, causing them to drift apart until his death. His father likewise refused to issue a public comment following his son’s sad death in January 2020.
Kobe and Gigi honored on their fourth death anniversary
Since the tragic accident that claimed the father-daughter pair’s lives, various monuments and initiatives have been built in their memory.
So, in February, the Los Angeles Lakers, for whom Kobe played shooting guard, presented the player and his daughter with a bronze monument outside the Crypto.com Arena to commemorate their fourth anniversary.
The anniversary coincided with a crucial date in Kobe’s career, 2-8-24, which referred to his and Gigi’s jersey numbers.
Vanessa gave a moving statement during the launching ceremony and displayed three bronze statues, including one of Kobe in a white No. 8 Lakers suit, his official jersey number on the Los Angeles Lakers team.
The sportsman raised his finger in the air, referencing his legendary 81-point victory celebration against the Toronto Raptors in 2006. A second statue depicted the hero in his No. 24 jersey, while the third showed him with Gigi.
The team completed their tribute by wearing his Black Mamba-inspired outfits, which he designed before his death as a nod to his well-known “Black Mamba” nickname.
Kobe Bryant’s 44th Posthumous Birthday
Kobe’s life was celebrated at every opportunity, including after his death. In August 2022, the star’s friends and family paid homage and encomiums to him on his 44th birthday, with his eldest daughter, Natalia Bryant, playing a key role.
The model shared vintage photographs of herself and her father sporting beaming smiles at his basketball game, along with heartfelt notes.
His teammate and another icon, LeBron James, also shared a photo of his late friend with a snake and halo emoji, while NBA veteran Shaquille O’Neal displayed several photos of Kobe at his home.
Vanessa Bryant Won $1.5 Million Settlement Over Kobe’s Body Armor Investment
Vanessa has continued to lead the family and safeguard her husband’s legacy since his death, and she demonstrated her dedication to the cause when she won a significant lawsuit last year.
The mother of four continued the court battle involving Kobe and the President of Kobe Inc., Molly Carter, which began six months before his shocking death.
According to The Blast, Kobe invested $6 million in BodyArmor, a beverage firm, in 2013 in exchange for a 10% stake in the company. A few years later, Coca-Cola paid $5.6 billion for the brand, resulting in a massive profit for Kobe of up to $400 million.
Carter, on the other hand, claimed she had the right to a portion of the money in 2019, claiming Kobe guaranteed her 2% of his profits, a remark the player claimed he did not remember making.
Vanessa filed a complaint after Kobe died, accusing Carter of violating the duty of loyalty and the non-disparagement clause in her contract with him by calling him disparaging names in public and referring to Vanessa as “the f—king devil, b-tch, and PSYCHO.”
She also mocked Kobe’s daughters and allegedly made a racial remark about fellow passengers on the plane while going to an NBA All-Star game with Kobe. Vanessa emerged victorious in the court battle, earning $1.5 million in attorney costs.
The passing of Kobe’s father certainly symbolizes the end of an era for the Bryant Golden Boys, but their outstanding legacies will live on!
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