Vanessa Bryant and daughter Natalia.Photo: Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images
Natalia Bryanthonored her late fatherKobe Bryantin a special way ahead of this weekend’s 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony
On Friday, his 18-year-old daughter Natalia and his wifeVanessa, 39, received a jacket and ring for the star athlete during the Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala, part of the larger 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony.
In the photos from the ceremony, Natalia poses wearing Kobe’s ring and jacket while mom Vanessa stands beside her.
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Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
Vanessa, who is also a mother to daughters Capri, 22 months, andBianka, 4, posted a series of snaps from Friday’s ceremony on her Instagram, showing themenu cardat the gala and thespecial exhibitat the Hall of Fame honoring Kobe.
One video Vanessa posted also featured Kobe’s animated short filmDear Basketball,which earned him an Academy Award in 2018.
“Dear Kobe, I love you. ❤️” shecaptionedthe video
Kobe’s standalone exhibit at the Hall of Fame in Massachusetts, whichVanessa helped design, will be unveiled this weekend,The Los Angeles Timespreviously reported. The exhibit is called “Kobe: A Basketball Life,” and is a rare addition to the annual induction ceremony.
“Vanessa really wanted the space partly to be reflective, and soDear Basketballbrings that part in,” the hall’s historian and curator Matt Zeysing told the outlet. “She wanted a space for if someone wanted to just reflect for longer than even 30 minutes that they would have the opportunity to do that.”
In addition to the short film, the items displayed at the exhibit will include portions of the court at Kobe’s high school in Pennsylvania, as well as replicas of the five championship rings he helped the Lakers win. Other items featured will be the pair of sneakers he had on while scoring a career-high 81 points during a game in 2006.
source: people.com
