When he was working on a short film ‘Dear Basketball,’ he began to feel discouraged at the prospect of turning his thoughts into animation. At the time, an 11 year old Gianna told him to go after his dreams and man up. How many adults out there would ever dare tell Kobe to man up?
At that moment, she was the coach and inspired Kobe to keep going and he was far from the only person who knew just how special Gigi was. Senior ESPN writer Ramona Shelburne claimed that Gianna or Gigi as her friends called her was as ambitious about her dreams as she was at commanding presence on the court.
She wanted to grow up and attend the University of Connecticut and of course become a part of their basketball team. She and Kobe would often attend UConn WNBA and of course Lakers games together. When Gigi wanted something, she went for it 100% and basketball was her true passion. Even professional players were often in awe of both Gigi’s talent and her tenacity.
Russ Davis, a women’s basketball coach at Vanguard University said Gigi was turning into a special player. She was impressed with how Gigi was constantly improving and striving to be the best she could be. When she wasn’t playing or practicing, she was studying footage and the information helped give her inspiration on the court.
Gigi wasn’t just talented, she was dedicated and wouldn’t settle for being less than the best. Her father’s nickname was The Black Mamba. The fans took to calling Gigi Mamacita. Kobe described her as something else on the court and he definitely wasn’t the only person in awe of her determination.
One of her favourite players Gabby Williams said that she believed Gigi would be better than her someday and she considered it an absolute honour to be considered Gigi’s favourite. Gabby admired how fierce and relentless she was on the court and how she was all smiles and sweetness when the game was over.
Read: How Meghan Markle have impacted the world.
Instead of being intimidated by the idea of following Kobe’s footsteps Gigi fully embraced her father’s legacy. Seattle Storm player jewel Lloyd said that unlike most kids who are glued to their phones or tablets, Gigi was always watching and studying the way the game was played.
After his retirement, it was Gigi who helped Kobe appreciate basketball in a brand new way as a coach and as a spectator. Suddenly he found himself watching games side by side with Gigi and seeing the game in a whole new way. This time, he wasn’t watching it as an athlete, he was just a fan and a father.
Kobe once said he was able to see the sport through Gigi’s eyes which helped him fall in love with it all over again. Kobe said it was obvious that Gigi had a serious competitive streak and was more than willing to put in the hard work it takes to win.
She definitely made the sport look easy especially when she played in high heels, a move even her famous father never pulled off. Gigi absolutely embodied the work hard play hard mentality and this helped inspire everyone around her.
She was never content to rest on the success of her father. She was determined to be the best she could be. Looking at Gigi, it was easy to see why her father felt so confident. She would be the one to continue his legacy.
There’s even a petition circulating to have Gigi’s Jersey hung up at the Staples Center among the ones her father wore and it has over 139,000 signatures. So far, her beloved UConn Huskies honoured her memory by placing the number-2 jersey and some flowers on the bench.
Although she and Kobe shared a special bond, Gigi was also deeply loved by her mother and three sisters. After the tragic helicopter crash which claimed the lives of Kobe and Gigi, Vanessa posted on Instagram thanking those who’ve shown support during this difficult time.
She described Gigi as a wonderful daughter and amazing sister to Natalya, Bianca and Capri even though she was only 13 years old when she passed away. Gigi made a huge impact on the people around her, inspiring them to work harder and push themselves right up into the very end.
While the news about Kobe and Gigi was surprising, it’s possible that this loss could help save others. One California congressman is doing his best to honour the memories of Kobe and Gigi by introducing the Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant helicopter safety act.
This will require helicopters to come equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system. It will also be a huge step towards mandating helicopter safety and hopefully help prevent future tragedies. But even if you don’t make a habit of flying in helicopters it’s not hard to be inspired by Gigi whose intensity and passion is remembered by those she left behind.
