Vanessa Bryant narrated a touching tribute to her daughter Gianna for her 16th birthday.
In partnership with Nike, the 60-second video is modeled after Kobe Bryant’s Oscar-winning animated film Dear Basketball, with narration provided by Vanessa.
“From the first time you imagined winning a WNBA Championship, I knew one thing was real. You were special,” Vanessa says in the video. “You came from greatness, but it was never about what you inherited. It was about what you gave to others. When someone stands up for gender equality, I see you fighting alongside of them.”
Vanessa also posted a series of slides on Instagram, including one which shows her daughter mirroring Kobe’s moves out on the basketball court. Gianna’s older sister Natalia also shared a birthday message, along with a photo of them when they were younger. “Happy sweet sixteen my dearest gigi,” she wrote. “I love you to the moon and back 🌙forever & always.”
In honor of Gianna’s birthday, Nike also released the “Mambacita Sweet 16” Kobe 6 with all proceeds going towards the Mamba and Mambacita Foundation, which aims to create a “positive impact for underserved athletes and boys & girls in sports.”
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