Vanessa Bryant is congratulating the Los Angeles Lakers after the team won the championship title, beating out the Miami Heat on Sunday.
Posting an old photo of Kobe and Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka on her Instagram Story, Vanessa — widow of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant — wrote, “Congratulations Uncle P! Congratulations @Lakers Kobe was right RP ‘stay the course- block out the noise’ – @kobebryant.”
She added, “Wish Kobe and Gianna were here to see this.”
via People:
The Lakers dedicated their season to Vanessa’s late husband after the basketball legend died in a January helicopter crash alongside their 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others — Payton Chester, 13, Sarah Chester, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Keri Altobelli, 46, John Altobelli, 56, Christina Mauser, 38, and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.
Kobe played for the Lakers for his entire 20-year career, wearing jersey numbers 8 and 24. He made his debut with the team in 1996 after being drafted straight out of high school.
After Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Lakers announced that they would wear their Black Mamba uniforms — which were designed by Kobe after his retirement from the NBA in 2016 — for Game 5.
The team last wore the Black Mamba uniforms in Game 5 of the series.
Vanessa celebrated the decision on her Instagram Story at the time, writing, “Mamba and Mambacita jerseys approved for game 5,” referencing the nicknames of Kobe and their 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, who died with her father in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26.
“Let’s go Lakers,” Vanessa wrote alongside a picture of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Rajon Rondo wearing the uniforms.
Earlier this week, James wore a shirt featuring a picture of Kobe with the words, “More than ever with love, 1978-2020.” Los Angeles went on to beat Miami 102-96 later that day, giving them a 3-1 lead in the Finals.
Take a look at her post below.
