Vanessa Bryant posted a heartbreaking tribute to her daughter, Gianna, after the 13-year-old’s high school retired her old basketball number.
Gianna, the daughter of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, died along with the 42-year-old in a helicopter crash on January 26.
The teenager was emerging as a promising basketball player herself, with Kobe predicting she would play in the WNBA in the future.
But tragically, she was with Kobe on her way to the Mamba Basketball Academy when the helicopter they were riding in crashed.
On Tuesday night, her old high school basketball team retired her old number two in tribute.
Taking to Instagram, Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, paid tribute to her 13-year-old daughter as she posted from the jersey retirement ceremony.
“My Gianna. God I miss you,” she wrote.
“I’ve been so lucky to have woken up to see your gorgeous face and amazing smile for 13 years. Wish it would’ve been until my last breath.
“Mommy loves you to the moon and back. Infinity plus 1.
He told reporters that Kobe’s bond with Gianna reminded him of his relationship with Zhuri Nova, his daughter.
“They asked me which number did I want to wear, the 24 or 2 for my team, and I picked 2,” James said on Monday.
“Why? Zhuri.”
The opposing All-Star team, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, will wear Kobe’s old 24 jersey.