The two year anniversary of the death of Los Angeles basketball great Kobe Bryant fell on Wednesday.
The athlete died at age 41 alongside his daughter Gianna, 13, and nine others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California when fog obscured the pilot’s view.
And the likes of Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, and Jennifer Garner took to social media to share tributes for the beloved hoops dynamo who played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 until 2016.
Tributes: Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, and Jennifer Garner took to social media to share tributes for Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi on the two year anniversary of their death
West uploaded one of his personal favorite photos of himself and longtime friend Bryant, who he famously referred to as ‘basketball version of me’ in an interview with GQ.
‘Miss you family,’ captioned the 44-year-old hitmaker, who could be seen beaming up at Kobe after a Lakers game.
Jamie Foxx uploaded a stunning image of the day’s sunset, which he credited to Bryant.
‘@kobebryant [PRAYER HAND EMOJIS]’ wrote the 54-year-old actor, who also had a close bond with the late Kobe.
During an August appearance on the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, just seven months after his friend’s death, Foxx spoke fondly of their ‘incredible cantankerous relationship.’
RIP: Jennifer Garner paid homage to the lives and legacies of Kobe and his daughter Gianna, who was just 13 at the time of her death, by sharing a snap of the father-daughter duo with her 11.9million Instagram followers
Jennifer Garner paid homage to the lives and legacies of Kobe and his daughter Gianna, who was just 13 at the time of her death, by sharing a snap of the father-daughter duo with her 11.9million Instagram followers.
She tagged Kobe’s widow Vanessa Bryant in the post, along with two heart emojis.
Vanessa has been sharing tributes to her late husband and daughter all month on Instagram.
One from three days ago showed a photo of her kissing Kobe on the lips as he held one of their children on the court of a Lakers game. All she wrote in the caption was ’81.’
Vanessa’s close friend Ciara shared an image of herself with Kobe’s jersey as she wore wrist bands with Gigi Bryant’s name on it.
Stunning: Jamie Foxx uploaded a stunning image of the day’s sunset, which he credited to Bryant
‘Forever & Always in our hearts Kobe & Gigi #2 #24 ❤️ Love you @VanessaBryant @NataliaBryant,’ said the caption.
Jerry West mourned the death of Bryant in an interview with the New York Times.
West, 83, now a consultant with the Los Angeles Clippers, said Kobe ‘was just one of those unique players that comes along.’
West added: ‘He had a big personality. He was very bright. He was going to be a bigger success off the court than on the court. He was taken away too young.’
‘It was like – I lost my best friend. I lost someone who meant more to me than just a basketball player. For three days I might be doing something – I might be hitting golf balls or chipping golf balls or putting golf balls – and honestly, I would just have to stop.’
West said that two years later, it’s still difficult not to be reminded of the day Bryant died.
Sad loss: The two year anniversary of the death of Los Angeles basketball great Kobe Bryant fell on Wednesday. His widow Vanessa shared a post earlier this week
A pal: Vanessa’s close friend Ciara shared an image of herself with Kobe’s jersey as she wore wrist bands with Gigi Bryant’s name on it
‘I’ve often wondered if he had lived to, say, Elgin Baylor’s age, or even my age, would people look at him the same way? I’m not sure they would,’ West said. ‘Just the shock and sadness of seeing this very young man’s life taken seemed impossible.’
West was a shooting guard with the LA Lakers for his entire 20 year basketball career.
Bryant won five NBA championships, was an 18-time All-Star, a 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, a 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team, the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), and a two-time NBA Finals MVP.
Bryant also led the NBA in scoring twice, and ranks fourth in league all-time regular season and postseason scoring. He was posthumously voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.
Khloe Kardashian’s ex-husband Lamar Odom posted about Kobe, whom he played with on the Lakers.
Thoughts on Kobe: Khloe Kardashian’s ex-husband Lamar Odom posted about Kobe, whom he played with on the Lakers
Bling it on: He said that his manager gifted him a diamond necklace that had as its pendant an image of Kobe and Gianna. The star also plugged his new projects
He said that his manager gifted him a diamond necklace that had as its pendant an image of Kobe and Gianna.
The star also plugged his new projects.
Along with the stars, regular folks wanting honor the lives of Kobe and Gigi put their artistry to work to create a series of stunning murals dedicated to the deceased.
Artist Sloe_Motions spray painted a beautiful mural of Kobe kissing a baby Gigi on the cheek, while Tehrell Porter Designs illustrated the basketball star and placed a Black Mamba beside him.
Royyal Dog depicted a dramatic image of Kobe on the court that they placed right next to a black-and-white image of Gianna holding her father’s face in her hands.
Living on in art: Along with the stars, regular folks wanting honor the lives of Kobe and Gigi put their artistry to work to create a series of stunning murals dedicated to the deceased; mural by Sloe_Motions
Imagery: Royyal Dog depicted a dramatic image of Kobe on the court that they placed right next to a black-and-white image of Gianna holding her father’s face in her hands
Dynamic: Royyal Dog depicted a dramatic image of Kobe on the court that they placed right next to a black-and-white image of Gianna holding her father’s face in her hands
