LA Lakers Great Kobe Bryant Remembered by Wife Vanessa and Many NBA Stars on His 43rd Birthday

(Photo : MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images) People look at a photo exposition showing a boy Kobe during the inauguration ceremony of a square named after late Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna in Reggio Emilia on January 26, 2021, on the first anniversary of the helicopter crash which led to the death of nine people, including Bryant and his daughter.

Kobe Bryant became a hot trending topic on social media on Monday as the whole world remembered the late NBA great on his 43rd birthday. His wife Vanessa Bryant and a host of NBA superstars led the tributes for the Los Angeles Lakers legend, who tragically died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, that also killed his daughter Gianna and seven others.

Vanessa Bryant posts emotional tribute to husband Kobe

On Monday, Vanessa shared a throwback picture of her and Kobe kissing in front of one of the championship trophies he won with the Lakers. She then wrote, "Happy Birthday Papi. Te Amo por siempre. Amor Eterno." which translates to "I love you forever my eternal love."

It has been a rough few days emotionally for Vanessa, who recently shared that she dropped off her daughter Natalia at college. Natalia is the eldest of Kobe and Vanessa's four children and is now 18 years old. She isn't too far away, though, from her mother, and her siblings Bianka and Capri, as the eldest Bryant sister, will be studying at the University of Southern California.

Pau Gasol also paid tribute to his friend on Twitter, writing, "Happy birthday brother. Miss you." Gasol became one of Kobe's closest friends during their time together in Los Angeles, with the Lakers duo winning back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010.

Boston Celtics center and Hall of Famer Bill Russell also remembered Kobe on his 43rd birthday, writing on Twitter, "Miss you Legend! Happy Birthday Kobe." Carmelo Anthony, a teammate of Bryant's in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, posted a picture of the two hugging during an NBA game.

Dwyane Wade, part of the legendary Redeem Team that won the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Games that included Kobe Bryant, also wished the late superstar a happy birthday, writing "Mamba Forever" in his tweet.

Related Article: Most Famous Brothers in the NBA: Antetokounmpo, Holiday and Ball Siblings Take Center Stage  

Luka and Giannis pay tribute to Kobe

Current NBA superstars also never forgot to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant on August 23 with Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic and reigning NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo among those who remembered his legacy on Monday.

Doncic replied to a tweet that posted a video of Kobe speaking to Luka in Slovenian during a Los Angeles Lakers game with three pray emojis. Doncic was surprised that someone was heckling him in his native language, and lo and behold, when he turned around, it was Kobe who was doing the chirping. It was a fun and sad memory at the same time as that was one of the last NBA games Kobe and Gigi saw together live before they met their untimely deaths.

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