"Kobe Bryant cared more about being a husband to Vanessa & a dad to his girls" - When Derek Jeter opened up about his friendship with NBA legend
On January 26, 2020, Derek Jeter and the rest of the world were shocked to learn that NBA legend Kobe Bryant had passed away. He was onboard a helicopter with his daughter, Gianna, and seven others, heading to a girls' basketball tournament when it crashed.
It was one of those deaths where the whole world seemed to pause and mourn. Not only was Kobe a generational basketball player, but he was also a generational person.
The day after Bryant died, Jeter wrote about his longtime friend. In it, he explained that Kobe was as committed to his family as much as he was to the game, via The Players' Tribune.
"All I ever needed to know about Kobe Bryant was this: that throughout our friendship, the most meaningful conversations we had - they were always about family," said Derek Jeter.
Bryant was married to Vanessa. The two met in November 1999 while on the set of a hip-hop music video. During that time, Kobe was working on his hip-hop debut album. They then had four daughters, Capri, Bianka, Gianna and Natalie.
"He cared much more about being a husband to Vanessa and a dad to his girls. He loved his family - he was his family. That's what was important," said Jeter.
Derek Jeter wanted the world to remember Kobe Bryant the way he does
In Derek Jeter's article, he really wanted to bring home the fact that Kobe Bryant put his family first. While he was arguably the best player to step on an NBA court, that was in the rearview when it came to the people he loved.
"I've seen him win gold medals and championship rings. But I've still never seen him look as happy, in those big moments on the court, as he looked the other day off of:it: with an arm around Gigi, sitting courtside, and just... talking" said Jeter.
Kobe won two gold medals in the Olympics and five NBA Finals championships, but those did not compare to being a husband and father. He was as big of a part of his wife and kids' lives as they were to him.
In August, the Los Angeles Lakers revealed a statue depicting Bryant embracing his daughter Gianna. It is the second of three planned monuments at the Crypto.com Arena for the NBA legend.