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Kobe Bryant's family attend WNBA All-Star Game as widow Vanessa and three daughters watch Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Co from courtside

2 months ago 25

By Oliver Salt

Published: 02:15 BST, 21 July 2024 | Updated: 02:29 BST, 21 July 2024

Kobe Bryant's family have the best seats in the house for tonight's WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix.

Vanessa Bryant, the widow of late NBA legend Kobe, and her three girls are watching on from courtside at Footprint Center as the likes of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese take part in the annual women's basketball showpiece.

Four years on from the tragic helicopter crash which killed him and 13-year-old daughter Gianna, Kobe is survived by Vanessa, 42, and children Natalia, 21, Bianka, seven, and Capri, five.

All four members of his direct family decided to grab a piece of the action in Phoenix, where USA Basketball is taking on Team WNBA. 

Rookie sensations Clark and Reese are teaming up on the WNBA roster, putting aside their bitter rivalry to lock horns with US Olympic stars.

Kobe Bryant's family have the best seats in the house for tonight's WNBA All-Star Game

A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Diana Taurasi are the superstar names on the other side of the All-Star Game.

Kobe, widely considered one of the greatest NBA players ever, had been with wife Vanessa for two decades at the time of his passing.

The couple first began dating in 1999, when they met on the set of his music video.

They eventually got engaged shortly after Vanessa turned 18, before tying the knot in 2001. 

Kobe and his daughter Gianna died along with seven others when their helicopter came down in Calabasas, California, in January 2020.

They had flown from John Wayne Airport near his home in Newport Beach and were on their way to Thousand Oaks to Bryant's Mamba Basketball Academy when they slammed into a hillside.

Kobe and 13-year-old daughter Gianna (top left) were killed in a helicopter crash in 2020

Earlier this week Vanessa appeared to reference her husband's rumored feud with his parents while sending her condolences following the death of Kobe's father.

The world of basketball was in mourning after Kobe's dad Joe Bryant tragically died at the age of 69 following a recent a stroke. 

Following the death of her father-in-law, Vanessa took to Instagram to pay her respects on Tuesday afternoon, while also seeming to express regret over her husband's rift with Joe and mom Pam.

'Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing,' she wrote.

'We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much. Our prayers go out to family.'

Kobe, widely considered one of the greatest NBA players ever, had been with wife Vanessa for two decades at the time of his passing

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe's relationship with son Kobe became strained as the Lakers legend built a Hall of Fame career in the NBA. 

He never spoke publicly about his son's death and earlier this year, the 2000 NBA title ring gifted to him by Kobe sold for $927,000 at auction.

Back in 2016, Kobe revealed he hadn't spoken to his parents in almost three years after they attempted to auction off his high school memorabilia - without consent.

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