Vanessa Bryant is remembering Kobe Bryant with love on what would have been the late NBA legend’s 48th birthday. On Sunday, August 23, 2026, Vanessa shared a throwback photo of herself with Kobe, marking another birthday without her husband while keeping the focus on their shared love.
“Happy birthday, baby,” Vanessa wrote on Instagram. “I love you so much.” She also included Kobe’s birth date, August 23, 1978, along with heart and prayer emojis. The simple message carried plenty of meaning.
Kobe died at age 41 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on January 26, 2020. Their 13-year-old daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, and seven other people were also killed in the crash.
More than six years later, Kobe’s birthday remains an important date for Vanessa, their eldest daughter Natalia Bryant, and the family and friends who continue to celebrate his life.
Vanessa Bryant’s Happy Birthday Message to Kobe
For Kobe Bryant’s 48th birthday, Vanessa chose a candid throwback from their years together. The image showed Vanessa sitting on Kobe’s lap as the couple relaxed outside, offering an intimate glimpse at their relationship away from basketball and the spotlight.
© Jean Baptiste LacroixThe post attracted messages of support from friends, athletes and celebrities. Kris Jenner, Candace Parker, Kimora Lee Simmons, Gabrielle Union and David Beckham were among those who showed their support, according to reports.
Natalia Bryant was also among those responding to her mother’s birthday tribute, along with figures including Michael Phelps, La La Anthony, Russell Wilson and others.
For Vanessa, these birthday posts have become a recurring way of publicly remembering Kobe while sharing pieces of the family’s private history with the millions of people who still feel connected to him.
© GettyOn Kobe’s 47th birthday in August 2025, Natalia posted a playful throwback photograph of herself with her dad and wrote, “Happy Birthday Daddy.”
Vanessa marked that birthday with an equally emotional message. “We love and miss you and Gigi so much. Sending our love to you. Happy birthday, baby,” she wrote at the time.
Natalia has also spoken publicly about what being Kobe Bryant’s daughter means to her. During a 2023 ceremony honoring Kobe’s handprints at the TCL Chinese Theatre, Natalia described being his daughter as “one of the greatest joys of my life” and said she hoped to continue carrying the lessons he taught her.
© VarietyThat connection has become an important part of the Bryant family’s public remembrance of Kobe. Natalia was Kobe and Vanessa’s first child, born in January 2003, and grew up alongside her father during some of the defining years of his Los Angeles Lakers career.
Vanessa and Natalia Bryant Keep Kobe and Gianna’s Memories Close
The Bryant family’s tributes are not limited to Kobe’s birthday. Vanessa and Natalia also marked what would have been Gianna’s 20th birthday on May 1, 2026. Vanessa shared a photograph of herself kissing her daughter and wrote, “Happy birthday to my sweet baby angel, Gianna.”
She added, “Words can’t express how much I love and miss you mamacita. Mommy loves you so much!”
Natalia joined the remembrance, sharing photos of her younger sister on Instagram Stories with the message, “Happy Birthday Gigi.”
© Tribune News Service via Getty IThe family has also helped turn remembrance into action through the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, which continues work connected to Kobe and Gianna’s legacies. In 2026, the organization announced a class of 20 Gianna Bryant Scholars, supporting student-athletes from Los Angeles and Orange County.
Kobe Bryant’s 48th Birthday Brings More Tributes
Vanessa and Natalia were far from alone in remembering Kobe this year.
Kobe’s former teammate Pau Gasol was among those honoring him. Gasol has remained close to the Bryant family since Kobe’s death and has repeatedly celebrated his former teammate on birthdays and other important dates. “Icon. Legend. Laker. Happy Birthday, Kobe 💜,” the Lakers wrote on Instagram.
© GettyImagesKobe was born on August 23, 1978, and spent his entire 20-season NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Yet for Vanessa and their daughters, his identity as a father remains just as significant as his basketball accomplishments.
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