Bryant’s widow Vanessa shared a heartfelt letter she received from a friend of Gianna’s to her Instagram page.
Aubrey Callaghan, who was one of the Gianna’s best friends, wrote that Gigi’s “smile and attitude push me to be better”.
“If I ever become a mom, I hope my daughter turns out exactly as yours did,” she wrote to Vanessa.
Meanwhile, Vanessa expressed how much she misses her husband and daughter.
“I will never understand why/how this tragedy could’ve happened to such beautiful, kind and amazing human beings,” Vanessa said.
“It still doesn’t seem real. Kob, we did it right. Gigi, you still make mommy proud.”
Numerous sports figures have paid tribute and offered their condolences to the Bryant family.
Magic Johnson shared a series of tweets remembering his former teammate and expressing his gratitude at being able to “enjoy Kobe Bryant for 20 years as a great basketball player, athlete, husband, father, philanthropist, mentor and teacher of the game to many men and women of all ages”.
Kobe will always be my @Lakers brother for life. 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/7WC9x6h4Dl
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 26, 2021
Baseball star Alex Rodriguez also shared multiple tweets, saying it “still hurts so much thinking about how much good he had left to do”.
I can’t believe it’s been one year since we experienced the tragic loss of my brother, my friend, Kobe Bryant. It still doesn’t feel real.
Kobe was so much more than just a basketball player and he was destined for even more greatness. pic.twitter.com/l3ulx1mmaF
— Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) January 26, 2021
Hollywood stars have also expressed their grief and condolences on social media. Actor Michael B. Jordan shared a photo of Kobe and Gianna and said “you will never be forgotten”. Viola Davis posted the same photograph and said her “heart goes out to Vanessa and family today”.
Kerry Washington shared that her “heart is with the Bryant family and all of the families who lost their loved ones on this tragic day”.
Ice Cube shared a photo of himself with Kobe, saying “we all miss you”.
We all miss you Kobe pic.twitter.com/JId1kict8K
— Ice Cube (@icecube) January 26, 2021