
Source: Brandon Bell / Getty
It’s really been a year already since the tragic helicopter crash that took the lives of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and 6 other people.
The world has still not fully come to grips with the notion that the Black Mamba and Gianna are no longer with us. Leading up to this day that will now forever be a somber one, fans, current and retired NBA ballers, and celebrities have been reflecting on Bryant and his daughter’s tragic passing on social media.
You would be hard-pressed to find a timeline void of Kobe and Gianna’s pictures reflecting on his career, his life, him being a proud girl dad, and one of the most competitive people on the planet. Kyrie Irving, one of Kobe’s closest friends in the league, took his passing very hard, honored his hero and friend by rocking a Kobe #8 jersey to his Brooklyn Nets matchup with the Miami Heat.
Kyrie showed up to tonight's Nets game in a Kobe jersey ππ€
(via @BrooklynNets)pic.twitter.com/2LyKp0ajl0
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 25, 2021
Earvin Magic Johnson took to Twitter to honor Kobe with some kind words:
“Thank you God for allowing me enjoy Kobe Bryant for 20 years as a great basketball player, athlete, husband, father, philanthropist, mentor & teacher of the game to many men & women of all ages, best friend to Rob Pelinka, & brother to @jeaniebuss.”
Thank you God for allowing me enjoy Kobe Bryant for 20 years as a great basketball player, athlete, husband, father, philanthropist, mentor & teacher of the game to many men & women of all ages, best friend to Rob Pelinka, & brother to @jeaniebuss. pic.twitter.com/PgWY3wDzu6
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 26, 2021
That’s on top of the countless number of murals and memorials popping up across the city of Los Angeles and around the world, paying homage to the great Kobe Bryant and Gianna.

Source: Xinhua News Agency / Getty
It’s still up in the air if and how the NBA plans to honor Bryant and Gianna this year. His wife, Vanessa Bryant, reportedly has asked the league not to do any tributes during games because seeing multiple tributes dedicated to her late husband and daughter would be too painful.
She did pay tribute to Kobe and her 13-year old daughter by sharing a letter written by Gianna’s best friend, Aubrey, on her Instagram account.
Yes, it’s been a year, but the death of Kobe is a fresh wound that has yet to heal. You can peep more reactions in the gallery below.
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Photo: Brandon Bell / Getty
Legends Never Die: Twitter Remembers Kobe Bryant & Gianna On The Anniversary of Their Tragic PassingΒ was originally published on hiphopwired.com
1.
One year.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 26, 2021
A tribute to Kobe, performed by @SnoopDogg: pic.twitter.com/FX9GMtcq5c
A powerful tribute delivered by Uncle Snoop.
2.
"The Mamba lives in us ... And we cannot rest if job's not finished."
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 26, 2021
A year ago today we lost a legend. Today, we pay tribute to Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/NM9d5BXTgI
This poet perfectly describes Kobe’s impact on all of us.Β
3.
We all miss you Kobe pic.twitter.com/JId1kict8K
— Ice Cube (@icecube) January 26, 2021
Yes, we all do.Β
4.
I think about my last interview w/ @kobebryant a lot because based off our conversation about @Kaepernick7, I believe he would have been a powerful voice in 2020. Hard not to think about Kobeβs death in relationship to the many things that unraveled after. #Kobe pic.twitter.com/Yi7T9tWQDT
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) January 26, 2021
No lies detected, his voice is definitely missed and would have definitely been powerful during these trying times.Β
5.
RIP Kobe and Gigi. πππ pic.twitter.com/p3NpmmcBXw
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 26, 2021
Gone too soon!
6.
Vanessa and her daughters are going to need all the love and light to get through this day.
7.
Kobe talking about Gianna, wow. pic.twitter.com/qOqbWtiL5Q
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) January 26, 2021
A proud girl dad.Β
8.
One of the very best Kobe videos youβll see. pic.twitter.com/eQZMzT4EWE
— Chris Palmer (@ChrisPalmerNBA) January 26, 2021
Amazing highlight reel.Β
9.
Rest in Power Kobe and Gigi π #MambaForever pic.twitter.com/1OnplBL2Fo
— Joy Taylor (@JoyTaylorTalks) January 26, 2021
10.
"We really lost a giant. We lost an iconic human being that just happened to play basketball."@JalenRose remembers the life of Kobe Bryant ππ pic.twitter.com/vHjjajGQcu
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 26, 2021
Jalen Rose with the facts about Kobe.
11.
βUse your success, wealth, and influence to put them in the best position to realize their own dreams and find their true purpose.β- @kobebryant
— Brittney Elenaπ (@BrittneyElena_) January 26, 2021
My tribute to my idol ππ½
Mamba & Mambacita Forever βΎππβ¨π€πΎππ½
πΈ: @Von_Jackson pic.twitter.com/cNm2vEcr4f
Powerful!
12.
πREMEMBERING KOBE:π Artists in the Philippines created this mural to honor basketball star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna one year after their deaths. Kobe, Gianna, and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, CA on January 26th, 2020. pic.twitter.com/Z6r4dsZy2Y
— Tim Williams (@realtimwilliams) January 26, 2021
Absolutely amazing.
13.
Today marks one year since the tragic loss of Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, and seven more irreplaceable lives.
— MTV (@MTV) January 26, 2021
We continue to keep all of their families in our thoughts, and remember #Kobeβs legacy with this 1997 @MTVNews interview about his hopes and dreams in the NBA. β€οΈ pic.twitter.com/OYD6YVkJBM
Wow.
14.
Rest In Peace my guy...ππ½
— Vince Carter (@mrvincecarter15) January 26, 2021
Today we honor and remember you and Gigi!! pic.twitter.com/2GVoq1VQTy
A bittersweet day for Vince Carter being that he lost his good friend on his birthday.Β
15.
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) January 26, 2021
17.
Unforgettable moments π€ππ½ pic.twitter.com/jlDw6OXXep
— Giannis Ugo Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) January 26, 2021
18.
Iβm not crying, you are. pic.twitter.com/d4X2VwkHD7
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) January 26, 2021
19.
Family is Forever π€ pic.twitter.com/PH6R4sCrve
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 26, 2021