Natalia Bryant, the eldest daughter of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, graduated from the University of Southern California on Saturday, May 17 and earned the praise of the Los Angeles Lakers’ Jeanie Buss too.
The 22-year-old earned her degree in film and was a cum laude in her class, and delivered what became a touching tribute to her late father as she celebrated completing her undergraduate degree.
During the commencement ceremony, Natalia wore a graduation stole that prominently featured Kobe Bryant‘s iconic logo, along with the words “Thank You Mom & Dad.” It was a quiet but meaningful tribute.
Then Buss personally participated in the graduation as the Lakers‘ president walked onto the stage moments before Natalia‘s name was called, before they went on to share a warm embrace as the 63-year-old was handed her diploma.
It was an unprecedented gesture that clearly held deep emotional weight considering Kobe‘s connection to the franchise, where he spent his entire career and delivered five NBA championships.
“Thank you @jeaniebuss for making this milestone even more special,” Vanessa, Natalia’s mother and Kobe’s widow, posted online, appreciating the gesture. Natalia added, “Thank you @jeaniebuss,” followed by several heart emojis.
Friends, fans, and public figures alike responded to Vanessa‘s post with support and congratulations, among them Kris Jenner, who commented, “Congratulations!!! Wow, where did the time go?!?!?! We are so proud of you, Natalia, we love you!!!”
The Lakers organization also acknowledged Natalia‘s achievement, previously offering their congratulations in a separate post, further reinforcing the deep connection between the Bryant family and the team.
Edwards picks Kobe ahead of LeBron in NBA GOAT debate
In another headline-grabbing moment elsewhere in the NBA, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards weighed in on the league’s ongoing GOAT debate by surprisingly leaving LeBron James out of his Top Five.
Though many compare LeBron to the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan on an almost-exclusive basis, this was not the opinion of the 23-year-old who ranked his list as Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, and Kevin Durant.
Edwards, into the Western Conference Finals in 2024/25, also picked Durant as his outright GOAT when it comes to the question of who is the finest player to ever grace an NBA court.
A study from The Athletic has Jordan leading the debate with 45.9%, whilst LeBron followed suit with 42.1% and finally came Kobe, with 9.8% of the vote. The fact he’s included in the top three shows his legacy and the resilience of his Mamba Mentality.
Edwards will next be back on the court on Tuesday, May 20 when he takes on the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma. Tip-off is expected from 20:30 ET/17:30 PT, live on ESPN.
Read the full article here
