Pau Gasol has often stepped up for Vanessa Bryant and her children in the absence of Kobe Bryant since his passing, and he has done it again now.
On Friday, April 18, Kobe and Vanessa would have celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary. Gasol was a former teammate of Kobe and a very close friend.
He decided to make sure that Vanessa still felt special, even though it has been over five years since Kobe and their daughter Gianna Bryant were killed in a helicopter crash.
Pau Gasol and his family sent Vanessa a huge bouquet of roses and the close relationship that the two families have is incredibly heartwarming given the tragic situation that they found themselves in.
They also wrote a card that said: “We love you, forever. Happy 24th Anniversary. XOXO P,C,E,M,J.”
An emotional month for Vanessa Bryant
Earlier in the month, there was a very emotional moment for Vanessa as the Connecticut Huskies won the 2025 national championship.
It was a moment that brought memories of her daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant rushing back to the spotlight.
Shortly after the win, Vanessa shared a heartfelt message on social media in honor of Gigi, who had long dreamed of wearing a Huskies jersey.
“Gigi would’ve loved being with you,” Vanessa wrote, alongside a powerful quote from her daughter: “When you think you can’t, UConn!” The message resonated far beyond the box score, it was a tribute to a future that was taken far too soon.
Gigi’s connection to UConn wasn’t just casual admiration. According to Kobe Bryant, she was “hellbent on UConn,” idolizing the program’s culture, success, and head coach Geno Auriemma.
UConn knew the feeling was mutual. In the wake of the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Gigi and Kobe in 2020, the program honored her with a jersey and flowers at center court. They’ve since referred to her as “forever a Husky” across their social platforms.
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