More than five years have passed since Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna lost their lives in a tragic helicopter crash, yet the echoes of his influence remain everywhere.
At the center of preserving that legacy is Vanessa Bryant, who continues to honor her husband and daughter through philanthropic work, youth programs, and gestures both public and deeply personal.
Former Lakers forward Matt Barnes recently shared a glimpse into just how far Kobe’s reach extended beyond the court and into the lives of his closest friends.
Speaking about the day of January 26, 2020, Barnes recalled the pain of not only processing the loss himself but also seeing its impact on his twin sons, Carter and Isaiah.
“I sat there for a minute, and then I went upstairs, and by that time the kids had heard about it. I could see that just the tears in the twins’ eyes because he was really Uncle Kobe to them,” Barnes said.
Kobe as mentor and “Uncle Kobe”
Barnes explained that Kobe took a personal interest in his boys’ basketball journeys.
For their 10th birthday, Bryant gave the twins a private workout, a moment that would leave a lasting imprint on their development.
“I started playing with the Lakers when the twins were three, and from the very first time he hugged them and gave them shoes, and literally every time a shoe dropped, he gave them shoes,” Barnes recalled.
That tradition continues to this day, thanks to Vanessa.
“Still, I mean, Vanessa, shout out to Vanessa, to this day, every time a Kobe drops, the twins are one of the first kids to get them,” Barnes said, praising her for continuing to keep Kobe’s memory alive in ways that reach those who loved him most.
For Barnes, Bryant’s loss is something that still weighs heavily.
“I just knew how important he was to them and how he embraced my sons, which was something that really, you know, I had a lot of love for him for.
“So, that was tough, man. Obviously, you know, losing a brother and a teammate, but just what he meant to so many people was heavy,” he said.
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