Kobe Bryant was surrounded by family and friends as the Los Angeles City Council gave him a day of his own. Municipal officials declared Wednesday, August 24, 2016, Kobe Bryant Day in honor of the Los Angeles Lakers player who poured his heart into the NBA for twenty years.
Kobe was drafted out of high school by the Lakers in 1996 and remained with the team until he retired earlier this year. The basketball player brought a lot of revenue and media attention to the City of Angels during his career. Many fans traveled from various parts of the country and world just to see Kobe play.
City Councilman Jose Huizar noted Bryant’s positive influence during Wednesday’s ceremony. The official declared Kobe Bryant Day as “the city of Los Angeles’ way of thanking him for his single-minded dedication to excellence, the fans and the entire city and region of Los Angeles. For 20 years, we were all the beneficiaries of Kobe’s incredible talent and legendary work ethic, and on 8/24 we’ll gather to say, ‘Thank you, Mamba.'”
Kobe’s wife, Vanessa, and kids, Natalia and Gianna, were by his side during the ceremony. Vanessa, who is pregnant with the couple’s third child, was all smiles while looking on her husband in admiration. The basketball wife has served as Kobe’s backbone these past few years. “I’m raising our daughters, signing checks and taking care of everything else that pertains to our home life. This is real life. I hold down our home life so my husband can focus on his career. It’s a partnership,” she said during one interview.
Vanessa and Kobe Bryant are expecting their third child to arrive in coming weeks. Natalia celebrated her thirteenth birthday in January while Gianna turned 10-years-old in May.
Photo: Walt Mancini/Southern California News Group
