Kobe Bryant’s former protégé, Sabrina Ionescu, appears to be mentoring the late NBA champion’s daughter, Bianka.
The New York Liberty player, who spent time with Vanessa Bryant and her two youngest children over the weekend, was seen shooting hoops with the seven-year-old.
‘Had a fun time in NYC w/my babies this weekend,’ Vanessa captioned an Instagram post Monday. ‘So glad we got to see “Beana” @sabrina_i.’
The WNBA star commented, ‘Shooting definitely runs in the family.’
In the clip, the athlete was seen chatting to the youngster while she dribbled the ball and put up a few shots at an indoor court.
Kobe Bryant’s former protégé, Sabrina Ionescu, was seen shooting hoops with his daughter
The New York Liberty player appears to be mentoring seven-year-old Bianka
It comes more than four years after Kobe and his then 13-year-old daughter Gianna were killed in a helicopter crash.
Ionescu, who was mentored by the five-time NBA champion, eulogized him at his celebration of life ceremony in February 2020.
‘”You have too much to give to stay silent.” That’s what he said. That’s what he believed. That’s what he lived. Through Gigi, through me, through his investment in women’s basketball. That was his next great act, a girl dad,’ Ionescu said during her speech.
She went on, ‘Today may feel like darkness. He was, in so many ways, a sun beaming, radiating, fixed in the sky. I ask each of you, every girl dad, every human here with a voice, a platform and a heart to not let this sun set.’
The Oregon alum was mentored by the Lakers legend before he passed away in 2020
Vanessa and Natalia were in attendance when she wed Raiders center Hroniss Grasu
Ionescu has been making a name for herself after being selected first overall in the 2020 draft
In the years after his passing, the Oregon alum has maintained a close bond with his widow, Vanessa, and their three living daughters.
The Bryant family were even in attendance at her March nuptials when she tied the knot with Raiders center, Hroniss Grasu.
‘Congratulations to Sabrina and Hronnis!’ Vanessa wrote on Instagram at the time. ‘Such a beautiful couple. Wishing you both the very best, always!’
Ionescu and Grasu, who both attended the University of Oregon, went public with their relationship in 2021.
Hronnis has been in the NFL since 2015 and joined Las Vegas in 2021, while Ionescu has been making a name for herself in the WNBA after being selected first overall in the 2020 draft.
The 26-year-old also made history in February when she took on Steph Curry in the first NBA vs WNBA three-point contest at All-Star weekend.
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