By JAKE NISSE

Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, shared a heartbreaking message on Thursday as she celebrated what would have been their daughter Gigi’s 19th birthday.

It’s been more than five years since the Lakers icon and Gigi passed away in a tragic helicopter crash in January 2020 which took the lives of nine people total.

And Vanessa made a touching post to Instagram as she remembered the aspiring basketball player.

‘Happy birthday, Gigi!,’ Vanessa wrote. ‘Mommy loves and misses you more than I could ever express. I love you Gianna.’

The post included a photo of Gigi in her Mamba Sports Academy uniform.

Many notable names from the sports world took to the comments to wish Gigi a happy birthday as well, including Chris Paul, Matt Barnes and Pau Gasol.

Vanessa Bryant Gigi and Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, wished a happy birthday to the couple’s late daughter Gigi

Bryant is seen with Vanessa and their children at his Lakers jersey retirement ceremony in 2017

Bryant is seen with Vanessa and their children at his Lakers jersey retirement ceremony in 2017

Vanessa and Kobe were married for 19 years and shared four children together

Vanessa and Kobe were married for 19 years and shared four children together

Women’s basketball legend Lisa Leslie also wrote: ‘Sending love on this special day ❤️Happy Birthday Gigi.’

Other well-wishers included Khloe Kardashian, La La Anthony and Sabrina Ionescu.

Gianna, her father, others from the team and their parents were on the way to the Academy in Newbury Park, California for a game when the accident occurred.

Gigi, who was 13 at the time of her death, aspired to be a high-level basketball player like her father and play for UConn’s legendary women’s program.  

‘It’s been awesome,’ Bryant told USA TODAY Sports of getting to coach Gianna and her team. 

‘You get to see them grow and develop and get better. It’s more important than the game itself that you understand that their confidence as young women grows tremendously through playing the sport and you have to be mindful of that.’

Vanessa’s birthday post to Gigi came after mural in Los Angeles of Bryant with his second daughter was vandalized.

Lakers star Luka Doncic later donated a GoFundMe’s total goal of $5,000 to fund the restoration of the piece.

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Kobe Bryant’s widow Vanessa shares heartbreaking message on late daughter Gigi’s 19th birthday



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