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After Slaying Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Kobe Bryant’s Daughter Natalia Honors Father’s Legacy With Tear-Jerking Speech: “I Remember Sitting…”

Published 03/16/2023, 12:49 AM EDT

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Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant left behind an incredible legacy that still continues to inspire millions of fans to this date. It has been three years since the world lost the sports legend to a tragic accident, but it is evident that the impact that Kobe has left behind is huge and irreplaceable. Kobe’s family recently attended a memorable event in LA to pay a special tribute to the Black Mamba for his outstanding sports career.

Kobe and his daughter Gianna passed away in an unfortunate helicopter crash in 2020. The sudden demise of the NBA legend left the sports world in a devastating state as they mourned the loss of one of the brightest stars in the league’s history. Kobe is survived by his wife Vanessa and three daughters, Natalia, Bianca, and Capri.

Kobe Bryant enshrined forever

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The entire Bryant family recently gathered at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood to pay a special tribute to Kobe Bryant. The 5x NBA champion’s handprints and footprints will now be on a permanent display following its unveiling on Wednesday, March 15. However, this was not the first time that the TCL Chinese Theatre honored Bryant. About a decade ago, in 2011, he became the first athlete to have his hand and foot imprinted at the iconic theatre.

Other than the unveiling ceremony, the highlight of the event was probably the heartfelt speech given by the eldest Bryant daughter, Natalia. The 20-year-old budding model gave an emotional speech on Bryant’s legacy and called him the ‘MVP of girl dads’.

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According to PEOPLE, Natalia said, “I encourage you to place your hands in his and take a moment to stand in his shoes. This will be a treasure for the city of Los Angeles and my dad’s fans from all over the world to hold and to cherish.” 

Everything You Need to Know About Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant Winning an Oscar Award

Furthermore, she added, “He was the first-ever NBA player to win an Oscar for his short film and I’m extremely proud of him. Not only because it’s such an amazing achievement but because I was able to witness all the work leading up to that moment. I remember sitting beside him during late nights, whether I was working on a school project, getting a midnight snack, or unable to sleep. He would always be awake writing, story boarding, editing.”

Natalia Bryant attends the Oscars after-party

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Television personality and philanthropist Vanessa Bryant recently attended the Vanity Fair Oscars party along with her eldest daughter Natalia Bryant. The mother-daughter duo looked stunning in their respective glamorous outfits as they graced the red carpet together.

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While Vanessa opted for a black sequined form-fitting gown, Natalia chose to slay in an all-black outfit that consisted of an off-shoulder bodycon dress and long trains flowing from the sleeves.

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WATCH THIS STORY:  “When Kobe Bryant wore special news for Shaquille O’Neal and dropped 56 points”

What are your thoughts on Natalia’s emotional speech? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by:

Siyari Debbarma

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Siyari Debbarma is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. She is currently pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering and previously interned at the Y-East Organization as a content writer. Siyari has played quite a bit of basketball throughout her school years, and started following the NBA last year.
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Edited by:

Pragya Vashisth