On April 13, 2016 – four years ago this month – Kobe Bryant’s played his final NBA game – and this year, its anniversary falls just a few months after his sudden passing after suffering a fatal helicopter accident. As the world and his family is still completely shaken, this year the day is remembered by family, friends and fans with a lot of emotion.
To honor the occasion, Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant posted a heartfelt homage to her husband on Instagram.
An Hommage To Her Husband
“My husband worked his a** off for 20 years. Gave it his all. All he wanted was to spend time with our girls and me to make up for lost time. He wanted to be there for every single milestone and special moment in our girl’s lives.” she wrote.
Kobe was partially owned by the world for two decades. His basketball career and excellence required a lot of sacrifices which took away time from his family. But there came a time when he wasn’t willing to make that trade anymore.
Time to Retire And Spend Time With Family
After that faithful night of April 13, 2016, when Kobe signed off from his Hall of Fame career with a 60-point jaw-dropper against the Utah Jazz, it was time for him to finally have some family time with his wife Vanessa and their daughters. That’s why you didn’t see Bryant at many of the Los Angeles Lakers game post-retirement. He really dove into the home unit.
Post Retirement Achievements
“He only got to enjoy 3 years and 9 months of retirement. We had 2 more daughters, he won an Oscar, he opened Granity studios, he became a 5x best selling author and coached Gianna’s basketball team in that time. She worked hard and gave her all 7 days a week just like her daddy.” Vanessa wrote on her post. He did it all from their Orange County residence.
Gone Too Soon
Vanessa waited so long for his retirement so they could spend more time with each other. Vanessa added. “Life truly isn’t fair. This is just senseless.” On top of the grief, the Bryant family has to endure a new uncertain reality together with the world amid this pandemic.
A Lonely Struggle
Vanessa concluded her post with a painful note: “I wish I could go back to that morning, every day. I wish they had a normal local game on 1/26. Life truly isn’t fair. This is just senseless.” There are no absolutes, no appropriate way to remember. When your world is turned upside down you are, overwhelmed with sadness, and intense anger. It is all normal.
Focusing On The Positive
Vanessa focuses on staying positive through it all. She is without her husband, the father of her children, whose life was cut short too soon.“It’s a beautiful time to be able to have this moment with my family and have the finish that we’ve had, It’s amazing how fast time goes, man.” Kobe Bryant said in the video that accompanied Vanessa’s post.