Kobe and Vanessa Bryant have a love story that dates back to 1999 when they met on a video shoot. 21-year-old Kobe was immediately smitten by 17-year-old Vanessa, and he pulled out all the stops to impress her with his charm. Not everyone was happy about their relationship, though, but Kobe ignored the naysayers and went on to build a beautiful life with Vanessa.
Before he and his daughter Gianna Bryant’s lives were lost in a tragic helicopter accident on Jan. 26, 2020, Kobe was completely committed to Vanessa and their family.
Here’s the truth about their beautiful love story.
Moving to L.A. helped Kobe meet the love of his life
Philly native Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick of the 1996 NBA draft. He was then immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He moved out west, bringing along his parents, Joe and Pam Bryant, and his two sisters. Joe Bryant told the Orlando Sentinel: “We weren’t just going to let him come out here by himself. That wasn’t how we worked.”
For three years, the Bryant family lived together in a house in the Pacific Palisades. Kobe didn’t hesitate to invite his family to share his newfound wealth either. He took care of them financially and even bought fancy vehicles for everyone, including a BMW for his dad.
Kobe grew up and matured, and he was starting to make his own decisions. So his family decided to let him live by himself, but they weren’t too far away. They purchased a home that was just a quarter-mile away from Kobe. According to the Sentinel, Kobe had plans to build a gym in between the two homes, but those plans came to a screeching halt when he met Vanessa at the 1999 video shoot for Tha Eastsidaz song “G’d Up.”
A magical first date
In November 1999, he took her to Disneyland on their first date, and their relationship moved at lightning speed from them on. According to the Los Angeles Times, their romance sent shockwaves through Vanessa’s Marina High School campus. One classmate revealed Kobe would have flowers delivered to Vanessa while she was in class, and it wasn’t uncommon to see the Los Angeles Laker pick her up from school.
When a television helicopter was seen flying over the campus in an attempt to capture images of the couple, It was clear that Vanessa’s days as a typical high school senior were over. She skipped out on her prom and finished her education through homeschooling.
A quickie engagement causes drama
In May 2000, just six months after their first date, Kobe proposed to Vanessa with a seven-carat diamond engagement ring. It should’ve been a happy moment in their lives, but Kobe’s teammates, his family, and even his agent wondered if he was moving too quickly.
Sources reported Kobe’s parents had an issue with the fact he wasn’t marrying an African-American woman. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Kobe confirmed his dad was also uneasy with his selfless devotion to Vanessa. However, Kobe said he was just following what he had learned from the Bible. He said, “When you get married, your mother and father and sisters are no longer the priority. […] That’s the way it has to be.”
Knowing that he was going to go through with the marriage regardless, his family and his longtime agent Arn Tellem encouraged him to at least get a prenup, but Kobe refused. And anyone who wasn’t in support of his upcoming nuptials found themselves on the outside of his inner circle. The LA Times revealed he even fired Arn and replaced him with Rob Pelinka after Arn encouraged Kobe to protect his assets from Vanessa.
A private wedding sans Kobe’s parents
On April 18, 2001, Kobe and Vanessa tied the knot at St. Edward Roman Catholic Church in Dana Point, Calif. According to the LA Times, none of Kobe’s relatives or teammates were in attendance. In fact, only 12 people showed up to the private ceremony. But none of that mattered to Kobe and Vanessa. They were madly in love.
Kobe’s parents packed up and moved back to Philadelphia, and in January 2002, Kobe purchased a multi-million dollar home for him and Vanessa in Newport Beach. He also bought Vanessa’s mom a $3-million dollar house a few doors down.
A source told People magazine the couple was “very devoted to one another.” Vanessa, who was described as a jittery flyer, had overcome her fears just so she could be by her new husband’s side during his away games.
Kobe was devoted to Vanessa
If anyone believed Kobe was too young to be married, he proved them wrong. The Orlando Sentinel reported he once rushed home from the road during the playoffs to be by Vanessa’s side when she got sick. And he went to great lengths to protect his wife by providing her with topnotch security during his basketball games.
Vanessa was even offered special privileges around the Lakers’ arena. She told The Cut website she had elite access around the venue that other players’ wives weren’t given. She was allowed inside the tunnel, the area where the players would exit the court, so she could privately kiss her husband after the games away from all the cameras.
Scandal follows the birth of their eldest daughter
In January 2003, they welcomed their first daughter, Natalia Diamante Bryant. Kobe’s estrangement with his mom ended shortly thereafter, but it took his dad Joe a bit of time to come around. Kobe told the Orlando Sentinel he would leave tickets for his parents to attend his games. They would sometimes show up but would reportedly sit in a different section away from Vanessa. Kobe expressed to the Sentinel how the estrangement affected him personally. He said: “It’s not about basketball. […] It’s about having somebody to hang out with. That’s what I miss.”
With their new baby helping to mend the ties with his family, Kobe and Vanessa were finally at peace. But just seven months after the birth of their daughter, a 19-year-old woman accused Kobe of forcing himself on her at his hotel room Colorado. Thankfully, Vanessa remained committed and stayed by his side through it all.
During a live press conference, a resentful Kobe apologized to his wife by telling her: “You’re my backbone. You’re a blessing. You’re a piece of my heart. You’re the air I breathe.”
He also went into overdrive to express his love for her. He presented her with an 8-carat purple diamond ring worth a reported $4 million dollars. He also got some new ink: Vanessa’s name with a crown, two angel wings and the inscription Psalm 17.
The charges were dropped in 2004 after the woman refused to testify. She later filed a civil suit in which Kobe settled privately.
The aftermath of his ‘mistake’
The incident was behind them, but despite expressing his remorse, the scandal continued to affect Vanessa’s life. In the Showtime documentary Kobe Bryant’s Muse (via the NY Daily News), he revealed Vanessa had been pregnant but suffered a miscarriage in early 2005. Kobe blamed himself for the loss, stating his wife was dealing with too much stress in connection with the allegations. He said: “Because of my mistake, because of this tough year, we lost a baby.”
Protecting Vanessa at all costs
There was nothing he wouldn’t do for Vanessa, and that was evident in 2005 when he got entangled in a public feud with his former teammate Karl Malone. According to ESPN, Karl was dressed in a cowboy hat and boots, which prompted Vanessa to ask: “Hey, cowboy, what are you hunting?” Karl reportedly responded, “I’m hunting for little Mexican girls.” SMH.
Rumors of other alleged flirty comments Karl made to Vanessa rubbed her the wrong way, so she reached out to Karl’s wife, Kay Malone, to let her know what was going on. And Kobe picked up his cell phone and called Karl himself.
ESPN reports Karl didn’t deny what took place, and his reply was, “You know me, man.” And Kobe reportedly responded: “That’s right, I do know you — and stay away from my wife.”
A second child…and a divorce
Proving how much they were committed to making their marriage work, they renewed their vows in May 2005. According to E! News, the surprise recommitment ceremony was planned by Kobe and took place in Laguna Beach, Calif.
Their second daughter Gianna Bryant was born in May 2006, and five years later, Vanessa shocked the world by filing for divorce. Without a prenup in place, sources reported Vanessa was poised to be awarded half of Kobe’s fortune. But nothing could keep these two apart.
Two years later, they announced their reconciliation. Kobe wrote on social media: “I am happy to say that Vanessa and I are moving on with our lives together as a family. When the show ends and the music stops, the journey is made beautiful by having that someone to share it with.”
From basketball player to dad coach
Their third daughter Bianka Bella Bryant was born in December 2016, and the Black Mamba retired from the game of basketball after the 2015-2016, after an amazing career that included five championships and 18 all-star appearances. Unfortunately, his parents were noticeably absent during his farewell game, signaling yet another family rift. It was later reported they fell out of contact a few years prior when his parents tried to auction off some of his high school memorabilia without his consent.
His professional career was over, but basketball still remained close to his heart. When his daughter Gianna expressed an interest in the game, Kobe was all in. He started coaching her basketball team, and Gianna, who had perfected her dad’s signature fadeaway shot, was affectionately given the nickname Mambacita.
The love he has for their princesses
Their daughter, Capri Kobe Bryant, was born in June 2019, and Kobe was fiercely proud of all four of his daughters. He also had the perfect clapback for anyone who made mention of him not having any sons. In July 2017, he said, “My friends say, ‘It takes a real man to make a boy.’ I’m like, ‘Dude, it takes a king to make a princess.’”
In 2019, Kobe told Extra TV Vanessa wanted to have a baby boy more than he did. Sadly, their dream of expanding their family was cut short on January 26, 2020, when Kobe, his daughter Gianna, 6 passengers, and the pilot lost their lives in a helicopter accident.
Kobe and Vanessa’s love lives on forever
Just weeks before his untimely passing, Kobe told All the Smoke podcast the reason he and Vanessa kept their marriage intact throughout all the ups and downs was due to their competitive spirit. He said: “That’s all the beauty of it: having the persistence and determination to work through things — very, very tough things — and we’ve been able to do that.”
Our hearts go out to Vanessa, their children, and all the other families that were affected by this tragedy. We can’t imagine what Vanessa is going through at this moment, but it’s obvious she will have a huge team of supporters and loved ones to see her through these very difficult times.
We send our condolences as she mourns the loss of the love of her life and her beautiful daughter.