Former Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant was one of the most impactful people in U.S. sports during his 20-year NBA career, and he is trending on social media in a special way on Tuesday.
Sports fans around the world have taken to social media to celebrate what would have been the 44th birthday of the late Kobe, if not for his tragic death in January of 2020.
Happy Bornday @kobebryant
pic.twitter.com/BiOlVCYfkC — Cari Champion (@CariChampion) August 23, 2022
Among those who posted about Bryant on Tuesday was Vanessa Bryant, who posted a heartfelt message on her Instagram page remembering her late husband.
“Happy birthday, baby! I love you and miss you so much! #44,” said Vanessa Bryant.
One of Bryant’s best teammates throughout his career, Pau Gasol, also posted about his late friend’s birthday, expressing how he misses his “hermano” meaning brother in Spanish.
“Happy birthday, hermano. Miss you, always,” said Gasol.
Bryant’s list of accomplishments in the NBA is only matched by a few, making 18 All-Star appearances along with five NBA Championships as a member of the Lakers.
He was posthumously indicted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in the class of 2020 for his accomplishments both on and off the court.
The tragic death of Bryant shook the sports world to its core, and today is a reminder that the impact of his life and tragic passing is still felt by fans across the country.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.