Natalia Bryant has delivered a touching tribute for her late father, Kobe Bryant, at a ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
The basketball legend’s handprints and footprints, taken in 2011 after he won an Oscar for his short film Dear Basketball, have now been unveiled as a permanent fixture in the forecourt of the iconic theatre. Natalia, joined by her mother Vanessa Bryant and her younger sisters Bianka and Capri, spoke about Kobe being so much more than the NBA star the world knew him to be:
“While most people knew him as a basketball player or a storyteller, I got to know and love him as my dad. And let me tell you, he is the MVP of girl dads to say the least.”
She went on to share the little memories of watching Harry Potter and Marvel films with him: “Each of those memories I will never forget. He is the reason I’m pursuing film in college. And he is the reason film has inspired me to create memories like ours for other people to even bring more fathers and daughters together like us.”
Natalie continued: “It is truly astounding to be standing here in front of the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood forever displaying my dad’s hands and footprints. As you visit here for years to come, I encourage you to place your hands in his, and take a moment to stand in his shoes.”
She ends her speech by describing her dad as “an icon, a legend, a storyteller and most importantly the best girl dad any young woman could dream of.”
“I’m honoured to be hereto represent you an our family and we are extremely proud of you. We will love you forever and always.”
Kobe passed away in a plane crash with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others on January 26, 2020.
(Feature Image Credit: DFree/Shutterstock)