Kobe Bryant’s daughter, Bianka Bryant, has played a special role in honoring her late father. Accompanied by her mother, Vanessa Bryant, 7-year-old Bianka threw the ceremonial first pitch ahead of the Dodgers’ game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, August 25.
A video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by a Los Angeles Lakers fan account captured the moment, showing Bianka winding up and delivering an impressive pitch to Dodgers’ right fielder Mookie Betts at Dodgers Stadium.
Vanessa, 42, and her daughters Natalia, 21, Bianka, 7, and Capri, 5, paid tribute to Kobe Bryant by wearing matching Dodgers jerseys featuring his iconic No. 24. The event honored Kobe, who passed away in a 2020 helicopter crash along with his daughter Gianna.
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Later that day, Vanessa shared photos and videos on Instagram, expressing gratitude to the Dodgers for supporting the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation. Among the highlights was a photo of Bianka smiling alongside Dodgers star Betts.
The Bryant family’s connection to the Los Angeles Dodgers extended many years ago, with Bianka’s first pitch being the latest tribute. In September 2023, Natalia Bryant took the mound at Dodgers Stadium, following in the footsteps of her late father, Kobe, who threw the first pitch at a Dodgers game in June 2000.
At the August 25 event, attendees received special-edition Kobe jerseys to honor the Lakers legend, just days after what would have been his 46th birthday.
The special-edition Bryant jerseys given to fans at the August 25 Dodgers game featured a design inspired by the “Black Mamba,” incorporating snake print along with gold and black colors. The jerseys showcased both of Kobe’s iconic numbers, 8 and 24.
The event followed the city’s official Kobe Bryant Day on August 24, recognized in Los Angeles and Orange County. To further celebrate the Lakers legend, the Dodgers also distributed Showtime Lakers T-shirts and complimentary cartoon designs of Kobe wearing a Dodgers uniform during the game.
Several Lakers legends, including Michael Cooper, A.C. Green, Kurt Rambis, Byron Scott, Mychal Thompson, and James Worthy, participated in a pre-game ceremony and threw out the first pitch.
The tribute continued after the game with a Lakers-themed drone show that lit up the sky. This Kobe-themed night is part of Los Angeles’ ongoing efforts to celebrate the late basketball icon’s legacy, following the recent unveiling of a new statue of Kobe in downtown L.A..
The statue, which artist Karon Davis designed, was unveiled on August 2 outside the Crypto.com Arena, celebrating Kobe and his daughter Gianna.
