Natalia Bryant, LeBron James & More Lead Tributes To Kobe Bryant On Posthumous 44th Birthday

Kobe Bryant continues to live on in the hearts of many. The legendary basketballer passed away in a tragic helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, that also took the life of his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others.

Tuesday, August 23, 2022, would have marked Kobe's 44th birthday if he were still alive. While he isn't here with us, the immense love fans and colleagues had for him remains ever strong, as evident by the slew of tributes dedicated to him on his posthumous celebration.

Several NBA powerhouses, celebrities, fans, and loved ones honored the late athlete on social media.

Kobe's eldest daughter Natalia Bryant led the tributes, sharing a heartwarming throwback photo. The iconic athlete was seen in his younger days cuddling little Natalia on his legs as she stared off into the distance with a wide grin on her face. The duo was seen in the crowd at a basketball game. The doting daughter captioned the post, "Happy Birthday Daddy! ♥️." She also urged whoever owned rights to the image to contact her.

The 19-year-old accompanied her mother, Vanessa Bryant, to the federal Los Angeles courtroom on Monday, day 9 of her ongoing invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against Los Angeles County for taking and distributing graphic photos of the crash site.

LeBron James, who played with him on the Los Angeles Lakers and shared a close bond off-court, uploaded a photo of Kobe on his Instagram story alongside a snake and halo emoji. He also reposted a video of the talented player showing off his skills on the court. In his tribute to Kobe in 2020, James declared he was "heartbroken and devastated" while promising to carry on his legacy on the court.

Fellow basketballer and Lakers alum Shaquille O’Neal who shared unrivaled chemistry with Kobe on the court, despite their tense relationship off-court, paid a heartwarming tribute on social media. Shaq reposted a 13-second clip of Kobe and Allen Iverson on the court. On Twitter, he retweeted a video showing the several Kobe portraits he hangs on the wall in his home.

Lamar Odom shared a sweet photo of him and the late Philadelphia native on the court in matching NBA shirts, with Odom’s arm lovingly resting on his pal’s shoulder. He wrote, "Happy birthday @kobebryant we all out here celebrating you today. #mambamentality 🐍."

Derek Fisher, who played alongside Kobe as a Laker, shared a famous photo of Kobe planting a sweet kiss on his beloved Gigi alongside a prayer hand emoji.

Pau Gasol, a tight friend of the retired basketballer both on the court and off court shared a heart-melting image of him and Kobe in a recovery room after a Lakers match. The very good pals were seen barefoot and sweaty as they had a conversation. The Spanish player who has remained close to Vanessa and her daughters captioned his post, "Happy birthday, hermano. Miss you 🐍, always ❤️."

Singer Ciara, who is a dear friend of Vanessa’s and was present for Monday’s trial to show some support, posted a black and white image of Kobe on her Instagram Story with the caption, "Happy birthday Kob! Thank you to the inspiration you continually give us all!!” #MambaMentality Forever 🖤." Her husband Russell Wilson, who is also an athlete, shared the same picture with the words, "happy birthday Mamba."

Actress Viola Davis also joined in the tributes sharing a photo of her and Kobe sharing a side hug as they posed for the camera. "Happy heavenly birthday!! Always missed and always loved."

Earlier in the day, Vanessa paid tribute to her high school sweetheart with a throwback photo of them from the Lakers' 2009 NBA Championship. The lovebirds grinned from ear to ear and looked so in love. The touching tribute was Vanessa’s first post since the trial started on August 10.

Happy heavenly birthday, Kobe!