Vanessa Bryant is continuing to preserve the legacy of her late husband, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, and their 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant with the release of her new book, Mamba & Mambacita Forever.
The book, set to hit shelves on August 19, 2025, will pay tribute to the beloved basketball star and his daughter, who tragically passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.
The book will feature photos and images curated by Vanessa Bryant and renowned sports photographer Andrew D. Bernstein, capturing the stories behind over 100 public murals created in their honor. These murals, located in Los Angeles and across the globe, celebrate Kobe’s contributions to basketball and Gianna’s passion for the sport, as well as their advocacy for women’s sports.
In a press release, Bryant described the book as a way to ensure that the tributes to Kobe and Gianna remain timeless. “Mamba & Mambacita Forever ensures that the murals of Kobe and Gianna Bryant will live on even after the most monumental murals themselves have all crumbled.”
The book’s release date is timed to coincide with “Kobe Bryant Day” on August 24—a day commemorating Kobe’s jersey numbers, 8 and 24.
Sean McDonald, publisher of MCD Books, which is publishing the book, expressed his admiration for Vanessa’s dedication to honoring Kobe and Gianna’s memory. “The book that Vanessa Bryant has put together with Andy Bernstein…is more than a balm for the loss we all still feel. The book is truly beautiful, and it only proves how much Kobe and Gianna live on,” McDonald said.
Kobe Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and 20-year veteran of the Los Angeles Lakers, left an indelible mark on the world of basketball. Gianna, affectionately called “Gigi,” was following in her father’s footsteps, with aspirations of playing in the WNBA before their untimely passing.
Since their tragic deaths, Vanessa Bryant has devoted herself to honoring their legacies. She founded the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on creating sports programming and making a positive impact on children in sports, in memory of Kobe and Gianna.
In addition to Gianna, Vanessa is also the mother of three other daughters: Natalia, Bianka, and Capri, whom she shared with Kobe.
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