Natalia Bryant says her late father Kobe Bryant was “the best girl dad any young woman could ever dream of.”
The 20-year-old reflected on her dad’s legacy during a Wednesday tribute ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The event marked the unveiling of Kobe’s cemented handprints and footprints, which will be on permanent display in front of the historic venue.
“While most people knew him as a basketball player or a storyteller, I got to know and love him as my dad,” Natalia said about the late NBA star. “And let me tell you, he is the MVP of girl dads, to say the least.”
She went on to highlight Kobe’s commitment to his family and how he always found time to support his daughters despite his busy schedule.
“Being his daughter is one of the greatest joys of my life, and I hope to continue to embody and cherish the many lessons he has taught me,” Natalia said, before explaining her passion for films like Star Wars, Harry Potter, and The Goonies.
“The reason behind it is I watched all of these movies with my dad,” she said. “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.”
She continued, “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. This will be a treasure for the city of Los Angeles and my dad’s fans from all over the world to hold and to cherish.”
Natalia highlighted the fact that Kobe was the first NBA player to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. The honor was for 2017’s Dear Basketball, which he wrote and narrated. She recalled seeing her dad spend late nights working on the creative project, doing everything from writing to storyboarding to editing.
“It is only fitting that my dad, Kobe Bryant, is the very first athlete to get their hand and footprints displayed here,” she said. “This day symbolizes the impact that he has had on a city that he loved and cared for so deeply. … Now as I’ve gotten older, I continue to see the impact he had on those around him and the inspiration he has brought so many. … Dad, you are an icon, a legend, a storyteller, and most importantly the best girl dad any young woman could dream of.”
You can watch Natalia’s full speech above.
Kobe’s widow Vanessa Bryant and their two other daughters, Bianka and Capri, also attended the event. The ceremony took place more than three years after the athlete died in a Calabasas helicopter crash along with eight others, including 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
Following the tragedy, Vanessa Bryant sued Los Angeles County over photos taken at the scene of the crash. She settled the lawsuit last month for nearly $29 million.
