Vanessa Bryant – the widow of late NBA icon Kobe – appeared to reference her husband’s rumored feud with his parents while sending her condolences following the death of his father.
The world of basketball is in mourning after Kobe’s dad Joe Bryant tragically died at the age of 69 this week after recently suffering a stroke.
His passing comes four-and-a-half years after his son – then only 41 – and his granddaughter Gianna, 13, were among those killed in a helicopter crash.
Following the death of her father-in-law, Vanessa took to Instagram to pay her respects on Tuesday afternoon, while also seeming to express regret over her husband’s rift with Joe and mom Pam.
‘Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing,’ she wrote.
‘We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much. Our prayers go out to family.’
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe’s relationship with son Kobe became strained as the Lakers legend built a Hall of Fame career in the NBA.
He never spoke publicly about his son’s death and earlier this year, the 2000 NBA title ring gifted to him by Kobe sold for $927,000 at auction.
Back in 2016, Kobe revealed he hadn’t spoken to his parents in almost three years after they attempted to auction off his high school memorabilia – without consent.
‘Our relationship is s**t,’ he told ESPN. ‘I say (to them): “I’m going to buy you a very nice home, and the response is “That’s not good enough”… then you’re selling my s**t?’
Kobe and his daughter Gianna died along with seven others when their helicopter came down in Calabasas, California, in January 2020.
They had flown from John Wayne Airport near his home in Newport Beach and were on their way to Thousand Oaks to Bryant’s Mamba Basketball Academy when they slammed into a hillside.
Kobe had been with wife Vanessa for two decades at the time of his passing after the couple began dating in 1999, when they met on the set of his music video.
They got engaged shortly after Vanessa turned 18, before tying the knot in 2001.
