Kobe Bryant‘s sister Sharia Washington has revealed her new tribute tattoo to the late basketball star and his daughter Gianna.
The father and daughter were tragically killed aged 41 and 13 in a devastating helicopter crash on January 26 alongside nine others.
Sharia took to Instagram on Wednesday night to reveal that she had received a tribute tattoo in honour of Kobe and Gianna.
Tribute: Kobe Bryant’s sister Sharia Washington has revealed her new tribute tattoo to the late basketball star and his daughter Gianna
The tribute tattoo has a black Mamba snake wrapped around the numbers two and giac mo 24, which were Gianna and Kobe’s basketball jersey numbers.
Sharia penned alongside the snap: ‘Thank you @peterbarriostattoo,’ followed by prayer hands, a snake and a heart emoji.
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The heartbroken sibling has copied the design of one of Kobe’s T-shirts, which had a white snake wrapped around the numbers two and four, in reference to his 24 basketball jersey.
In January, Sharia shared a collection of photos with Kobe over the years, she penned: ‘On behalf of our family, we join Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka and Capri in grieving the loss of Kobe and Gianna in such a tragic accident.
Tragic: The father and daughter were tragically killed aged 41 and 13 in a devastating helicopter crash on January 26 alongside nine others (pictured together in July 2019)
Family: The heartbroken sibling (right) has copied the design of one of Kobe’s T-shirts, which had a white snake wrapped around the numbers two and four, in reference to his 24 basketball jersey (pictured)
‘We are devastated by the loss of our brother, son, our niece and granddaughter, and our hearts go out to all the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday.
‘Our lives are forever changed. Thank you for your prayers, the numerous calls, texts, emails and cards. Please visit MambaOnThree.org to support the families affected by Sunday’s tragedy and to honour Kobe and Gianna’s legacy.’ (sic)
Earlier this week, a public memorial was held for Kobe and Gianna at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, where Kobe played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 17 seasons of his two-decade NBA career.
The star-studded crowd were all personal friends, family and fans of the Bryant family, and appeared visibly moved as they watched Kobe’s widow Vanessa speak about her double loss.
Love: Kobe pictured with wife Vanessa and daughters Gianna, Bianka, Capri and Natalia (L-R)
The ceremony began with Beyonce performing her songs XO and Halo with dozens dozens of backup musicians.
After Jimmy Kimmel welcomed the crowd, Vanessa Bryant remembered the family’s life with Gianna and her three siblings and then eulogised her husband. They had been together since 1999.
Speaking at time through tears, Vanessa Bryant praised her husband’s devotion as she addressed thousands of fans gathered at Staples Center to remember Bryant and 13-year-old Gianna.
‘God knew they couldn’t be on this Earth without each other,’ Vanessa Bryant said. ‘He had to bring them home to have them together. Babe, you take care of our Gigi.’
Memorial: Earlier this week, a public memorial was held for Kobe and Gianna at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, where Kobe played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 17 seasons of his two-decade NBA career
Emotional: The star-studded crowd were all personal friends, family and fans of the Bryant family, and appeared visibly moved as they watched Kobe’s widow Vanessa speak about her double loss
The crowd included Lakers greats such as Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Pau Gasol.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver joined Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, and dozens of current NBA players, including Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook.
Lamar Odom, who played alongside Kobe from 2004 to 2011 with the Lakers was also in attendance.
Vanessa Bryant was followed on the podium by basketball stars Diana Taurasi and Sabrina Ionescu. Kobe Bryant was a passionate advocate for women´s basketball, and Gigi Bryant was a promising young player.
Heartache: The ceremony began with Beyonce performing her songs XO and Halo with dozens dozens of backup musicians
‘If I represented the present of the women´s game, Gigi represented the future, and Kobe knew it,’ said Ionescu, the Oregon star who was mentored by Bryant.
University of Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma was followed by Rob Pelinka, Bryant´s longtime agent before he became the Lakers´ general manager in 2017. Pelinka was Gigi Bryant´s godfather, and their families were close.
Pelinka referred to the day of the crash as ‘when the axis of the world seemed to shift forever, for all of us.’
He also revealed that Bryant had texted him only moments before the crash, asking for help in securing an internship with a baseball agent for teenager Alexis Altobelli, who lost her parents and younger sister in the crash moments later.
‘Kobe lived to make other people´s lives better, all the way up to his final text,’ Pelinka said.
The Lakers played their first home game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday since the death of Bryant and his daughter Gianna, and seven others, in a helicopter crash.” itemprop=”description” />
