Jeanie Buss posts a touching open letter to Kobe Bryant

Jeanie Buss started an Instagram post Thursday stating she didn’t know how to express what Kobe Bryant meant to her.
But then the Lakers controlling owner went on to do a very nice job of doing just that, four days after a helicopter crash took the lives of Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others.
Jeanie Buss posts a touching open letter to Kobe Bryant

Buss’ first public statement since Bryant’s death is a touching open letter to the Lakers legend.
“Kobe, I don’t know how to express what you mean to me, my family and the Los Angeles Lakers,” wrote Buss, daughter of late Lakers owner Jerry Buss. “My father loved you like a son, which makes us family.”
She goes on to tell of an encounter with Bryant shortly after her father’s death, at a time she says she “was struggling to find motivation and purpose.”

View this post on Instagram

Kobe, I don’t know how to express what you mean to me, my family and the Los Angeles Lakers. My father loved you like a son, which makes us family. When you invited me to lunch shortly after my father passed away, I was struggling to find motivation and purpose. Kobe, you brought Gianna with you to spend some time with me. You explained that you wanted to show her that women can be leaders in the NBA, just like the men. At first, it seemed like an action of a devoted father setting an example for his daughter. But in actuality – and I am positively sure you knew EXACTLY what you were doing – what you did was give me the inspiration and strength I was searching for. I reflect on that day often and it makes me smile and it makes me strong. I call on that memory whenever I feel down and need a bit of courage. For everything you did on the court that filled me with so much joy and love, for all the lives you changed through basketball itself, it was that day with Gigi that reignited my drive and determination. Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri - I am so sorry for your loss. We are grateful to have you in our lives and we will always be here for you. To the families that also lost loved ones on Sunday, the entire Laker family mourns with you. Laker Nation - we are one family grieving the loss of people we all loved dearly. We will mourn together, cry together but we will also heal together, love together and win TOGETHER. We love you. Kobe - that’s what you made you so unbelievably special. You not only inspired us towards greatness, you showed us the way. : : To learn more about how you can help the families affected by this tragedy go to MambaOnThree.org and to further Kobe and Gianna’s legacy in youth sports visit MambaSportsFoundation.org #peace #love #joy #family #Mamba #Mambacita #2 #8 #24 : : Picture taken in February 2016 on the way to #NBAAllStar game in #Toronto

A post shared by Jeanie Buss (@jeaniebuss) on Jan 30, 2020 at 9:05am PST

“Kobe, you brought Gianna with you to spend some time with me,” Buss wrote. “You explained that you wanted to show her that women can be leaders in the NBA, just like the men. At first, it seemed like an action of a devoted father setting an example for his daughter. But in actuality — and I am positively sure you knew EXACTLY what you were doing — what you did was give me the inspiration and strength I was searching for.

“I reflect on that day often and it makes me smile and it makes me strong. I call on that memory whenever I feel down and need a bit of courage. For everything you did on the court that filled me with so much joy and love, for all the lives you changed through Basketball itself, it was that day with Gigi that reignited my drive and determination.”
Jeanie Buss posts a touching open letter to Kobe Bryant

Buss concludes by expressing her condolences to Vanessa Bryant and her surviving daughters, as well as everyone who lost loved ones in the helicopter crash.
“The entire Laker family mourns with you,” she wrote. “Laker Nation — we are one family grieving the loss of people we all loved dearly. We will mourn together, cry together but we will also heal together, love together and win TOGETHER. We love you.”

Jeanie Buss posts a touching open letter to Kobe Bryant

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