MANILA, Philippines – “We’ll get a better pic tomorrow,” Kobe Bryant reportedly told a young fan after they took a blurry selfie on Saturday, January 25. But tomorrow never came because the NBA legend died in a helicopter accident on Sunday, alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people.
Brady Smigiel, 13, played in the Mamba Cup for Team Edge last weekend at the Mamba Sports Academy along with his twin brother, Beau. Their mother, Dionne Reich Smigiel, revealed that the boys were especially excited that day because they knew they would see Kobe.
“Let's go see Kobe before our games,” the boys told each other when they woke up.
“They are both obsessed with basketball and big fans of Kobe. Brady was writing to our 'family text' group all day. When we are in Newport Beach, Brady makes me drive by Kobe's gate just in hopes he might be driving out at the same time,” mom Dionne said.
So, on Saturday, Brady summoned the courage to talk to Kobe after Gianna’s first game ended. But at the time Kobe was reportedly ‘angry’ because the team lost. He coaches Gianna’s team, the Lady Mambas.
“He said Kobe was 'mad they lost' and wouldn't take a pic but gave him knuckles,” Dionne shared.
The NBA star was in a better mood after the Lady Mambas won in the second game. So, Brady approached him again as he was leaving the building. The selfie turned out to be a bit blurry as he was in a hurry, but Kobe promised the young boy they’ll have a better photo the following day.
Kobe was set to come back to the Mamba Sports Academy on Sunday as the Lady Mambas also had two games scheduled that day; one at noon and another at 2PM.
Sadly, they never made it to the sports facility. Kobe and Gianna lost their lives along with two other girls from the team, Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester.
The news saddened the family.
“We are struggling. Kobe was such a presence in our little community of Newbury Park. My boys don't know how to process this. I woke up on Sunday and heard there was a helicopter crash in Calabasas and said to my family, Oh, my gosh, a helicopter just went down at the same time Kobe is supposed to arrive in Camarillo. Pray it's not him and Gigi,’” Dionne narrated. “Then an hour later we got the news. It's just all so sad.”
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
Brady Smigiel, 13, played in the Mamba Cup for Team Edge last weekend at the Mamba Sports Academy along with his twin brother, Beau. Their mother, Dionne Reich Smigiel, revealed that the boys were especially excited that day because they knew they would see Kobe.
“Let's go see Kobe before our games,” the boys told each other when they woke up.
“They are both obsessed with basketball and big fans of Kobe. Brady was writing to our 'family text' group all day. When we are in Newport Beach, Brady makes me drive by Kobe's gate just in hopes he might be driving out at the same time,” mom Dionne said.
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| Photo credit: Brady Smigiel |
So, on Saturday, Brady summoned the courage to talk to Kobe after Gianna’s first game ended. But at the time Kobe was reportedly ‘angry’ because the team lost. He coaches Gianna’s team, the Lady Mambas.
“He said Kobe was 'mad they lost' and wouldn't take a pic but gave him knuckles,” Dionne shared.
The NBA star was in a better mood after the Lady Mambas won in the second game. So, Brady approached him again as he was leaving the building. The selfie turned out to be a bit blurry as he was in a hurry, but Kobe promised the young boy they’ll have a better photo the following day.
 |
| Photo credit: Brady Smigiel |
Kobe was set to come back to the Mamba Sports Academy on Sunday as the Lady Mambas also had two games scheduled that day; one at noon and another at 2PM.
Sadly, they never made it to the sports facility. Kobe and Gianna lost their lives along with two other girls from the team, Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester.
The news saddened the family.
“We are struggling. Kobe was such a presence in our little community of Newbury Park. My boys don't know how to process this. I woke up on Sunday and heard there was a helicopter crash in Calabasas and said to my family, Oh, my gosh, a helicopter just went down at the same time Kobe is supposed to arrive in Camarillo. Pray it's not him and Gigi,’” Dionne narrated. “Then an hour later we got the news. It's just all so sad.”
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
