KOBE Bryant's daughter Gianna, who went by "Gigi", was among the nine victims who tragically died in the January 25 helicopter crash.

Kobe Bryant said Gigi was a basketball star in the making, describing her as "something else" on the court, with the 13-year-old wanting to follow her five-time NBA champion father’s footsteps.

Who was Kobe Bryant's daughter Gianna? 

Gigi was a budding basketball player who was the second of four daughters of Kobe and his wife Vanessa, 37.

She was a rising star in her own right and was set to take part in a practice session.

One of her team-mates was also said to have been on board the helicopter when it crashed into a hill shrouded in fog 30 miles west of downtown Los Angeles.

Gianna was also known as Gigi and had the term Mambacita on her Insta account.

Why was Gianna on the helicopter with her dad?

Gianna and dad Kobe had been expected at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks for a basketball game scheduled for Sunday.

The teenager was expected to play in the game and her dad was expected to coach, according to Lady Mavericks team director Evelyn Morales.

The pair died after the helicopter crashed on Sunday, January 26.

What basketball team did Gianna play for?

Gianna Bryant played for the Mamba Lady Mavericks team and had been expected to play girls from the Fresno Lady Heat team.

One day she wanted to play in the WNBA, and Kobe believed she was the heir to his legacy.

What had Kobe Bryant said about his daughter?

Proud dad Kobe would send videos showcasing his daughter’s basketball prowess to Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, who was also Gianna’s godfather.

A 2019 viral video of Gianna’s basketball highlights showed her using moves she learned from her legendary father, who described her as “something else” when she was out on the court.

Gianna was always quick to remind people that her father didn’t need a son to continue the family’s basketball legacy.

In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Kobe said of his daugther: "This kid, man, I’m telling you.

"The best thing that happens when we go out and fans come up to me and she’ll be standing next to me and they are saying you have to have a boy, to have someone carry on your tradition and legacy.

"And ‘she’s like hey, he's got this’."

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