Vanessa Bryant probably doesn’t get enough credit for the role she’s played in Kobe Bryant’s historic NBA career. She has been with Kobe since the beginning—the two met during Kobe’s third season in the league—and while the couple has endured their fair share of problems over the years, she has been by his side through the many ups and downs of his career.
Vanessa is also at least partially responsible for pushing Kobe towards greatness on the basketball court. Back in 2012, she did an interview with New York Magazine and revealed that she wouldn’t have married Kobe if she didn’t think he could win a lot of titles.
“I certainly would not want to be married to somebody that can’t win championships,” she said at the time. “If you’re sacrificing time away from my family and myself for the benefit of winning championships, then winning a championship should happen every year.”
Of course, Kobe didn’t win a title every year. But he did win five titles, and Vanessa reminded everyone of that by wearing Kobe’s, er, Boo-Boo’s (we thought it was Bay-Boo, Vanessa?!) five NBA championship rings for a photo she posted on Instagram last night. Here it is:
Much respect. To both Kobe and Vanessa.
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