Kobe Bryant’s life came to an abrupt end in January 2020. For some context, the Los Angeles Lakers icon tragically passed away in a helicopter crash, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others. At the time, the news caught the entire world in shock. Kobe was considered to be a key member of the NBA family, mainly because of his influence on and off the NBA floor. To this day, the ‘Black Mamba’ continues to serve as an inspiration to millions of kids who want to become the best version of themselves.
JUST IN: Vanessa Bryant awarded $29 million settlement in Lawsuit against LA County over helicopter crash photos. pic.twitter.com/soKuq7yNR6
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) March 1, 2023
Kobe’s popularity meant that his family was also under the spotlight more often than they would have preferred. This was a major controversy when there were photos of the crash that were being circulated. Ultimately, Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife, managed to win a huge settlement and wipe the photos from the public eye.
Vanessa met Kobe in 1999, and the pair tied the knot in 2001, just two years later. And they stayed married until Kobe’s death, even though it must be mentioned that they had a rather turbulent marriage. After the 5x NBA champ’s demise, there have been various rumors about Vanessa’s dating life, which has been quite extreme at times.
Who is Vanessa Bryant dating right now?
Vanessa was rumored to have been dating Kobe’s former teammate, Derek Fisher. They were spotted sitting together 2021 WNBA All-Star Game, which sent the NBA into a meltdown. However, these could be just rumors that were speculated to gain some clicks on the internet. The truth is that Fisher is already married to Gloria Govan, which makes the whole dating angle nothing but empty talk.
Is this Derek Fisher in the suite with Vanessa Bryant and the kids during the WNBA All Star game tonight? 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/dRkda26OCS
— Willie Brooks (@billiedwillie) July 15, 2021
Vanessa has also been linked to boxer Victor Ortiz. When the Bryants were considering separating in 2011, Victor was right in the middle of burning rumors about him and Vanessa dating. However, Ortiz himself labeled these rumors as false. He even said that he had never been in the same room as Vanessa.
The focus of Vanessa’s life has been on her three daughters and keeping her husband’s legacy alive through various endeavors such as the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation. Together with Nike, Vanessa has set out on a mission to help young kids who dream of playing basketball at the highest level. She has even sent sneakers to various high schools and colleges, motivating them further.
Despite the lack of information about her personal life, it is clear that Vanessa’s priority is on her family. The loss of Kobe was devastating, not only to Vanessa and their children but also to the entire basketball community and fans around the world. In the wake of his passing, Vanessa has been open about her struggles with grief and how she is coping with the loss of her husband.