Tuesday would've been Kobe Bryant's 44th birthday ... and his wife, Vanessa, just penned a heartfelt bday note.
Of course, Bryant went on to play 20 seasons in the NBA -- winning 5 championships and 2 NBA Finals MVP ... [Gigi](https://www.tmz.com/people/gianna-bryant/)'s untimely death, Vanessa has been honoring them in countless ways ... Vanessa posted a photo of her and her NBA legend hubby from 2009 ... and his wife, [Vanessa](https://www.tmz.com/people/vanessa-bryant/), penned a heartfelt birthday note on Instagram, writing she loves and misses him so much. and they were both all smiles. #44 ❤️ @kobebryant"
Vanessa Bryant honored her late husband Kobe Bryant on what would have been his 44th birthday. See her touching tribute below.
News App](https://eonline.onelink.me/ItsS/1b3e9f57) [never wants her daughters to see the gruesome photos](https://www.eonline.com/news/1342624/vanessa-bryant-recounts-devastating-moment-she-learned-about-kobe-and-gianna-bryant-crash-site-photos). Vanessa also shared some scenery in the other pics, including images of the coastal city's waterfront and buildings. "Visited Reggio Calabria," Vanessa captioned a July 18 carousel of Instagram pictures from the trip, "a city my husband lived in when he was about 8 years old." I love you V!!!" "Happy birthday, baby!"
Vanessa Bryant is currently suing the Los Angeles County sheriff's and fire departments over images of her deceased husband.
However, she was ordered to turn over her [mental health records](https://www.newsweek.com/vanessa-bryant-must-turn-over-therapy-records-showing-her-emotional-distress-judge-rules-1649826). The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded in its investigation that the crash was caused by pilot error. I can't escape what I feel." "I can't escape my body. "Mrs. [NBA](https://www.newsweek.com/topic/nba) legend died in a [helicopter crash in January 2020](https://www.newsweek.com/kobe-bryant-reportedly-killed-helicopter-crash-calabasas-california-1484093) alongside the couple's daughter Gianna, 13, and seven others.
The loss never gets easier if you're a Lakers fan. It applies a hundred times over for Kobe's wife Vanessa and the rest of the Bryant family.
To just imagine what kind of achievements and feats Kobe Bryant would have been able to accomplish by this time had the tragedy not befallen the Lakers icon always adds a tinge of sadness when remembering the man that he was. Photos taken from first responders that they had shown to colleagues and civilians were at the center of the case that has continued to trouble the Bryant family. On what would have been Kobe’s 44th birthday, Vanessa Bryant made a heartfelt post on Instagram in remembrance of her beloved husband.
Vanessa Bryant honored her late husband, Kobe Bryant, on Tuesday, which would've been his 44th birthday. Vanessa shared a special photo of herself and the ...
Kobe and Gianna were on their way, along with seven other people, to a youth basketball game at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Singer Monica, actor Mario Lopez, and even the Lakers official Instagram account also commented to wish Kobe a happy birthday. Several celebrities took a moment to comment on Vanessa's post and wish Kobe a Happy Birthday.
Kobe Bryant's birthday comes amid Vanessa's ongoing legal battle against Los Angeles County.
[announced via a poem](https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/dear-basketball) on The Players' Tribune on Nov. But getting out of bed and pushing forward is going to make the day better for my girls and for me. They inspire me to try harder and be better every day. In the snap, Kobe is seen wearing a baseball hat and a 2009 NBA Championships T-shirt which his team, the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://people.com/sports/watch-the-first-trailer-for-hulus-legacy-the-true-story-of-the-la-lakers/), won. "'A lot of people say they want to be great, but they're not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve greatness.' - KB." Lying in bed crying isn't going to change the fact that my family will never be the same again. ♥️," she wrote in the caption. "Happy Anniversary [@kobebryant](https://www.instagram.com/kobebryant/) [#21](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/21/) ❤️❤️" They married on April 18, 2001, in Dana Point, California before welcoming their first child, "Daddy! [Natalia](https://people.com/sports/natalia-bryant-loves-talking-about-late-dad-kobe-bryant-bittersweet/) in 2003 followed by [Gianna](https://people.com/parents/gianna-bryant-throwback-photos/) in 2006.