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Kobe Bryant's Selfie with Young Fan Could Possibly Be One of Last Pics of the NBA Legend Alive
What may well be the last photo ever taken of Kobe Bryant before his death has come to light.
A 13-year-old boy has just become a part of NBA history by capturing the last photo of NBA icon Kobe Bryant.
The snap was taken at Kobe's Mamba Sports Academy, in Thousand Oaks on January 25, the day before his tragic death in a helicopter crash.
Vanessa Bryant broke her silence over the death of her husband Kobe Bryant and her daughter Ginna
Kobe Bryant with his family at Staples Center on Dec. 18, 2017/ Source: Getty Images
A HISTORIC SELFIE
Brady Smigiel, who was playing in the Mamba Cup for Team Edge at Kobe's Mamba Sports Academy woke up on January 25 with one thought in his mind: He wanted to see his icon, Kobe Bryant.
His mother Dionne Reich Smigiel revealed that her son was excited and kept saying to his twin brother:
"Let's go see Kobe before our games."
As luck would have it, Kobe was at the Academy to coach his daughter Gianna's team, who was playing for the Lady Mambas who were also competing in the Mamba Cup.
13-year-old Brady Smigiel captured perhaps the last picture of one of the greatest basketball players of all time https://t.co/poXreMnW2Z
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 29, 2020
After the Lady Mambas' game, Brady asked Kode if he could take a selfie with him, and the NBA star agreed. Unfortunately, the result was a little blurry, and Kode told Brady:
"'We'll get a better pic tomorrow."
When Brady Smigiel, 13, captured a blurry selfie with his idol, Kobe Bryant, on Saturday at the Mamba Sports Academy, he didn't know it probably would be one of the last photos of the NBA legend alive https://t.co/ke5RzUyJaB
— CNN (@CNN) January 30, 2020
But sadly, the tomorrow that Kobe was hoping for never came. Kobe, Gianna, and 7 other people died in a helicopter crash on their way to the Mamba Sports Academy on Sunday morning.
Brady never got to take that second selfie with his hero - but that blurry photo may be the very last anyone would ever take of the man who is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
VANESSA BRYANT IS "NUMB TO EVERYTHING"
Vanessa Bryant broke her silence over the death of her husband Kobe Bryant and her daughter Ginna three days after the tragic accident that claimed their lives.
A source close to the family has revealed that Vanessa has been in shock, and "numb to everything," struggling to come to terms with her loss, and comforting her surviving daughters who have lost father and sister in one fell swoop. The insider said:
"(Vanessa) has been surrounded by her family and friends but she feels almost numb to everything."
Darker days are ahead for Vanessa and her daughters, as they face having to lay Kobe and Gianna to rest, and somehow find a way to carry on with their lives.
