WATCH: Kobe Bryant Crashes Arike Ogunbowale’s Interview With Ellen

Kobe Bryant’s daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, is a huge womens basketball fan and Kobe feeds her cravings every moment he can. Aside from having a dad who is arguably the greatest player to ever lace em up, Kobe can be seen at various womens college basketball events and WNBA games with his daughter, who has some sick moves and has already perfected her pops’ lethal jab step.  

Kobe Bryant gets schooled by daughter | ESPN

Kobe’s daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, goes into Mamba-mode and gets her shot off while playing 1-on-1 with dad.

Kobes appreciation for great basketball skill was never chauvinistically limited to the mans game that he played so illustriously for 20 NBA seasons. He always supports his NBA disciples and although the Bryant Family is UConn Huskies bound to the end, he showed support for Notre Dames Arike Ogunbowale’s March Madness feats. 

Kobe Bryant on Twitter

Big time shot Arike! We are a @UConnWBB family but we love seeing great players making great plays. I know my lil sis @jewellloyd is happy Well done @ndwbb good luck on Sunday #mambamentality https://t.co/8DxHkNURN7

Kobe’s admiration for the Fighting Irish star, who hit game-winning jumpers to slay mighty UConn in the Final Four and then crush Mississippi State in the chip, extended to him crashing Ogunbowale’s taping of the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Bryant noted Ogunbowale has accomplished several feats that he never will; winning an NCAA championship and hitting a title-winning buzzer beater, something he can’t claim to have done during his five championship run. 

“As a kid, we dream about 5-4-3-2-1 to win the championship. She actually did it, Bryant told Ellen, almost in awe of Ogunbowale instead of the other way around. 

Kobe Bryant Surprises NCAA Champ Arike Ogunbowale

Notre Dame junior guard Arike Ogunbowale got a Twitter pep talk from Kobe Bryant during the NCAA Championships, and Ellen surprised the college basketball star with a visit from her basketball idol.

There are players who appear more socially conscious than Kobe, more willing to make a political message. Some might even be more marketable over the course of their careers, but nobody represents the game of hoops as a student, authentic ambassador and a willing teacher like he does. 

Back to top