Kobe Bryant's Daughter Gave An Emotional Speech Honoring Her Dad  & It's a Total Tearjerker

It’s hard to believe it’s been more than three years since the world lost NBA legend and Oscar-winning filmmaker Kobe Bryant, 41 who died alongside his daughter Gianna, 13 in a helicopter crash that killed nine people. It was rightfully devastating for his loved ones and fans, and so it was a special and emotional day on Wednesday when he became the first athlete to be cemented in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His oldest daughter, Natalia Bryant, 20 gave a moving speech at the ceremony before she joined her family — mom Vanessa, 40 and sisters Bianka, 6 and Capri, 3 — to unveil Kobe’s handprints and footprints in front of the TCL Chinese Theater.

“I’m honored to be here today to recognize the man that we all knew and loved, my dad Kobe Bryant,” she said. “…Most people knew him as a basketball player or a storyteller. I got to know and love him as my dad.”

“And let me tell you,” she continued, “he’s the MVP of girl dads to say the least.”

He was always there for his four daughters, she recalled, attending their recitals, games, tournaments, and other events even while juggling his busy schedule. She then talked about when they would watch movies together and how those screenings inspired her to want to create films that bring other fathers and daughters together. She also shared intimate details about how any time she was up late at night — “Whether it was working on a school project, getting a midnight snack or unable to sleep” — she would find him writing, storyboarding, or editing, eventually creating his beloved shortfilm, Dear Basketball.

The composed young woman described being Kobe’s daughter as “one of the greatest joyes of [her] life,” and we can’t to imagine there was a dry eye in the crowd.

“And I hope to continue to embody and cherish the many lessons he has taught me,” she said.