Lakers Share Simple 4-Word Message on Anniversary of Kobe Bryant's Death

It may seem hard to believe, but today is the sixth anniversary of the tragic deaths of Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant and the seven other people onboard the Sikorsky S-76B helicopter that crashed in the hills near Calabasas, California on Jan. 26, 2020.

Time hasn't dulled the pain of the nine untimely losses, nor has it diminished Bryant's basketball legacy. Not surprisingly, the sports world has been brimming with tributes to Bean and GiGi on Monday.

Of course, the Lakers paid their respects

Late Monday morning, the official Los Angeles Lakers X/Twitter and Instagram accounts shared a famous photo of Kobe and Gianna courtside at a game. The Laker legend is wearing a bright orange WNBA hoodie and Philadelphia Eagles winter hat, with Gianna in a black top and yellow pants.

The two smile are smiling widely for the camera, with the Lakers including a simple, but powerful message as a caption.

"Mamba & Mambacita forever," the message says.

Mamba & Mambacita forever ???? pic.twitter.com/cfdHcXx0Uf

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 26, 2026

"We miss you big dawg," one fan wrote on Instagram.

"I’ll Never forget where I was," another said.

"I miss you so much Mamba! Forever in our heart! Italy remembers you for eternity!" an Italian fan chimed in.

"6 years IS INSANE!!!" a fourth person commented.

Vince Carter posted his own tribute

Carter, who battled Bryant for years on the court, shared his own memorial to Kobe and Gianna on Instagram Monday morning.

“Rest easy Kobe Bean and Gigi the world truly misses you both…????????‍????????” Carter wrote in the caption of the post.

NBA fans celebrated another Kobe anniversary recently

Last Thursday, Jan. 22, marked the 20th anniversary of Bryant's iconic 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors. The hoops world celebrated the occasion last week, with Nike even bringing back the signature shoes Bryant wore that night.

Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant recalled how as a high school senior, he and his father stayed up late to watch Bryant's performance in the Lakers' 122-104 win.

"That was a great decision by us," Durant said. "Me and my dad, that brought us closer as a father and son to be watching that live like that."