The Lakers took home a massive win on Oct. 11 and scored a victory that spurred heartfelt reflection from longtime fans and family of the Los Angeles- based team After a year of devastating heartache and uncertainty, the feat was a reminder of the absence of a great presence that had long dominated basketball courts: Kobe Bryant.

In a post shared to her Instagram over the weekend, Vanessa Bryant congratulated the Lakers’ victory while paying tribute to her late husband and daughter.

Bryant congratulated the Lakers for their win in a heartfelt Instagram post that featured an image of Kobe alongside the Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka. “Congratulations Uncle P!” Bryant wrote. “Congratulations @lakers Kobe was right, RP! ‘Stay the course-block out the noise. Wish Kobe and Gigi were here to see this.”

Soon after the win, the Lakers were quick to share that their motivation to win came in large part in wanting to pay tribute to Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi. According to Lakers Daily, Gigi predicted the 2020 win to Lakers vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka.

Home / Media / Rob Pelinka says Vanessa Bryant would send him clips of Kobe during dark times in NBA bubble

Rob Pelinka says Vanessa Bryant would send him clips of Kobe during dark times in NBA bubble

• By Jonathan Sherman
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• Updated: October 23, 2020

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The Los Angeles Lakers had a mission to win an NBA title to honor the memory of Kobe Bryant.

When Bryant tragically passed earlier this year, the entire team rallied together and promised that it would do all it could to do what Bryant would have wanted.

While he is gone, it turns out his wisdom and determination to be great helped push Lakers general manager and vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka while he was in the NBA bubble in Orlando, Fla.https://825985290c3e29654a8fc734545f271a.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

Pelinka, who worked as Bryant’s agent but was also his close friend, told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN that Vanessa would send Pelinka clips Kobe to help him get through isolation.

“You’re in a hotel room for 100 nights. The walls are closing in and after a tough loss you think the world is coming to an end,” Pelinka told Wojnarowski.

“There were times that I would hear his voice and then Vanessa, who is still one of my best friends, she would call, and she would even send a couple clips of him talking to me so I could hear his voice,” Pelinka said. “Just that support still feels like it’s there, but the extent of the loss feels like a superhero because that’s what he was and still is to me.”

Fans were quick to point out that the team’s win coincided with Father-Daughter Day.

“Kobe and GG were taken so.suddenly and so cruelly because they were needed for a fight…they are not gone forever they are with you now. They await your reunion…but do not want you to be sad ….they miss you but will be happy if their departure means a greater change for humanity,” one user commented. ” God bless you Vanessa. Although I havent seen your skin with my eyes…I can feel your pain with my mind. Please Father comfort this beautiful woman and her beautiful children. Shine your light of love wrap her in your warmth. Your husband loves and adores you. And he’s proud of how you are so strong.”

“Job Finished. For you, Kobe,” another user wrote about the win. “What a season it’s been. No. 17 carries a different meaning because of the loss of you and Gigi. You mean so damn much to us. You gave us 20 years of your blood, sweat, and tears. You brought not one, but FIVE championships to this franchise. You’re the reason we’re proud to be Lakers fans. Not only did you win at all costs, but you embodied the man we all strive for & hope to be one day. I hope we made you proud this season. This one’s for you, Bean… for all the memories you’ve given us throughout your lifetime. As always, we love & miss you, Mamba.”

Bryant also paid tribute to her husband-daughter duo on Instagram with an image of Kobe holding Gianna in his arms after the Lakers won the 2009 NBA Championship.

Since their passing, fans have often pointed out that Kobe and Gianna shared a special bond and love for basketball. Later in his career, Kobe was open about his love for his daughters and desire to see Giana take on his legacy as a basketball player. At the time of his death, Bryant was a coach for Gianna’s team at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California.

During a memorial for her husband and daughter, Bryant eulogized their bond noting how inseparable they were.

In Bryant’s eulogy of her husband and daughter, she reminded the world of their inseparable bond. “God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other,” Bryant remarked at the time. “He had to bring them home to heaven together.”