Vanessa Bryant-Approved Muralist’s Stunning Gigi Design With Hidden Kobe Reference Resurfaces
Time and again, the 20-year Los Angeles Lakers legacy left behind by Kobe Bryant is honored in creative and moving ways. Since his tragic passing in 2020, tributes featuring both Kobe and his late daughter, Gianna Bryant, have appeared across the world. One of these iconic tributes, featuring Kobe and Gigi courtside, is installed outside Crypto.com Arena’s 11th Street entrance. Now, a similar yet equally captivating tribute shared by a muralist followed by Vanessa Bryant has resurfaced, drawing attention once again.
This mural was brought back to the spotlight by the social media account Hoops on X, which reshared a piece initially posted on the Instagram account ‘Tehrell_Porter_Designs’. The mural features a life-like depiction of Gianna, lovingly called ‘Mambacita,’ with her wavy hair flowing freely. But there’s a hidden surprise within the mural—a tribute to the ‘Black Mamba’ himself.
The caption of the video hints at this clever inclusion: “New Gigi Bryant mural. Look closely at her hair” followed by a surprised emoji. Netizens followed the clue, and a closer inspection revealed that Kobe’s iconic nickname, the Black Mamba, is subtly crafted into Gigi’s flowing hair. The heartwarming mural recalls Vanessa Bryant’s words at the father-daughter statue honoring ceremony held by the Lakers: “Kobe was the ultimate Girl Dad and Gigi was the ultimate Daddy’s girl.” The mural, originally created by Tehrell Porter, an artist with 43.4k followers on Instagram—including Vanessa Bryant herself—was first shared in 2023. His post teasingly asked, “Who can find Kobe’s face on this Mural?” and invited followers to engage by dropping heart emojis once they found it.
The 5-time NBA champion’s legacy and his daughter’s ambitions have continued to inspire people all over the world, particularly when it comes to encouraging young girls to chase their dreams. Vanessa Bryant remains devoted to this cause through the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, which works to provide sports opportunities to underserved communities. Porter’s murals across Los Angeles are more than artistic displays—they stand as symbols of Kobe Bryant’s larger-than-life impact, forever immortalized through his influence on art and culture.
The sculpture outside Crypto.com Arena, depicting Kobe in a Lakers jersey kissing Gigi’s forehead while she wears a WNBA orange hoodie, exemplifies his devotion to empowering young women. Murals like Porter’s serve as a reminder that Kobe Bryant’s legacy lives on, not just in sports but in the creativity and inspiration that he gave to the world.
Artworks that Immortalize Kobe
Another heartwarming instance is when Vanessa Bryant shared a picture of a young girl proudly wearing Gigi’s jersey while standing in front of one of Porter’s murals in June 2023, just a month before Kobe Day. The image, from an Instagram account named ‘mywnbajourney’, came with a simple yet powerful caption of black and orange heart emojis. This serves as another touching reminder of how Kobe’s message lives on through his fans and family—a true testament to the impact of the Purple and Gold Flower’s legend. Porter’s work stands as a timeless tribute, preserving Kobe and Gigi’s spirit for generations to come.
