Audio By Carbonatix
As the Los Angeles Lakers became NBA champions Sunday night, there were two people whose presence was especially missed.
Vanessa Bryant congratulated the team on Instagram Sunday in a heartfelt post, remembering her husband and her daughter.
"Wish Kobe and Gigi were here to see this," Bryant wrote on Instagram.
It's been almost nine months since Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, died in a helicopter crash January 26.
The Lakers beat the Miami Heat 106-93 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals Sunday night. It was the Lakers' first NBA Finals appearance since Kobe Bryant won his fifth and final NBA title.
Bryant shared a photo of her late husband with Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka along with the message.
"Congratulations Uncle P!" Bryant wrote. "Congratulations @lakers Kobe was right, RP! 'Stay the course-blockout the noise.'"

The team's win coincided with Father-Daughter Day on Sunday. Bryant remembered the daddy-daughter duo on Instagram with a throwback image of Kobe holding Gianna in his arms after the Lakers won the 2009 NBA Championship.
Kobe and Gianna shared a special bond. Gianna was a passionate basketball player, and Kobe saw her as the heir to his legacy.
Her father invested in Gianna's future, coaching her team at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California.
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 said of the pair at their memorial. "He had to bring them home to heaven together."
Latest Stories
-
Sogakope Circuit Court jails farmer 15 years for incest, defilement
2 hours -
2028 is not a normal election – Amewu explains why NPP needs Kennedy Agyapong
2 hours -
The whole nation wants Kennedy – Amewu makes strong case for Agyapong
2 hours -
31-year-old illegal miner sent to prison over theftÂ
3 hours -
Court remands GPHA staff over stolen tugboat
3 hours -
Attendance at trial is a constitutional duty, not an option
4 hours -
RTI response raises questions over Bryan Acheampong’s military service claims
4 hours -
Two women granted bail over assault of 12-year-old; another remanded
4 hours -
Ghana’s IMF programme extension to August 2026 was to allow more time for final review work – IMF
4 hours -
No records of Bryan Acheampong’s enlistment and release from the US Army – Parliament says in RTI response
4 hours -
Daasebre Osei Bonsu III swears oath of allegiance to Asantehene and pledges unity and development for Asante Mampong
5 hours -
We had fruitful deliberations with private transport operators – Transport Minister
5 hours -
45-year-old farmer jailed 15 years for sexually abusing 14-year-old niece
5 hours -
Lawrence Ofori joins Casa Pia after mutually parting ways with Moreirense
5 hours -
Brazil have talent for World Cup, but victory not guaranteed – ESPN’s Bertozzi
5 hours
