Vanessa and Natalia Bryant sent John Calipari a gift in memory of Gigi Bryant

John Calipari received a special package in the mail on Monday, and he shared its contents with his social media following through an unboxing video online. As you will see, the box is a gift from Vanessa and Natalia Bryant, the wife and eldest daughter of the late Kobe Bryant, in memory of Gigi Bryant, Kobe and Vanessa’s middle daughter and Natalia’s younger sister. Nicknamed “Mambacita” after her father, Gigi tragically passed away with Kobe in 2020, and today, May 1, would have been her seventeenth birthday.

The gift to Calipari in Gigi’s memory included a birthday note, a pair of Mambacita Kobe 4s, a Gigi Bryant jersey, and Kobe Bryant’s book, “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play.”

Calipari already wears his new “PlayGigisWay” bracelet. Next, he intends to frame his new Mambacita jersey.

I just received the most incredible gift from Vanessa and Natalia Bryant.

Happy 17th birthday, Gigi!!

Thinking today of Gigi and all of the lives she touched and continues to touch!!#PlayGigisWay pic.twitter.com/mruCZIFaop

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 1, 2023

“That’s crazy,” Calipari said of the gift. “Vanessa, thank you. Natalia, thank you. I can’t wait to see you guys. You know I appreciate you both… My heart goes out to both of you in this time, but for you to do this for me, thank you.”

Kentucky hosted Natalia Bryant and the Mamba Skills Academy

Last October, John Calipari and the University of Kentucky welcomed Natalia Bryant to campus for a basketball camp through the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation. The Mamba Skills Academy was held at Memorial Coliseum for underserved youth in the community, and the day of basketball instruction was free of charge to boys and girls.

At the time, it was the first partnership with any university, noted Kat Conlon, the foundation’s executive director.

Read more about the Mamba Skills Academy’s Lexington stop in 2022.

So honored to have Natalia Bryant and Kat Conlon, Executive Director of the Mamba and Mambacita Sporta Foundation, on our campus today to help us run a Mamba Skills Academy for underserved boys and girls.

We’ll be teaching them all about the Mamba Mentality and chasing dreams!! pic.twitter.com/YzWhMm1Zim

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) October 23, 2022