One of Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant‘s daughters is celebrating a special birthday that honors her dad’s legacy.
On Dec. 5, Bianka Bryant, the second-youngest of the couple’s four children, turned 8—the late NBA legend’s first jersey number.
“BB-8! BB is 8 today!” Vanessa wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of the birthday girl. “Happy birthday to our Sunshine. We love you so much, Bianka! You bring so much love and laughter into our lives. You are so loved mama!”
The 42-year-old, who is also mom to daughter Natalia, 21, Capri, 5, and the late Gigi with Kobe, continued, “You say it’s your BB8 birthday, and I’ll keep reminding you it’s your daddy (#8 ) year.”
Kobe’s wife continued, “You say it’s your BB8 birthday, and I’ll keep reminding you it’s your daddy (#8 ) year.”
Bianka’s father began his 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996 with the No. 8 jersey. It was an homage to the number he wore as a youth in Italy, where his family lived when his dad played professional basketball in the country, ESPN reported. In 2006, Kobe switched his jersey number to 24.
