It’s been a year since Gianna Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Southern California on Jan. 26, 2020. NAMIAH BITTLE took the death of Gigi hard. At first the eight-year-old couldn’t make sense of it. She had a few breakdowns and made a promise to herself that she would always have Mamba Mentality.
It was her dream to play in front of Kobe.
Says Bittle, “I wanted to attend the Mamba Academy. Kobe Bryant was an inspiration to young people.”
Like Bryant, her dad has a passion for the game as well. Her dad played collegiate basketball at Benedict College, a historically black college (HBCU) in Columbia, South Carolina.
Basketball has brought them closer. “We were always close, but we have a special bond through basketball,” said Bittle’s dad.
She looks up to her dad because he never gives up and he’s always positive.
But being a girl dad isn’t just about having a daughter, it’s about supporting your daughter. Bittle’s dad takes her to practice, games, and workouts. They even watch WNBA games and film together.
Says Bittle’s dad, “I push her but I also give her time to be a kid. I have to be mindful that there will always be time to play ball but you only get one childhood.”
When she isn’t in the gym working on her game she’s in the kitchen baking or watching her favorite cooking shows. Bittle also has a passion for art. She loves to paint and draw. “I want to be a basketball player that draws little black girls,” said Bittle.