American basketball player Chris Paul received the inaugural Kobe & Gigi Bryant Award, an award given to an individual committed to developing girls’ and women’s basketball. The 36-year-old Paul received the award from widow Vanessa Bryant at the NBA All Star Game in Cleveland.
Former basketball player Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna (nicknamed Gigi) died in a helicopter crash along with seven others in early 2020. Bryant, 41, was on his way to his daughter’s basketball game. Gianna Bryant wanted to break into the WNBA, the top American women’s league, just like her father who excelled in the NBA for years.
Paul is one of the current stars of the NBA. Right before the All Star match, it was announced that he would not be able to play for the Phoenix Suns for six to eight weeks due to a fracture of his right thumb. However, Paul came to the field for a while. He joined the winning LeBron James team for two minutes, but only used his left hand to throw. The Phoenix Suns are the best performing team in the NBA this season so far with 48 wins to 10 losses.
Paul received the Kobe & Gigi Bryant Award for frequently attending and promoting WNBA games on his social media. “It is a great honor to receive this award,” said the American. My daughter just started playing basketball. All the women who play basketball now serve as role models for the next generation. The only thing we men can do is support them as best we can.”
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