‘Definitely Runs in the Family’: Sabrina Ionescu Plays Basketball with Bianka Bryant, Daughter of Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

The greatest are teaching Bianka Bryant!

While in New York City, Vanessa Bryant brought her 7-year-old daughter Bianka to visit Sabrina Ionescu, a WNBA standout and a family friend.

Kobe Bryant's former protégé, Sabrina Ionescu, was seen shooting hoops with his daughter

Vanessa, 42, posted an Instagram Reel with images and videos from the ladies’ vacation, which featured Capri Kobe Bryant, 4, among others.

The New York Liberty player appears to be mentoring seven-year-old Bianka

Bianka and Ionescu, both 26, were featured in some entertaining videos that Vanessa released from their vacation to New York City. The activities included eating pizza from Joe’s and visiting the Plaza Hotel.

“Spent a wonderful weekend in New York City with my little ones. 💕 “Vanessa expressed her joy in seeing ‘Beana’ with Sabrina I in her caption, writing 😘.”

The Oregon alum was mentored by the Lakers legend before he passed away in 2020

“Shooting definitely runs in the family 😂,” Ionescu said on the reel, making a playful reference to Bianka’s athletic genes. She is a star for the New York Liberty.

Sabrina Ionescu privately coaching Kobe Bryant's daughter is so  heartwarming - BVM Sports

Vanessa responded to the WNBA player’s remark by saying, “Maintain your patience for that pass 😜 😂.”Over time, Ionescu and the Bryants developed a close relationship. Ionescu was one of Kobe’s mentees before the awful loss of life that befell him in January 2020, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others.

Ionescu, who was a collegiate basketball sensation at the time, spoke about the influence of Kobe and Gianna during his funeral service in Los Angeles’s Staples Center.During his remarks at the memorial, Ionescu explained that he honors Kobe and Gigi’s legacy by being committed to the game. “I wake up every day grateful for the platform I’ve been given and I strive to lead by example and serve as a role model for young people and especially girls to pursue sports — a platform Kobe and Gigi were passionate about.”

“I saw the way he suppоrted his family and his cоnstant advоcacy fоr wоmen’s basketball,” said the wоman. “His encоuragement and prоmоtiоn оf equality in spоrts alоng with his Mamba Mentality is what mоtivates me tоday.”

Kobe Bryant’s Legacy “Motivates” Sabrina Ionescu, Who Claims to Have Gigi and Kobe “With Me Every Day”That same day, while playing for the Oregon Ducks against the Stanford Cardinals, Ionescu became the first player in Division I college basketball history to score 2,000 points, dish out 1,000 assists, and grab 1,000 rebounds.

“That one was for him,” she declared on ESPN following the match. “To pull it off on February 24th, 2020 is extremely significant. During the preseason, we discussed the matter. There aren’t enough words to describe it. He’s beaming with pride at my accomplishments and is overjoyed to be here with my team right now.

With Vanessa and her daughter Natalia Bryant in attendance, the WNBA star wed NFL player Hroniss Grasu in March.

With the message “Congratulations to @sabrina_i and @h_grasu!!!,” Vanessa and Natalia posted an Instagram photo of themselves with the bride. They are a stunning couple. Always sending my best wishes to the two of you! Thank you.