InkedMag
  • Articles
    • Top Stories
    • Culture
    • Art
    • Music
    • Digital Cover
    • Events
  • Shop
    • Subscriptions
    • InkedShop
  • Tattoo Shops
  • INKED COVER GIRL
  • Company
    • About
    • Contact
    • SUBSCRIPTION
    • Newsletter
    • Media Kit
  • Policies
    • DMCA
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
InkedMag
  • Top Stories
  • Culture
  • Art
  • Music
  • Events
  • Store
  • Digital Cover
  • INKED COVER GIRL
  • Tattoo Shops

Newsletter

Inked newsletter

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Next Steps: Sync an Email Add-On

InkedMag

Inked Mag Staff

January 29th, 2020

Share Now
0
0
0

The Real Meaning Behind Kobe Bryant’s Tattoos

Did you know the NBA star had some seriously sentimental tattoos?

On January 26th, NBA MVP Kobe Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others. The world was rocked by this news, with millions sharing their condolences on social media. Although Bryant was known first to the world as an incredible basketball player, he’s known second as a family man. Bryant was a loving father to four daughters and husband to his wife Vanessa, frequently sharing photos of his loved ones to social media or discussing his family in interviews. Another way that Bryant showed his loved for his family was through his tattoos.

View this post on Instagram

Happy Mother’s Day @vanessabryant we love you and thank you for all that you do for our family. You are the foundation of all that we hold dear. I love you #mybaby #lioness #mamabear #queenmamba

A post shared by Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) on May 12, 2019 at 1:33pm PDT

On his right bicep, Kobe Bryant has an homage to his wife, Vanessa Laine Bryant. Bryant met his wife in 1999 when he was 21 and she was 17. They began dating and after six months, they were engaged in 2000 and then married in 2001.

In 2003, Bryant got his wife’s name and angel wings tattooed on his arm, amidst sexual assault allegations. After getting the tattoo, Bryant spoke out about his wife in an interview, saying:

“You’re my backbone. You’re a blessing. You’re a piece of my heart. You’re the air I breathe. And you’re the strongest person I know, and I’m so sorry for having to put you through this and having to put our family through this.”

The butterfly crown is also dedicated to Vanessa, which he’d added onto with shading years later. Lastly, below the wings, Bryant has “Psalm XXVII,” which was inked by notable Los Angeles tattooer Mister Cartoon. This tattoo represents Bryant’s faith, as he was raised in Catholic.

In addition to having numerous tattoos for his wife, he also has the names of his daughters inked on his forearm. Bryant and his wife has four daughters, Natalia Diamante (born in January 2003), Gianna Maria-Onore (born in May of 2006), Bianka Bella (born in December of 2016) and Capri Kobe (born in June of 2019). Bryant had intended to get his fourth daughter’s name tattooed on his body in 2020.

What do you think of Kobe Bryant’s tattoos? How were you impacted by his passing? Let us know your thoughts on the NBA player’s tattoos on social media.

Editor's Picks

Events
Met Gala 2025: The Best Tattooed Celebrity Looks

At the 2025 Met Gala, inked celebrities like Rihanna, Cardi B, and Lewis Hamilton proved tattoos are the ultimate high-fashion accessory.

Culture
May the 4th Ink Be With You: Best Star Wars Tattoos for Superfans

Celebrate Star Wars Day with tattoos that showcase the Force—from Darth Vader portraits to minimalist Baby Yoda ink. May the ink be with you!

Events
Diplo, Jelly Roll, Zach Bryan, and More: Highlights from Stagecoach 2025

Stagecoach 2025 delivered epic performances, unforgettable moments, and nonstop energy under the desert skies of Indio, California.

More From News Content

Karolina Szymańska: The Fine Line Force of Nature Behind the Modern Tattooing Congress
May 19, 2025
A Game-Changing Innovation for Tattoo Artists
May 13, 2025
Tattoo Insurance Mistakes Artists Still Make
May 5, 2025
Gifts She’ll Love: Mother’s Day Picks from Inked
April 28, 2025
Navigating Nature
April 8, 2025

Recommended For You

Celebrities
Cacho: One Line at a Time
Fashion
Hublot – Etched In Time
Fashion
Cacho Tattoo Brings His Ink to Fabric
Culture
World Tattoo Day: The Top Tattoo Shops Redefining Art
InkedMagCover
InkedMag

QUICK LINKS

  • Top Stories
  • Culture
  • Art
  • Music
  • Events
  • Store
  • Tattoo Shops
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • SUBSCRIPTION
  • INKED COVER GIRL
  • MEDIA KIT
  • DMCA
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS & CONDITIONS

Input your search keywords and press Enter.