Kobe and Vanessa Bryant through the years
Kobe Bryant with fiancee Vanessa Laine at the New Year’s Eve party hosted by Shaquille O’Neal at the Staples Center, Los Angeles on Dec. 31, 2000. (Ann Johansson / For The Times)
Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Laine were married April 18, 2001. Later that year, the couple celebrated the Lakers’ NBA championship with a parade through the streets of downtown Los Angeles. (Anacleto Rapping / Los Angeles Times)
Two years after the marriage, Kobe Bryant was accused of sexually assaulting a Colorado woman. During a news conference on July 18, 2003, Kobe Bryant admitted to adultery but denied the accusation. Vanessa Bryant stood by his side. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)
Vanessa Bryant’s $4-million, eight-carat purple diamond ring given to her by Kobe Bryant after it was revealed he had not been faithful. Vanessa Bryant showed it off at the Teen Choice Awards. (E.J. Flynn / AP)
Kobe Bryant displays a tattoo he describes as a tribute to wife, Vanessa, in October 2003. (Douglas C. Pizac / AP)
Kobe and Vanessa Bryant at the MTV Movie Awards at Sony Pictures Studios on June 5, 2004. (Frank Micelotta / Getty Images)
Five years after they were married, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant were expecting their second child. Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant was born May 1, 2006. (Vince Bucci / Getty Images for Bodog.Com)
Vanessa Bryant and her daughters wave to Kobe Bryant during the 2010 NBA All-Star game at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
In June, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant, right, listen to homeless youth tell their stories before announcing the official formation of the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of youth and families in need. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Kobe Bryant is gifted a passel of balloons as his daughter Gianna, right, wife Vanessa and daughter Natalia join him for a ceremony celebrating his passing of Michael Jordan as the third leading scorer in NBA history before a game against the OKC Thunder at Staples Center on Dec. 19, 2014. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Kobe Bryant kisses wife Vanessa soon after leading the Lakers to a 101-96 win over the Utah Jazz while scoring 60 points in his last game as a Laker. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Kobe Bryant kisses his wife Vanessa after his last game at Staples Center on April 13, 2016. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
An 18-year-old Vanessa Laine at a Lakers game in June 2000. At the time, she was Kobe’s fiancee and a senior at Marina High in Huntington Beach. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Vanessa Bryant’s $4-million, eight-carat purple diamond ring given to her by
Kobe and Vanessa Bryant at the
Five years after they were married, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant were expecting their second child. Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant was born May 1, 2006. (Vince Bucci / Getty Images for Bodog.com)
Vanessa Bryant and her daughters wave to Kobe Bryant during the 2010 NBA All-Star game at
In June, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant, right, listen to homeless youth tell their stories before announcing the official formation of the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of youth and families in need. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
