LOS ANGELES — We’ve watched Vanessa Bryant for 20 years. How could we not? A daughter of Southern California thrust into sudden celebrity, she grew up on the edge of her iridescent husband’s spotlight and matured into a devoted wife and loving mother of four girls. But we never knew her. Not like we knew him. Her private life was always kept private, and her public life was always as the woman next to Kobe Bryant.
While Kobe was winning championships and setting scoring records, Vanessa waited most nights outside of the Lakers’ locker room, holding hands with their daughters, keeping to herself and her circle. We knew all about Kobe’s strength and determination. He showed it every night on the court. We had no idea it also lived within Vanessa.
We know now. My god, how we know.
Twenty-nine days after Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were killed in a helicopter crash, a crowd of 20,000 people rose to their feet and gave Vanessa a…
