Kobe Bryant's hilarious parenting moments while coaching daughters Natalia and Gianna Bryant: “You don't know anything”

For a man who earned five NBA titles, an MVP, and global admiration for his basketball IQ, you’d think Kobe Bryant ’s advice would be gospel, especially in his own home. But when it came to teaching the game to his daughters, Kobe discovered that legendary status didn’t always carry weight under his own roof. In a throwback to 2017, the late Lakers icon opened up about his lighthearted struggles convincing his daughters to trust their dad’s on-court wisdom.

Kobe Bryant’s humbling journey from NBA icon to girl dad

Back in 2017, during a lighthearted appearance on ‘ The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’, Kobe Bryant reflected on the early days of trying to coach his daughters, Natalia and Gianna, in basketball. He wasn’t just a dad with some playing experience—he was Kobe Bryant. But that didn’t stop his girls from brushing off his advice in favor of their coach’s.


“When both of my daughters, Natalia and Gianna, started playing, I’m like, ‘Maybe, you should shoot like this,’” Kobe shared with Fallon. “They’re like, ‘No, I got this.’” Even funnier was the reason behind their defiance. “But the coach said…” was a common response Kobe heard when he tried to guide them through moves he’d perfected over two decades in the NBA.

In a home full of love and laughter, it was a humbling and humorous reminder that being ‘Dad’ sometimes outweighed being a basketball genius. “You don’t know anything” isn’t what you’d expect someone like Kobe to hear when discussing hoops, but the proud father wore it with a smile.

That dynamic changed over time, especially with Gianna, affectionately known as Gigi. As she began to fall deeply in love with the sport, Kobe transitioned from the ignored advisor to her full-time coach, and it became something truly special.

Kobe Bryant’s six-year coaching plan for daughter Gianna Bryant that was tragically cut short

Years later, speaking on the ‘Knuckleheads Podcast’ hosted by Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson, Kobe gave a deeper glimpse into how seriously he took coaching Gigi. The conversation took place before the tragic helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, which claimed both their lives and sent shockwaves through the basketball world.


“I write practice plans every day. And it’s like a 6-year plan, and we’re in year 2,” Kobe revealed on the podcast. “So you can patiently teach them every little aspect. Teach them how to use screens, teach them how to be patient, teach them how to anticipate on defense. It’s awesome, man.”

Gigi was just 13 when she began emulating her father’s footwork, perfecting his fadeaways, and mastering the up-and-under. Those around her saw Kobe’s fierce spirit mirrored in her approach, her focus, and her love for the game. Kobe himself often said she was WNBA-bound, and few doubted that.

Also Read: “Mommy loves and misses you”: Vanessa Bryant’s heartfelt tribute to Gianna Bryant on what would have been her 19th birthday

Kobe Bryant wasn’t just shaping a basketball player; he was nurturing a bond through a shared passion. What began as playful defiance from two young girls turned into a father-daughter basketball journey rooted in mutual respect, love, and legacy. Though their time was tragically short, the story of Kobe and Gigi remains a powerful reminder of how even legends can be humbled, and how greatness often starts with simple moments at home.