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"She's just like me" - Byron Scott reveals Kobe Bryant’s prediction for Gianna to dominate the WNBA
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- "She's just like me" - Byron Scott reveals Kobe Bryant’s prediction for Gianna to dominate the WNBA
While several NBA players have openly supported the growth of women's basketball and the WNBA, few were as passionately invested in elevating the women's game as Kobe Bryant . The five-time NBA champion never wanted female athletes to be viewed through sympathy or comparison, but rather to be appreciated purely for their skill, competitiveness and talent.
And if former Lakers head coach Byron Scott is to be believed, Kobe was all set to give the WNBA its' biggest boost, by sending a female version of him - Gigi - into the league, firmly believing that she would carry the Black Mamba legacy forward.
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Byron Scott on how Gigi was exactly like her dad Kobe
KB24's relentless mentality as a player is well documented. His obsession with excellence, competitive fire and willingness to challenge teammates defined an era of basketball. Yet Scott revealed that Gigi possessed many of those traits at a remarkably young age. She constantly accompanied her father to games, training sessions and film studies, absorbing basketball knowledge firsthand.
Put simply, Gigi wasn't merely learning fundamentals; she was internalizing Kobe's mindset - the discipline, the skill set and the hunger that made him a GOAT contender.
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Additionally, Scott emphasized that Kobe himself often expressed peace with the idea that his legacy did not need to continue through a son; instead, in his eyes, Gigi already embodied everything required to extend the "Mamba Mentality" into the women's game. He openly envisioned Gigi dominating at the highest level and becoming a transformative figure in the WNBA.
"He had so many things he wanted to do. A lot of it had to do with girls. Girls basketball. He would bring Gigi to practice and we'd finish and she would go workout ," the three-time NBA champion recalled. "He told me one day, 'Coach, she's just like me.' I said, 'Ah damn!' He started laughing. I'm like, 'Damn we got another one of you around here? A mambacita instead of a mamba?' He was like, 'She got my mindset and my work ethic.' You could tell. She went everywhere with him. She was gonna be killin in the WNBA."
Kobe's legacy in women's basketball is well known
Even though that dream tragically fell short, Bryant's influence continues to resonate across women's basketball today. Stars like Candace Parker have honored him by wearing his jersey number and signature sneakers. At the same time, Sabrina Ionescu has frequently spoken about Kobe's mentorship and the profound impact he has had on her career.
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Meanwhile, other sensations like Caitlin Clark embody many elements of the Mamba mentality - turning out all the outside noise, fearless shot-making, and competitive belief in leading her team despite all the negativity she endures.
Although Kobe and Gianna are no longer there, their shared dedication to uplifting women's basketball can be felt in Scott's admission. Even if Gigi couldn't really elevate the women's basketball scene, Kobe would at least be happy to see it being ascended by different female basketball athletes today.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
