Vanessa Bryant pays tribute to late Kobe

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 15: NBA player Kobe Bryant and wife Vanessa in the audiebce during the 2009 ESPY awards held at Nokia Theatre LA Live on July 15, 2009 in Los Angeles, California [COURTESY]

Vanessa Bryant celebrated the 19th anniversary of her wedding to her late husband Kobe Bryant on Saturday with a touching Instagram post. 

"My king, my heart, my best friend. Happy 19th wedding anniversary. I miss you so much. I wish you were here to hold me in your arms. I love you," she wrote, posting a picture of the couple. 

Five-time NBA champion Bryant and the couple's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles on January 26. 

Gianna, along with her basketball teammates Payton Chester and Alyssa Altobelli, who also died in the crash, were honored at Friday's WNBA draft as honorary selections.

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