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Kobe Bryant's 8-year-old Bianka nails Dodgers first pitch on dad's bobblehead night

It was a special night for mom Vanessa and her siblings Natalia and Capri as Bianka crushed the first pitch on the Dodgers night honoring her late father.
Matthew Graham|
Aug 8, 2025: Bianka Bryant prepares to throw the first pitch before the Los Angeles Dodgers game vs. Toronto Blue Jays.
Aug 8, 2025: Bianka Bryant prepares to throw the first pitch before the Los Angeles Dodgers game vs. Toronto Blue Jays. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Lakers

It's becoming an annual tradition for the Los Angeles Dodgers to honor Kobe Bryant.

Vanessa Bryant, Bianka Bryant, Capri Bryant and Natalia Bryant
Aug 8, 2025: Vanessa Bryant, Bianka Bryant, Capri Bryant and Natalia Bryant pose for a photo before the game between Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

And every year, the late Los Angeles Lakers legend's daughters Natalia, 22, Bianka, 8, and Capri,6, grow up before our very eyes, and this year there was an extra element of excitement as the Dodgers debuted a Kobe bobblehead.

RELATED: Natalia Bryant looks so much like dad Kobe in new model photos

Wait a second, why is Kobe batting left handed? Apparently while Kobe was right-handed, he had ambidextrous skills, including prefering to hit from the left side of the plate for baseball.

As we still ponder that conundrum, it's obvious Kobe's athletic skills have passed down to his daughter Bianka, who nailed the ceremonial first pitch to celebrate Kobe Bryant Night at Dodgers Stadium. (Capri also owned, "It's time for Dodgers baseball.")

RELATED: Kobe Bryant and Vanessa’s youngest daughter Capri recreates iconic photo of dad

Mom Vanessa Bryant, 43, has brought up her daughters to be die-hard Dodgers fans, often posting on her Instagram handle all of them attending games together. So naturally, Bianka was stoked to get the opportunity once again.

Bianka Bryant
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Bianka upstaged future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, 37, who threw another masterful gem in the Dodgers 5-1 victory vs. the Toronto Blue Jays, facing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 16 years after facing his father. Both of them were hitless.

Older sister Natalia, now a successful model and social media influencer after graduating from USC film school, and little sister Capri were there to cheer Bianka on, along with Vanessa, and World Series hero MVP Freddie Freeman acted as catcher.

It was a fun-filled family night with Bianka stealing the show.

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Matthew Graham
MATTHEW GRAHAM

Matthew Graham has over 20 years of media experience and oversees The Athlete Lifestyle On SI. He has had previous leadership roles at NBC Sports, Yahoo, and USA TODAY, where he co-founded For The Win (named Best Mobile Site by Digiday). He has also written for ESPN, Cosmopolitan, US Weekly, People, E! Online, and FHM, covering major sports and entertainment events like the Oscars, the Golden Globes, NBA Finals, Super Bowl, and winning the Yahoo Superstar Award for coverage of the Olympics.

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