Is Vanessa Bryant dating again? Who is Vanessa Bryant dating? Here, we answer these burning questions and more.

Vanessa Bryant is the celebrity widow of the late NBA star Kobe Bryant. Many have wondered if she has moved on and is dating anyone since it’s been a few years since her husband’s death. Keep reading to find out.  

Who Is Vanessa Bryant?

Vanessa Marie Bryant (born Vanessa Urbieta Cornejo) was born on May 5, 1982, in Los Angeles, California. She is an American businesswoman, philanthropist, model, and the widow of American basketball player Kobe Bryant. Her family’s home was in Garden Grove, California, but she resided majorly with her step-grandfather Robert Laine in Huntington Beach, California. 

She attended Marina High School with her close friend, Rowena Ireifej, with whom she often went out. During one of their friendship outings. Vanessa and Rowena were approached by a company and were offered work as music video extras and backup dancers.

The teenage girls took up the gig under the supervision of Vanessa’s mother and appeared in several videos for artists, including Snoop Dogg. In November 1999, Vanessa met her future husband, Kobe, on the set of a music video for a rap song he was releasing.

Since he was already a well-known NBA star, their high-profile relationship caused Vanessa many disruptions at her high school. This led to her completing her senior year at home as an independent study. In 2000, she graduated from high school with honors. 

Who Is Vanessa Bryant Dating?

As of when this article was written, Vanessa Bryant is not dating anyone. She married her first love, Kobe, at a very young age, and the two were together for almost 20 years before his sudden death.

As expected, the grief that came with the loss is unimaginable, and it might take a considerable amount of time before she puts herself back in the dating game. She has been linked to a couple of men after Kobe’s death, but they have all been speculations from nosy fans.

Pau Gasol

Gasol is one of Kobe Bryant’s former teammates who has been a massive pillar of support for Vanessa and her kids since his death. While Vanessa and Gasol have a strong relationship off-court, it is not the romantic type.

He emerged as a pillar of support for the Bryant family, helping them navigate their grief and get through their darkest moments. Their closeness raised eyebrows as they were often seen together, but it was unromantic. 

Vanessa has publicly thanked Gasol on several occasions and expressed her gratitude for his unwavering friendship and support and for the impact it had on the lives of her and her children through their grief. 

Derek Fisher

Just a year after her husband passed, rumors circulated that Vanessa was dating philanthropist and former longtime teammate of Kobe, Derek Fisher. The speculation began when onlookers spotted the two sitting together and talking at the WNBA All-Star game in 2021.

However, Fisher is happily married to Gloria Govan, whom he had just wed earlier that year. This nullifies the rumors, and it is clear that they were enjoying the game together, and there is no dating angle to it. 

Victor Ortiz 

What sparked the dating rumors between Vanessa and the famous boxer Victor Ortiz remains very unclear. In 2011, while the Bryants were considering separating, Victor faced stories about him and Vanessa dating. However, the rumors were untrue.

The boxer has come out publicly to clear the rumors and set the records straight. He mentioned that he had never been in the same room as Vanessa and did not understand where the stories stemmed from. After Kobe’s sad demise, Victor paid his respects to the family, and the family has not faced any further speculations involving him.

How Old Was Vanessa Bryant When She Started Dating Kobe?

Vanessa was just 17 years old when she started saying Kobe Bryant. She was in her senior year of high school, and the NBA was 20 years old when they met on the set of his music video. 

Vanessa and Kobe reportedly had a beautiful marriage with their fair share of scandals. However, the two remained together for almost 20 years until Kobe unexpectedly passed away in a helicopter crash with their daughter Gianna. 

Vanessa may open up more about her personal life and private relationships in the months and years. Until then, many would prefer to give her much-deserved privacy to navigate her grief and possibly find love again.