Fans Are Paying Tribute to Gianna Bryant on What Would've Been Her 14th Birthday

Though the country is undoubtedly more than relieved to put April in the rearview -- a month closer to returning to normalcy is something to celebrate -- we are forced to say hello to May with heavy hearts.

Friday marks what would have been Gianna Bryant's 14th birthday. As we know, the young basketball phenom tragically perished in a helicopter crash on January 26 alongside her father, Kobe, and seven other passengers. The destination at the time of the accident was a basketball tournament at Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy.

While Gigi's birthday serves as a grim reminder of the crash, there is definitely something to be said for the outpouring of love that she's receiving on social media.

Even if she didn't know it at the time, Gigi was a young legend.

It's still all so tragic and equally impossible to fathom.

Nobody was stopping Gigi on the basketball court. Not even her father, an 18-time All-Star and 2020 Hall of Fame inductee.

As heartbreaking as it is, that clip of Kobe instructing Gigi will live on forever.

Keep them coming!

Social media really is a beautiful thing when it comes together for something like this.

We cannot get enough of photos of Gigi and Kobe.

That smile is contagious.

Rest easy, Mambacita.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Vanessa Bryant and the entire Bryant family on what is an unbearably difficult day.