Lakers News: Stu Lantz Singles Out Vanessa Bryant For Her Role In Kobe's Hall Of Fame Career

The famed color commentator offers nice comments to Kobe's beloved wife

Stu Lantz had a special relationship with Kobe Bryant. 

The longtime Los Angeles Lakers color commentator was a member of the broadcast team when the Lakers acquired him from the Charlotte Hornets. An ex-NBA player himself, Lantz surely could relate to the trials and tribulations Bryant went through during a career that can be categorized as complicated and tremendous. 

Lantz not only got to know Bryant on a very personal level, but he watched Bryant grow up before his eyes. The stages of Kobe's professional life involved marrying his wife, Vanessa. 

Last week, the Los Angeles Lakers franchise honored Bryant by unveiling a statue which has since been placed in front of Crypto.com Arena (or Staples Center for those who refuse to call it anything else). 

Stu Lantz gives Vanessa Bryant her flowers. 💐 pic.twitter.com/oI1OCm6GiR

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 9, 2024

Lantz was pegged as the Master of Ceremonies for the event. When introducing Vanessa to the stage, he made some truly touching comments (as seen in the video above). 

One quote sticks out among them all: 

"I guess there still is a saying, behind every great man, there's a great woman. No...

besides

every great man, there's a great woman."

-- Stu Lantz on Vanessa Bryant

He then offered a personal anecdote to Vanessa, in which he spoke about how he once saw her at the arena. Lantz suggested that Vanessa give a seminar on how to raise children. He then went on to say the Bryant children were the most well-behaved kids. 

Delving further into his commentary, Lantz did acknowledge the greatness with which Kobe played the game of basketball. He remarked that he was "great" at what he did. 

At the same time, finishing the short story, he looked directly at Vanessa and said, "Vanessa, you're great at what you do."