'Girl dad' goes viral on social media after sports anchor shares heartfelt story of Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant may forever be remembered as a basketball legend, but to his daughters and others that knew him, he was also a "girl dad."

As many around the world continue to mourn the loss of the basketball star and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, the term, "girl dad" became the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter and nearly 94,000 posts tagged by the same name were shared on Instagram.

The trend began when ESPN's Elle Duncan, shared a memory of Bryant while she anchored "SportsCenter" on Monday night.

"I would have 5 more girls if I could. I'm a girl dad."@elleduncanESPN's story about how much Kobe loved his daughters is something special. pic.twitter.com/1KJx17QRjY

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 28, 2020

MORE: UConn pays tribute to Kobe Bryant's daughter Gianna: 'Mambacita is forever a Husky'

In her story, she recalled the first time that she met the basketball star while backstage at an event for ESPN in New York. And while most encounters with celebrities or athletes are brief, Duncan and Bryant bonded over one thing: being a parent to daughters.

At the time of her encounter, Duncan was 8 months pregnant, and her belly was the first thing Bryant noticed. Duncan said Bryant immediately asked how she was doing and asked what gender her baby was going to be.

When Duncan told him that she was expecting a girl, Bryant, who had three daughters at the time, high-fived her and said, "Girls are the best."

He also offered her advice, "Just be grateful that you've been given that gift because girls are amazing."

MORE: Kobe Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was following in NBA legend's footsteps before her death

Duncan fought back tears when she described Bryant's love of being a father to girls of his own and the personalities of each of them.

"I would have five more girls if I could. I'm a girl dad,” he told her.

Bryant and his wife Vanessa had four daughters: Natalia, 17, Gianna, 13, Bianka, 3, and Capri, 7 months old.

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A post shared by Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) on May 12, 2019 at 1:33pm PDT

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🙏

A post shared by SportsCenter (@sportscenter) on Jan 27, 2020 at 9:22pm PST

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A post shared by Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) on Dec 5, 2019 at 12:39pm PST

The news of Bryant's death struck a chord with many. The 41-year-old was killed in a tragic helicopter crash along with nine others on Sunday morning.

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My Gigi

A post shared by Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) on Sep 3, 2019 at 1:59pm PDT

When Duncan's story was shared on the "SportsCenter" Twitter page, it was retweeted nearly 30,000 times and many hashtagged the term "girl dad" in their own posts sharing images of their daughters or their fathers.

On Twitter, Chrissy Teigen, who is the mother of a 3-year-old daughter, shared Duncan's heartfelt tribute and said, "The last time I remember John crying, aside from this week, was when Luna wrapped her little finger around his at the hospital when she was born. There really is something magical about girls and their dads. Thank you, @elleduncanESPN."

The last time I remember John crying, aside from this week, was when Luna wrapped her little finger around his at the hospital when she was born. There really is something magical about girls and their dads. Thank you, @elleduncanESPN https://t.co/P4VL5Z8dC4 pic.twitter.com/hgWWB0DHcB

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 28, 2020

Celebrities and athletes from Alex Rodriguez to Russell Wilson, Timbaland and "GMA" co-anchors George Stephanopoulos and Michael Strahan chimed in, too.

Nothing better than being a #girldad pic.twitter.com/SBbZEWMJB0

— GeorgeStephanopoulos (@GStephanopoulos) January 29, 2020

I am proud and honored to be a #GirlDad!❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/y6oe5VAIhz

— Michael Strahan (@michaelstrahan) January 29, 2020

I'm so proud and lucky to be a #GirlDad. ❤️❤️ https://t.co/sluOIktQwu

— Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) January 28, 2020

#girldad pic.twitter.com/ggLZHqOERA

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) January 29, 2020

My baby Reign ♥️♥️♥️ #girldad pic.twitter.com/Mj7HDmMRkJ

— Timbaland (@Timbaland) January 28, 2020

By the grace of God and the beautiful gift of adoption I am a #GirlDad. Kobe was such a great example... I can't wait to try and follow in his footsteps #MambaDad pic.twitter.com/lHbl4E30u7

— Trevor Williams (@MeLlamoTrevor) January 28, 2020

#girldad and proud of it. pic.twitter.com/w4jeL4rKlF

— Casey Sadler (@sadler_squared) January 28, 2020

#GirlDad forever pic.twitter.com/miPlqJMcaq

— Tom Ackerman (@Ackerman1120) January 28, 2020

This video had me in tears. Being a girl dad has been the best part of my short life. I wish I knew about this part of Kobe. This will be his lasting impression on me. Not the wins, rings, or records. #girldad https://t.co/6UBBaGtLDV

— trey hardee (@treyhardee) January 28, 2020

#girldad pic.twitter.com/UtVjPLE17A

— Mark Ingram II (@markingram21) January 28, 2020

On Instagram, nearly 96,000 posts were dedicated to the hashtag.

"My dad was a man built for sons but ended up with daughters," actress and mother Gabrielle Union-Wade, the wife of Bryant's NBA contemporary Dwyane Wade, shared in an Instagram post. "Thank you to everyone who was just being involved parents and adults who loved kids."

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I am the middle girl who has always had a different relationship with my dad. We are VERY similar. We bonded through sports. I have a freakish sports memory and my brain is clouded with random sports facts learned at my father's side. We watched countless Nebraska football games. 49er games. Watching the RunTMC era of the Warriors and running into Chris Mullin putting up shots at a local playground is a highlight from my teen years that we still marvel at. But my dad wasn't a #GirlsDad. My dad was a man built for sons but ended up with daughters. He turned his middle child, a strong willed, competitive asf, daddy's girl, into a mini him. He never missed many games or practices. He was an ever present sports dad. He had a bullhorn. Yes, an actual bullhorn. He was that dad. He demanded bigger, better, more... he knew the world I faced. He wanted me to stay prepared for anything and that happens when you outwork everyone. We are so alike. I was Gigi. That high achieving middle child, so much like my father. Them being together is what is so devastating. Last night as D was preparing for his 1st show and what he will say about Kobe, he mentioned something about doing drills with his dad and I lost it. Really broke down. Hands trembling, snot running... just thinking about my 75 yr old father and our relationship. There was no where else I'd rather be than with my dad, playing sports, talking sports, breaking down I back formations. To this day it was important that we told my dad we were having Kaavia at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. He damn near daily Facetimes with @kaaviajames. My dad begrudgingly was a #GirlsDad but over the years evolved into the man that would proudly say he's now an unabashed #GirlsDad and proud, curious #GirlsGrandpa ... Our relationship is and always has been complicated and as yall can see I dont take shit off of anyone, but i got that from my #GirlsDad Thank you Dad. Thank you Gigi. Thank you to everyone who was just being involved parents and adults who loved kids. All praise. Rest in Peace.

A post shared by Gabrielle Union-Wade (@gabunion) on Jan 28, 2020 at 10:43am PST

At the end of her story, Duncan said that when she reflects on the moment she met the basketball star and his death, she's comforted by the idea that Bryant died doing what he loved the most.

"When I reflect on this tragedy and the half an hour that I spent with Kobe Bryant two years ago I suppose the only small source of comfort for me is knowing he died doing what he loved the most," she said. "Being a dad. Being a 'girl dad.'"