MARCH 20 ,2025
Vinny Guadagnino Dishes on ‘Epic’ Gift Kobe Bryant Gave Him
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Vinny Guadagnino Dishes on ‘Epic’ Gift Kobe Bryant Gave Him
Vinny Guadagnino has shared the heartwarming details on a generous gift that the late NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant once gifted him.
After spotting the MTV reality star wear a pair of Kobe Bryant sneakers on “Jersey Shore,” the NBA baller sent him 20 pairs of sneakers from his brand, Guadagnino said on The Roommates Show Podcast on February 25.
The “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation” star recounted his “crazy” experience with Bryant, which took place while he was still filming the original “Jersey Shore” series.
Guadagnino, 37, said he was sitting courtside at an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York City when Bryant tried to get his attention.
“So all of a sudden Kobe’s giving an interview and then he just starts like going like this, and like I know this is not to me, so I literally like am looking in another direction, because I don’t want to be the guy that like accidentally thinks Kobe’s waving to him, but he keeps walking over and walking over, and he won’t stop,” Guadagnino shared.
Bryant eventually “dabs me up,” Guadagnino told podcast hosts, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.
“That night he invited me to wherever he was eating, we chilled a bit, and the next day there were 20 pairs of sneakers at my door of the kobes,” Guadagnino shared, calling it “epic,” especially since Bryant “dropped like 67 points on the Knicks that night.”
“It was crazy. It was pretty legendary,” Guadagnino said.
"There is photographic evidence of Bryant and Guadagnino’s courtside meeting. The “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation” star posted several photos of the interaction on Instagram after the “legendary” NBA star passed away on January 26, 2020.
“They say never meet your heroes because they’re sure to disappoint you….not this one #RIP KOBE RIP GIANNA,” Guadagnino captioned the post.
Bryant passed away in a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna “GiGi Bryant” on the same day.
Guadagnino is a regular at NBA basketball games. He frequently shares selfies of himself at games on social media.
On February 12, the “Jersey Shore” star attended a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden.
“siiiick win last night @nyknicks,” the reality star posted on Instagram on February 13, alongside several photos and a video of himself being shown on the jumbotron at the game.
The reality star shared another post on Instagram in November 2024 attending a Knicks game on his 37th birthday.
He captioned the post, “37 today! cheers to crushing more goals and having fun along the way surrounded by love !”
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