Vanessa Bryant, Nike, honor Kobe on his 42nd birthday

Vanessa Bryant has written a heartfelt message for Kobe Bryant and their daughter Gianna, while Nike has produced an inspiring video—all to honor the basketball legend who would have been celebrating his 42^nd birthday on August 23.

Vanessa wrote the message on Instagram, which in part said: "To my baby~ Happy birthday. I love you and miss you more than I can ever explain. I wish you and Gigi were here to celebrate YOU! I wish I could make you your fav food or a birthday cake with my Gigi. I miss your big hugs, your kisses, your smile, your loud ass deep laugh."

“I think about everything you would do in situations to help me deal with everything thrown my way," she added.

Vanessa Bryant's message then went on to express her personal struggles since Kobe, 13-year-old Gianna, and seven others died in a helicopter crash in California on January 26. They were on their way to a basketball game in Thousand Oaks, California when the accident occurred.

"Our lives feel so empty without you and Gigi. I've been completely broken inside. As much as I want to cry, I put a smile on my face to make our daughters days shine a little brighter. I'm not the strong one, they are. They're strong and resilient. I'm sure you're proud of them. They put a smile on my face everyday," she wrote.

"I wish I could wake up from this horrible nightmare. I wish I could surprise our girls and welcome you and Gigi home to us. I'm mad I didn't go first. I always wanted to go first so that I selfishly didn't have to feel this heartache. You were supposed to miss me. Gigi was supposed to be here with her sisters. It should've been me."

Meanwhile, a good friend and teammate Pau Gasol, also wrote an emotional message on Instagram: “I miss you and Gigi so much brother. I will always be thankful for how much you have impacted my life in so many different ways #Hermano #Familia…”

Shoe giant Nike has also released a new ad to celebrate Kobe Bryant’s birthday, which is titled “Better/Mamba Forever.”

The ad is narrated by musician Kendrick Lamar through a spoken word piece. "Kobe taught us to be better," Lamar says as images of Bryant, and a few supercuts of him in his games, flash across the screen.

"Better leader, better generation, better nation," Lamar continues while videos of athletes in other sports disciplines and protesters are shown. "Just be better. Can you do that? ... Better me, better you, better us," Lamar said.

The ‘Black Mamba’ retired in 2016 as a five-time NBA champion, 11-time All-NBA first-team selection, 2008 MVP, two-time Finals MVP, 18-time All-Star, and four-time All-Star MVP who spent his 20-year career solely with the Los Angeles Lakers. He also won gold medals with USA Basketball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics.

Photo is from usatoday.com