Pau Gasol, wife honor Kobe Bryant's family with new daughter's name

Pau Gasol and his wife, Cat, honored the memory of Kobe Bryant and his family by naming their first-born daughter Elisabet Gianna Gasol, the former Los Angeles Lakers big man announced Sunday.

"Our little one has finally arrived!! The delivery went really well and we couldn't be happier!! Elisabet Gianna Gasol, a very meaningful name for our super beautiful daughter!! #girldad," Gasol wrote.

Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were among nine people who died in a helicopter crash in January.

Bryant's wife, Vanessa, celebrated the birth by announcing on Instagram: "My goddaughter is here!!!!" Gasol commented on her post, writing: "We love you sis! You're going to be the best Godmother to our Ellie Gianna."

Gasol, who teamed with Bryant in Los Angeles from 2008 to '14, winning two championships together, maintained a friendship with the Bryant family long after leaving the Lakers.

And that support hasn't ceased.

For example, Gasol and his wife shared a boat trip with Vanessa and her daughters -- Natalia, Bianka and Capri -- last month near San Francisco.

"We had a tremendous connection, it's quite evident," Gasol told ESPN's Omar Raja in May, when speaking about Bryant. "He'll be always present with me and with all of us, in certain degrees and different ways."