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Vanessa Bryant and Alicia Keys share a sweet ‘Mamba’ moment in LA

The gathering connected two families with Kobe Bryant as their shared link and the enduring influence of his Mamba Mentality

Vanessa Bryant and Alicia Keys reunite in Los Angeles as Keys’ son Egypt Dean celebrates basketball, Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality and his growing game.

AUGUST 13, 2026 12:53 PM EDTAUG 13, 2026, 12:53 PM EDT

Vanessa Bryant and Alicia Keys just gave fans a feel-good celebrity friendship moment, but basketball was clearly the real star of the day. Keys shared a new Instagram post on Aug. 11 featuring time spent with Vanessa and her 15-year-old son, Egypt Dean, during a basketball-centered outing in Los Angeles.

The gathering connected two families with Kobe Bryant as their shared link and the enduring influence of his Mamba Mentality. “Mamba Mentality was alive and well in LA!” Keys wrote in the caption, adding a trophy and snake emoji alongside the hashtags “#KobeBryant,” “#nikebasketball” and “#vanessabryant.”

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The photos offer a glimpse at Vanessa Bryant and Alicia Keys enjoying the occasion together as Egypt continues to establish himself as a serious young basketball player.

And for Egypt, the connection to Kobe's legacy is especially fitting.

Alicia Keys’ Son Egypt Dean Is Serious About Basketball

Egypt, whom Keys shares with husband Swizz Beatz, has been steadily building his résumé on the court.

Blue Ivy Carter, and Alicia Keys with her sons Egypt Daoud and Genesis Ali at The 67th Annual Grammy Awards

The teenager told PEOPLE that basketball has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. Now 15, he plays competitively on a national level and is heading into his sophomore year of high school. “I've loved it every since I can remember,” Egypt told the outlet. He also revealed that his ambitions extend well beyond high school basketball, saying Duke University is currently the college program he has his sights set on.

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His work ethic sounds particularly appropriate for a young player spending time around the Bryant family. “My parents always say, ‘If you wanna be good at something, you have to put at least 10,000 hours into it,’” Egypt told PEOPLE. “When it comes to basketball, I've probably surpassed that three times already.”

The teen added one simple lesson that could practically double as a Mamba Mentality mantra: “dedication is key if you want to get good at something.”

Kobe Bryant Is One of Egypt Dean’s Basketball Inspirations

Egypt may not pledge allegiance to one particular NBA franchise, but he knows exactly which players he enjoys studying.

He named Stephen Curry as his favorite player of all time and also mentioned Anthony Edwards and Jalen Green. When it comes to previous generations, however, Kobe remains firmly in the rotation. “I like to watch films of older players, like Allen Iverson and prime Kobe Bryant,” Egypt told PEOPLE.

Vanessa Bryant and Alicia Keys Go Back Years

The friendship between Vanessa and Keys isn't new. In 2021, Vanessa and daughter Natalia Bryant attended Keys' star-packed Met Gala after-party in New York with family friend Ciara. E! News reported that the mother-daughter duo arrived around 1 a.m., joining a guest list that included Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Lupita Nyong'o and Regina King.

Vanessa was also photographed celebrating Swizz Beatz's birthday that year alongside Keys and other friends, including Ciara, La La Anthony and Mary J. Blige.

Vanessa Bryant at the 2025 U.S. Open Women's Finals - Blue Carpet held at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 06, 2025 in Queens, New York. (Photo by Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Alicia Keys attends the Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell's Kitchen Premiere during the 2026 Tribeca Festival at BMCC Theater on June 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)

Keys has also repeatedly shown support for Vanessa and Kobe's love story. When Vanessa commemorated the anniversary of the day she first met Kobe with a throwback Instagram photo in 2023, Keys responded, “4 ever!!!!!” followed by four purple hearts.

Alicia Keys Helped Honor Kobe Bryant After His Death

Keys was hosting the Grammy Awards at Staples Center on Jan. 26, 2020, just hours after Kobe, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash.

Keys and Boyz II Men performed “It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” during an emotional tribute to the Lakers legend. Speaking later about preparing for the ceremony, Keys said she and the group wanted to “do something special” that felt appropriate for the devastating moment. “It was so much, but I was very honored to be able to share that moment with all of us,” Keys later said of helping audiences process the loss together.

She also participated in Kobe and Gianna's public memorial at Staples Center the following month, where she performed Beethoven's “Moonlight Sonata.”

Six years later, seeing Keys and Vanessa together in a setting devoted to the next generation of basketball players brings that history into a different chapter.

Vanessa Bryant Continues to Keep Kobe Bryant’s Legacy Close

For Vanessa, basketball remains an important part of preserving the legacy of both Kobe and Gianna. Her latest time with Keys and Egypt also shows how that legacy continues to reach younger athletes who never had the opportunity to compete alongside Kobe but still study his game, mindset, and work ethic.

Kobe Bryant, Vanessa Bryant, Gianna Bryant, and Natalia Bryant

Egypt is one of them. His basketball career is still in its early stages, but his goals are already big. He has Duke on his college wish list and hopes eventually to earn an opportunity in the NBA. “In the future, any NBA team that gave me a chance to prove my talent would be an honor,” he told PEOPLE.