Kobe Bryant’s name has long been invoked in the same breath as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James. In death, he has entered another pantheon, one populated by Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Mr. Bennett from Pride of Prejudice. This elite league of men got a hashtag on social media on Tuesday after Bryant’s death: #girldad.

ESPN reporter Elle Duncan on Monday night’s edition of SportsCenter shared her story of meeting Kobe. Duncan was eight months pregnant, and Kobe high-fived her over having a girl. Kobe, a Catholic, was already the father of three girls at the time. When the conversation turned to whether Kobe could handle more girls, without any male children, the NBA superstar said, “I would have five more girls if I could. I’m a girl-dad.”