Before retiring in 2016, Kobe Bryant spent all 20 of his NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers; in 2020, Bryant perished in a helicopter crash. There will be three statues dedicated in honor of the NBA legend.
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers honored the NBA superstar Kobe Bryant by unveiling a brand-new statue of him outside their arena.
The 20-year Lakers player, a five-time NBA champion, perished in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, along with his daughter Gianna and seven other people.
When the 19-foot bronze monument of him was unveiled outside the Crypto.com Arena, Lakers luminaries gathered, representing him with his index finger up, much as he had done following his 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006.
Along with Bryant’s widow Vanessa, former Laker Derek Fisher, Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the previous head coach Phil Jackson also spoke during the ceremony.
“As I see today’s current generation of star players follow in Kobe’s footsteps with huge scoring games, I know he would take pride in knowing that he is still pouring inspiration into the game that was so special to him,” Vanessa Bryant commented.
“I leave you with one of my husband’s amazing quotes,” she continued. “When the time comes for you to leave, leave a legend and leave the game better than when you found it.” And he carried that out.”
Confetti was flying when the first Bryant monument emerged from beneath a gold drape. Bryant is shown wearing the No. 8 on a white Lakers uniform. In remembrance of the triangle offense Bryant perfected under Jackson and assistant coach Tex Winter, the base of the statue is shaped like a triangle.
