Prakhar Dobhal, Pune
Vanessa Bryant, the wife of late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, made an announcement on August 24 regarding the unveiling of a statue to honour the iconic former NBA player. The statue, a tribute to the celebrated career of Bryant, will find its place outside the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, marking a poignant remembrance of the Lakers’ legendary star.
Vanessa Bryant revealed that the unveiling ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2024, a date of significance as Kobe Bryant wore jersey numbers 8 and 24 during his illustrious tenure. In a heartfelt video, Vanessa Bryant said, “As you know, Kobe played his entire 20-year NBA career as a Los Angeles Laker.” The statue is intended to embody his enduring legacy in the city he embraced as his basketball home.
The Lakers conveyed that the bronze statue will be a centerpiece at Star Plaza outside the arena, with the unveiling coinciding with a home game. The planning of the statue was reportedly initiated with Kobe’s involvement before his untimely passing on Jan. 26, 2020, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, in a tragic helicopter crash.
In their statement, the Lakers declared this statue to be the first of a series of physical tributes to honour Kobe Bryant’s remarkable legacy. The franchise recognized his extraordinary athletic achievements, labeling him one of the most iconic individuals in Los Angeles history.
The Los Angeles Lakers Governor, Jeanie Buss, told CNN, “Kobe Bryant was one of the most extraordinary athletes of all time and one of the most iconic individuals in the history of Los Angeles. There is no better place for Kobe to be honored with a statue than here, at the center of our city, where everyone can celebrate him and be inspired by his incredible achievements.”
The unveiling will align Bryant with other Lakers legends commemorated in statue form, including Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Jerry West.
Kobe Bryant, renowned for his 18-time NBA All-Star status and embodiment of the ‘Mamba Mentality,’ achieved five NBA titles throughout his legendary career. The Lakers acknowledged his impact on their franchise by designating him as the all-time leader in numerous categories, including regular season games played, points, three-pointers made, steals, and free throws made. Similarly, he holds franchise playoff records for games played, points, three-pointers made, and free throws made. This statue stands as a testament to his enduring legacy and profound influence on the sport of basketball.