- Kobe Bryant’s statue, depicting him pointing to the sky after his 81-point game, was unveiled at Crypto.com Arena.
- The ceremony was attended by Vanessa Bryant, former Lakers players, and team executives.
- Vanessa revealed there will be three statues of Kobe, one for each of his jersey numbers and one featuring his daughter Gigi.
Additional Coverage:
Kobe Bryant’s statue was unveiled at Crypto.com Arena in an emotional ceremony. The bronze statue depicts Kobe pointing to the sky after his historic 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, a pose that he personally chose. The statue also pays tribute to the triangle offense and the five championships he won during his Hall of Fame career.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by Kobe’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, their children, former Lakers players, team staff, and front office executives. The ceremony took place on February 8, 2024, symbolizing Kobe’s two jersey numbers with the Lakers and the number carried by his daughter, Gigi, during her basketball career.
Speakers at the ceremony included Vanessa Bryant, Phil Jackson, Stu Lantz, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Derek Fisher, and Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. They each delivered touching speeches as the statue was revealed for the first time. Vanessa also announced that there will be three different statues of Kobe, one for each of his jersey numbers and one featuring Gigi.
Vanessa responded playfully to any potential criticism of the statue, stating that it is exactly what Kobe wanted. Fans, who have been eagerly anticipating this day since Kobe’s tragic death in a helicopter crash in January 2020, will have the opportunity to pay their respects near the statue as it becomes available to the public in the coming days.
Kobe’s statue joins those of other Lakers legends outside the arena, including Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and more. Kobe’s legacy as one of the greatest to ever wear a Lakers jersey is unquestionable, with his five NBA championships, two scoring titles, two Finals MVPs, a regular season MVP, and 15 All-NBA selections. Over his 20-season career, Kobe averaged 25 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.