The Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a 19-foot-tall Kobe Bryant statue outside their downtown arena on Thursday to honor their late superstar.
The 4,000-pound statue depicts Kobe wearing his white No. 8 jersey and walking off the court with his right index finger raised after scoring 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006.
Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, said at the dedication ceremony that the statue is the first of three to be built in honor of the five-time NBA champion and the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer. Another statue will feature the No. 24 jersey Bryant wore during the second half of his career, while a third statue will depict Bryant and his daughter Gianna, who was with him and seven others in the January 2020 helicopter crash. Loss of life.
“This statue may look like Kobe, but that’s actually what excellence looks like,” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said. “What discipline looks like. What commitment looks like… It captures a person frozen in time while acknowledging that the statue exists, first and foremost, because that person is eternal. We are here today to Honoring a man who represented not only extraordinary athletic achievement but also timeless values that inspire us all to work harder to not just be better, but to be our best.”
The unveiling of the first statue was attended by dozens of Lakers superstars and hundreds of season ticket holders. Vanessa Bryant spoke at the ceremony after remarks from team owner Jeanie Buss, former teammates Derek Fisher, Abdul-Jabbar and longtime Lakers coach Phil Jackson Speech.
“I think about Kobe constantly and I miss him and Gigi more than I can describe,” Buss said. “But today, I am filled with joy because in the future, I know fans will gather under the shade of this statue next to the building where Kobe brought so many memories to us, and we will share what he meant to us. When When we do this, we will inspire a new generation to emulate the Mamba Mentality.”
Kobe retired in 2016 after a 20-year career with the Lakers. He ranks as the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points, and his honors include 18 NBA All-Star selections and two NBA Finals MVP awards.
His death did nothing to diminish his shine in Los Angeles, and he remains a beloved icon in the city where he lived. Kobe and his daughters are featured in hundreds of vibrant public murals in Los Angeles.
Even before Kobe’s death, Lakers fans speculated that his statue would be immortalized. While the announcement of the three statues changed the debate, Vanessa Bryan said there shouldn’t be an argument at all: Kobe himself chose the pose for the first statue before his death.
“Kobe had so many people supporting him around the world from the beginning, and this moment belongs not just to Kobe but to all the people who have supported him all these years,” she said. “To the fans of Los Angeles, Kobe was extremely proud to represent this special city. It means so much to him, our family and his legacy that you welcomed him with open arms.”
“It makes me happy to see you have so much love for all of us. We love you too.”
The base of the statue reads: “Kobe Bean Bryant” and his nickname “Black Mamba” is engraved below. The triangular platform is a nod to Jackson assistant coach Tex Winter’s famous triangle offense that was the cornerstone of the Lakers’ success in the 2000s and is surrounded by five replicas of the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The base includes a scoring record from his 81-point game as well as a QR code for fans to view game highlights. Kobe Bryant’s words are also included: “Leave the game better than you found it. When you leave, leave a legend.”
Bryant is the sixth Lakers player and seventh team employee in his career to receive a statue in the Plaza of Stars outside Staples Center. He joins Shaquille O’Neal, Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn.
“He’s more than just a champion,” Fisher said. “He was unmatched. A rare specimen who wowed opposing players and inspired his teammates. He didn’t just play the game. He defined it. That’s what it was like to be around him every day. He set the scene.” Standard. He broke records. His legacy is the foundation for current players and future players to achieve their dreams.”
