The legacy of Kobe Bryant has been perpetuated to a greater extent by his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers unveiled Bryant’s statue outside the Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, February 8, 2024, a date fitting the legendary basketball player’s (and his daughter’s) emblematic jersey numbers: 2, 8, and 24.
Prior to the team’s match against the Denver Nuggets, the ceremony was graced with orations from Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, former teammate and legendary player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Derek Fisher, who was also Kobe’s teammate. Wife of the deceased athlete: Vanessa Bry
The 76-year-old Hall of Famer Abdul-Jabbar stated, “A statue is an exquisite contradiction. Simultaneously, it depicts an individual immobilized in time and recognizes that the statue exists precisely because that individual is immutable.
“We’re all here today to honor a man who represents not just extraordinary sports achievement but also timeless values and inspires us all to try harder, to be not just better, but our best,” he went on.
In his address, Bryant’s former colleague Fisher, 49, emphasized how “dedicated” Bryant was to fatherhood. His dedication to the game was identical in nature to his unwavering commitment to fatherhood. Fisher stated, “He deliberately managed the obligations of both competition and family life.”The former coach of Kobe Bryant offered valuable perspective on the player’s mental state during his legendary career, while also emphasizing his most remarkable performances. Then, Jackson, 78, recounted to the audience the instances in which Kobe had made him feel the most gratified.
He recalled that following the 2010 Lakers’ victory over the Boston Celtics, the team was invited to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where the presenter made light of Adam Morrison. As the jests persisted, Kobe defended his teammate, inciting Jackson to an extreme degree of pride.
Vanessa, 41, who wed Bryant in 2001, expressed gratitude to the supporters for their enduring assistance. “Kobe has so many people that have supported him all over the world from the very beginning and this moment isn’t just for Kobe, but it’s for all of you that have been rooting for him all of these years,” Vanessa stated.
Vanessa verified in another portion of her address that two additional statues will be erected in front of Crypto.com Arena. The first will feature Bryant donning the No. 8, while the second will depict him with their deceased daughter Gianna.
A video announcing the forthcoming unveiling of the statue was uploaded to the organization’s Instagram page by Vanessa on August 24, 2023.
“On behalf of the Lakers, my daughters and me, I am so honored that, right in the center of Los Angeles, in front of the place known as ‘The House That Kobe Built,’ we are going to unveil his statue so that his legacy can be celebrated forever,” she stated at the time.
Bryant joins Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, and Chick Hearn as the seventh Laker to obtain this distinction; they have all had statues erected outside the arena.
The bronze statue stands as a symbol of Kobe Bryant’s illustrious achievements, particularly in his tenure with the Lakers. This included five NBA titles, two Finals MVP nominations, and 18 All-Star selections during his contract with the organization.
The statue was reportedly designed by sculptors Omri Amrany and Julie Roblatt-Amrany of Illinois, according to NBC Los Angeles. Prior to this, the couple was selected to produce every single statue located beyond the arena.
The Lakers have announced via Instagram that they will assume ‘Black Mamba’ uniforms during their matchups with the Nuggets following the unveiling of the statue.
The black snakeskin print, ‘LA 24’ emblazoned on the belt, and Bryant’s 8 and 24 jersey numbers inscribed on each knee of the shorts, respectively, characterize the special edition uniforms.
Bryant was regarded as one of the most influential basketball players in NBA history upon his retirement in 2016.
On January 26, 2020, Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna perished in a helicopter accident that claimed the lives of a total of nine individuals, which occurred less than four years later.
He was bestowed with the esteemed Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction on May 15, 2021.
A “blue-ribbon panel of current and former NBA players, coaches, general managers, team and league executives, WNBA legends, sportswriters, and broadcasters” voted on the 75 greatest players in NBA history that year. Bryant was named to this esteemed group.
Bryant remains the sole Lakers player whose jersey numbers have been retired and are currently displayed within the Cypto.com Arena.Guests are invited to visit the Bryant statue on Friday, starting at 10 a.m.
