Los Angeles, CA. – 2-8-24, the date the Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a statue of Kobe Bryant honoring the NBA icon with a 19-foot bronze likeless outside their downtown arena.
“I’m thankful for all the fans,” Vanessa Bryant said. “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. And to the fans here in LA, this is a special city Kobe was so proud to represent. It brings me joy to see how much love you have for all of us. We love you back.”
The 4,000-pound statue depicts Bryant in his white No.8 jersey with his right index finger raised as he walked off the court following his 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006.
“This statue may look like Kobe, but it is what excellence looks like,” Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said.
Wearing jersey number 8 with his right arm in the air, the statue of Bryant is surrounded by five championship trophies representing the five Lakers titles during Bryant’s career. Requested by the Bryant family as a personal detail for Kobe, all four names of the Bryant daughters are shown as tattoos on the statue arm, although three were yet to be born when Bryant accomplished his 81-point game.
“For the record, Kobe picked the pose you’re about to see,” said Vanessa Bryant ahead of the unveiling.
The triangle-shaped base of the statue, a nod to Tex Winter and Phil Jackson’s triangle offense, is etched with KOBE BEAN BRYANT “Black Mamba” and includes his many accolades from his 20-year NBA career. The base includes the reference photo for the statue, the box score from that 2006 game and a quote from Kobe Bryant saying, “Leave the game better than you found it. And when it comes time for you to leave, leave a legend.”
“He was a scrapper, a fighter, a winner, and an artist, and he can bend the world to his will,” Lakers owner and president Jeanie Buss said.
Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, said during the dedication that the statue is the first of three that will be created to honor the five-time champion.
“I will leave you with one of my husband’s amazing quotes…leave the game better than you found it; when it comes time for you to leave, leave a legend,” Vanessa Bryant said.
It was no Hollywood ending after the Kobe statue unveiling as the defending champion Denver Nuggets held off the Los Angeles Lakers 114-106.
Jamal Murray scored 29 points, and Nikola Jokic had 24 points – 13 rebounds- and nine assists as the Nuggets closed the game on a 10-2 run in the final minutes to hold off the Lakers.
Today’s unveiling date marks special significance as 2/8/24, honoring both numbers 8 and 24, which Bryant wore during his career, along with the number 2 his daughter Gianna Bryant wore playing basketball.
During the event, Vanessa Bryant announced future plans for two more Kobe Bryant statues, including one with his daughter Gianna and one wearing jersey number 24.
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