August 25th 2023.
The Los Angeles Lakers and the widow of the late great Kobe Bryant, Vanessa, have announced plans to honor the five-time NBA champion with a permanent monument outside the Crypto.com Arena.
On what would have been Kobe's 45th birthday, Vanessa confirmed that a statue will be unveiled on February 8th 2024 - a date that honors both him and their late daughter, Gianna. Gianna wore No. 2 during her time playing youth basketball, and the Lakers organization paid tribute to her memory in their announcement.
In a video posted to her Instagram account, Vanessa said, “Hi everyone. As you know, Kobe played his entire 20-year NBA career as a Los Angeles Laker. Since arriving in the city and joining the Lakers organization, he felt at home here, playing in the ‘City of Angels.’ I’m 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 a statue so that his legacy can be celebrated forever.”
Team owner Jeanie Buss expressed her admiration for Bryant, saying, “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 18-time All-Star will join other Laker greats such as Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who have statues erected in their honor outside the stadium.
This is a fitting tribute to Kobe and his lasting legacy, and a reminder of the impact he had on the game of basketball. Everyone in the Lakers organization is looking forward to the unveiling of the statue in 2024, and celebrating the 20-year contribution that Kobe made to the team.
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