A statue of former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is seen after its unveiling outside the NBA basketball team's arena, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers dedicated a 19-foot bronze statue of Kobe Bryant outside their downtown arena to memorialize the late superstar. The 4,000-pound statue portrays Bryant wearing his white No. 8 jersey and raising his right index finger as he walks off the court after scoring 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006.
During the dedication ceremony, Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, stated that the monument is the first of three to be erected to honor the five-time NBA champion and Lakers’ all-time leading scorer. Another statue would depict Bryant in his No. 24 jersey, which he wore for the second half of his career, and a third will show Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, who died in a helicopter crash with him and seven others in January 2020.
“This statue may resemble Kobe Bryant, but it truly represents excellence,” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stated. “This is what discipline looks like. What commitment looks like. It depicts a human frozen in time while still acknowledging that the statue exists because that person is timeless. We’re all here today to recognize a guy who embodies not only amazing athletic performance, but also ageless principles that motivate us all to strive for not just better, but our best.”
The first statue was unveiled during a ceremony attended by dozens of Lakers legends and hundreds of season-ticket holders. Vanessa Bryant spoke at the ceremony, following statements from club owner Jeanie Buss, former teammate Derek Fisher, Abdul-Jabbar, and veteran Lakers coach Phil Jackson.
“I think of Kobe constantly, and I miss him and Gigi more than words can say,” Buss was quoted as saying. “But now, I’m filled with delight because I know that in the future, fans will congregate here in the shade of this statue opposite this building, where Kobe gave us so many memories, to tell what he meant to them. As we do so, we will inspire the next generation to adopt the Mamba Mentality.”
Bryant retired in 2016 after spending his entire 20-year career with the Lakers. He is the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history, with 33,643 points, and he has received 18 NBA All-Star selections and two NBA Finals MVP honors.
His death has done little to lessen the radiance of his presence in Los Angeles, where he is still regarded as a revered icon of his chosen city. Bryant and his daughter appear in hundreds of vivid public murals throughout the Southland.
Even before Bryant died, Lakers fans speculated on the pose or image that would be memorialized in his statue. While the introduction of three monuments changes the issue, Vanessa Bryant believes there should be no dispute at all because Kobe chose the posture for the first statue before his death.
For Kobe. For the die-hard Laker fans. For our family.
Mamba forever. pic.twitter.com/uExf0oEWgY
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 9, 2024
“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,” she told reporters. “To the fans in Los Angeles, Kobe was very honored to represent this great city. You have been incredibly supportive of him, his family, and his legacy.It makes me happy to see how much love you have for all of us. “We love you back.”
The statue’s foundation says “Kobe Bean Bryant,” with his nickname, “Black Mamba,” etched beneath. The triangular platform, a tribute to Jackson assistant Tex Winter’s renowned triangle offense, which was the foundation of the Lakers’ dominance in the 2000s, is encircled by five Larry O’Brien Trophy replicas.
The base displays the box score from his 81-point game as well as a QR code that allows fans to watch performance highlights. A remark from Bryant is also included: “Leave the game better than you found it.” And when it’s time to leave, leave a tale.”
Bryant is the sixth Lakers player and seventh club employee to be honored with a statue in Star Plaza, outside the Staples Center, during his career. He joins Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, and Chick Hearn, the Lakers announcer.
“He wasn’t just a champion,” Fisher explained. “He was unrivaled. A remarkable creature that astounded opponents and motivated teammates. He did not simply play the game. He defined it. That is exactly what it felt like to be with him on a regular basis. He set the benchmark. He shattered records. The legacy he leaves behind serves as the framework for present and future athletes to build their aspirations.
