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0 The Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a 19-foot bronze statue of their late superstar, Kobe Bryant, on Thursday, outside their downtown arena. The 4,000-pound statue depicts Bryant wearing his white No. 8 jersey and walking off the court with his right index finger raised, after his historic 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006. The statue was unveiled at a ceremony attended by dozens of Lakers greats, hundreds of season ticket holders, and Bryant’s family members.
During the dedication ceremony, Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, revealed that the statue is the first of three that will be created to honor her husband’s legacy. The second statue will feature Bryant in his No. 24 jersey, which he wore for the second half of his career, while the third will depict Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, who died with him and seven others in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
The first statue was unveiled to honor Bryant’s contribution to the Lakers and the game of basketball. He spent his entire 20-year career with the team and retired in 2016. He is the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history, with 33,643 points, and his accolades included 18 All-Star selections and two NBA Finals MVP awards.
Bryant continues to be a beloved icon of Los Angeles, even after his death. His presence in the city is still evident through hundreds of public murals featuring him and his daughter. The unveiling of the statue was an emotional event, with Vanessa Bryant and other speakers sharing their memories and admiration for the basketball legend.
The statue’s base includes the box score from Bryant’s 81-point game, a QR code for fans to watch highlights of the performance, and a Bryant quote: “Leave the game better than you found it. And when it comes time for you to leave, leave a legend.” The triangular platform is surrounded by five replicas of the Larry O’Brien Trophy, a nod to Jackson assistant Tex Winter’s famed triangle offense, which was the bedrock of the Lakers’ success in the 2000s.
Bryant is now the sixth Lakers player and seventh team employee to be honored with a statue in Star Plaza outside of the arena known as Staples Center throughout Bryant’s career. He joins other Lakers legends such as Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, and Lakers announcer Chick Hearn.
The statue is a fitting tribute to a player who, as Fisher said, “wasn’t just a champion, he was unmatched. A rare specimen that left opposing players in awe, teammates inspired. He didn’t just play the game. He defined it. That’s really what it was like to be around him on a daily basis. He set the standard. He broke records. The legacy he leaves behind are foundations upon which current players and future players build their dreams.”
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