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LOS ANGELES — The date is 2-8-24, a number synonymous with Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. It’s no surprise that the team decided to unveil Bryant’s statue on this day.
No, I should say it’s a statue.
bryant’s widow Vanessa revealed on Thursday night. Three statues will be erected to the five-time NBA champion. The first photo was released before the game between the Lakers and Denver Nuggets, and shows Bryant wearing the No. 8 jersey posing for the game in which he scored 81 points, a pose chosen by Vanessa. It is said that
The second child will belong to Kobe and his daughter Gianna, who died along with her father and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.
The third photo is of Kobe with uniform number 24.
The Bryant statue is located at Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena, and Vanessa said she expected all three to be there, although no timeline has been given for when the remaining bronze statues will be unveiled. He said there would be.
Bryant is the seventh Lakers icon to be commemorated with a statue. He joins Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West and Chick Hearn.
“This statue is a wonderful contradiction. It captures a person who is frozen in time, but at the same time acknowledges that the reason the statue is there in the first place is because that person is timeless,” Abdul-Jabbar said. said Thursday. “We all came here to represent not only outstanding achievements in sport, but also timeless values that inspire us all to strive harder, not just to get better, but to be the best. It’s about honoring a person.”
more: Kobe Bryant’s legacy continues to grow four years after his death
black mamba uniform
In addition to unveiling the statue, the Lakers will wear Kobe-inspired Black Mamba uniforms in Thursday’s game against the Nuggets.
Bryant helped design the Black Mamba’s uniform. Featuring a snakeskin-themed black print and drop shadow on the jersey number. The uniform belt has “LA 24” and Bryant’s numbers 8 and 24 are written below the leg flaps of his shorts.
Kobe Bryant’s Enduring Legacy
Bryant won five NBA championships, was named Finals MVP twice and was an All-Star 18 times as a member of the Lakers. He retired in 2016 as one of the best basketball players in NBA history.
Bryant was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and was selected to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
“Kobe had so many people around the world supporting him from the beginning. This moment isn’t just for Kobe, it’s for all of you who have supported him over the years,” Vanessa said. Bryant said Thursday.
“For the fans here in Los Angeles, this is a special city that Kobe was proud to represent. You welcome him with open arms and are so important to him, our family, and his legacy. He was a great person.”
Follow Tyler Dragon on social media @TylerDragon
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