By Micheal Chukwuebuka, Reporting
LOS ANGELES Lakers, on Thursday Feb. 8, 2024, unveiled a 19-foot – 4,000-pounds bronze statue of Kobe Bryant outside their downtown arena.
The 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.
During the dedication ceremony, Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, said that the statue is the first of three that will be created to honour the five-time NBA champion and top scorer in Lakers history.
“This statue may look like Kobe, but really it’s what excellence looks like. What discipline looks like. What commitment looks like.
“It captures a person frozen in time, while at the same time acknowledges that the reason there is a statue in the first place is because that person is timeless.
“We’re all here today to honour a man who represents not just extraordinary sports achievement, but also timeless values that inspire us all to try harder to be not just better, but our best,” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said.
Recall that Bryant retired in 2016 after a 20-year career spent entirely with the Lakers.
His death has scarcely dimmed the shine of his presence in Los Angeles, where he remains a beloved icon of his adopted city.
Bryant and his daughter are featured in hundreds of vibrant public murals across the Southland.
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He is the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points, and his accolades included 18 NBA All-Star selections and two NBA Finals MVP awards.
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