LOS ANGELES — The Lakers unveiled a statue of Kobe Bryant on Thursday, immortalizing their late superstar with a 19-foot bronze likeness outside of Crypto.com Arena – with more physical tributes to honor his legacy still to come.
The pose for the statue was one of the league’s best-kept secrets.
In a 20-season career filled with iconic moments, picking one to capture his on-court legacy wasn’t an easy task.
But it was a decision Bryant made before he passed away more than four years ago, according to his widow, Vanessa Bryant, who unveiled the statue in front of more than 700 people, a gathering consisting of friends, family, dozens of Laker greats, former teammates and limited season-ticket members.
“For the record, Kobe picked the pose you’re about to see,” Vanessa said, “so if anyone has any issues with it, tough s—. It is what it is.”
The 4,000-pound statue depicts Bryant in his No. 8 jersey with his right index finger raised as he walked off the court following his 81-point performance in a victory over the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006.
The sculpture is surrounded by replicas of the Larry O’Brien Trophy, representing the five NBA championships the team won during Bryant’s career. The triangular base – a nod to former Lakers assistant coach Tex Winter’s famed triangle offense, the bedrock of the Lakers’ success in the 2000s – is etched with “KOBE BEAN BRYANT” and his nickname “Black Mamba” and also features the box score from his 81-point game. It also features a Bryant quote: “Leave the game better than you found it. And when it comes time for you to leave, leave a legend.”
“I think of Kobe constantly, and I miss him and Gigi more than words can say,” Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said. “But today, I’m filled with joy because, in the future, I know fans will gather here in the shade of this statue beside this building where Kobe gave us so many memories, and we will share what he meant to us. As we do so, we will motivate a new generation to emulate the Mamba Mentality.”
Vanessa Bryant said during the dedication ceremony that the statue is the first of three that will be created to honor the five-time NBA champion and top scorer in Lakers history, who retired in 2016. Another statue will feature Bryant in his No. 24 jersey, which he wore for the second half of his career, while a third will depict Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, who died with him and seven others in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, in Calabasas.
Bryant’s death has scarcely dimmed the shine of his presence in Los Angeles, where he remains a beloved icon of his adopted city. He and his daughter are featured in hundreds of vibrant public murals across the region.
“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,” Vanessa Bryant said. “To the fans here in L.A., this is a special city Kobe was so proud to represent. You welcomed him with open arms and have been so important to him, our family, and his legacy.
“It brings me joy to see how much love you have for all of us. We love you back.”
Vanessa Bryant spoke at the ceremony after remarks from Buss, former teammate Derek Fisher, Lakers icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and longtime Lakers coach Phil Jackson.
“This statue is a wonderful contribution. This statue may look like Kobe, but really it’s what excellence looks like,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “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 honor 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.”
The date of the ceremony held extra meaning, representing the No. 2 jersey worn by Gianna, as well as the Nos. 8 and 24 jerseys Bryant wore during his 20-year NBA career with the Lakers.
Bryant, an 18-time NBA All-Star who won two NBA Finals MVPs and one regular-season MVP award with the Lakers, retired as the first player in league history to play at least 20 seasons with a single franchise.
He holds several franchise records, including but not limited to: points (33,643), steals (1,944), 3-pointers (1,827), regular-season games played (1,346), playoff points (5,640), playoff games played (220) and playoff 3-pointers (292).
His 81-point game against the Raptors remains the second-most points for a player in an NBA game.
“The night he got 81, we needed all those points,” Jackson said. “They were running a zone against us, and we devised a little offensive system that would exaggerate Kobe having a one-on-one opportunity with either a power forward, a small forward or Jalen Rose. He ate that up.”
The Lakers retired Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys on Dec. 18, 2017, and he was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on May 15, 2021.
“He wasn’t just a champion,” Fisher said. “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.”
Bryant is the seventh Laker (and sixth player) to be honored with a statue in Star Plaza outside of the arena that was known as Staples Center throughout Bryant’s career, joining Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jerry West and longtime broadcaster Chick Hearn.
“I hope that’s what that place and that statue becomes for his fans around the world: a place to go and, and feel his presence and feel his inspiration in our lives,” said Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, who was Bryant’s longtime agent.