The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue of Kobe Bryant outside of Crypto.com Arena on August 8, 2024, according to an NBA report by Russ Weakland and Alex Raskin of DailyMail.com. Bryant wore Nos. 8 and 24 during his career with the Lakers.
“The promised Kobe Bryant statue outside LA’s Crypto.com Arena will incorporate his daughter Gigi and – in a nod to his jersey numbers, 8 and 24 – will be unveiled by the Lakers on August 8, 2024, an inside source has told DailyMail.com,” Weakland and Raskin wrote. “Lakers owner Jeanie Buss previously revealed plans to erect a statue for Bryant after he, his 13-year-old daughter, Gigi, six friends and a pilot died in a helicopter crash in January of 2020. The source tells DailyMail.com that Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, is involved with the plans, but cautioned that an artist for the piece has not yet been chosen.”
Bryant, who tragically passed away in January 2020, spent his entire career with the Lakers. The Hall of Famer is universally recognized as the greatest and most popular player in Lakers history.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kobe Bryant & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
One of the best players of all time, Bryant averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 1,346 regular-season games with the Lakers. He was an 18-time All-Star, five-time champion, four-time All-Star Game MVP, two-time Finals MVP, two-time scoring champion, 15-time All-NBA Team member, 12-time All-Defensive Team member and the 2007-08 MVP.
Bryant is fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He scored 33,643 points during his legendary career. The Black Mamba put up 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors during the 2005-06. It’s the second-highest scoring output in a game in NBA history.
The Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals during the Bryant era. Bryant won three rings with Shaquille O’Neal and two with Pau Gasol. The Lakers retired both of Bryant’s numbers (8 and 24) after he retired in 2016.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kobe Bryant & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The NBA community was devastated when Bryant passed away in 2020. The 2019-20 Lakers, led by LeBron James — who was close with Bryant — won the 2020 championship over the Miami Heat at the Walt Disney World bubble as their way of honoring Bryant.
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