The Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a statue of Kobe Bryant on Thursday, honoring their late superstar with a 20-foot bronze likeness outside their downtown arena.
The 4,000-pound statue shows Bryant in his white No. 8 jersey with his right index finger raised as he left the court after his 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006.
Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, said at the dedication ceremony that the statue is the first of three that will be created in honor of the five-time NBA champion and leading scorer in Lakers history. Another statue will depict Bryant in his No. 24 jersey, which he wore during the second half of his career, while a third will depict Bryant and his daughter Gianna, who died along with him and seven others in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
“This image may look like Kobe, but it is truly what excellence looks like,” said Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “What discipline looks like. What commitment looks like… It captures a person frozen in time, while at the same time recognizing that the reason there is a statue in the first place is because that person is timeless. We are all here today to honor a man who not only represents extraordinary sporting achievements, but also timeless values that inspire us all to try harder to be not just better, but our best.”
The first statue was presented at a ceremony attended by dozens of Lakers greats and hundreds of season ticket holders. Vanessa Bryant spoke at the ceremony following remarks from team owner Jeanie Buss, former teammate Derek Fisher, Abdul-Jabbar and longtime Lakers coach Phil Jackson.
“I think about Kobe all the time, and I miss him and Gigi more than words can say,” Buss said. “But today I am filled with joy, because I know that in the future, fans will gather here in the shadow of this statue next to the building where Kobe gave us so many memories, and we will share what he meant to us. As we do that, we will motivate a new generation to emulate the Mamba Spirit.”
Bryant retired in 2016 after a 20-year career spent entirely with the Lakers. He is the fourth leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points, and his accolades include 18 NBA All-Star selections and two NBA Finals MVP awards.
His death has hardly dimmed the luster 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 Los Angeles.
Even before Bryant’s death, Lakers fans speculated about the pose or image that would be immortalized in his statue. While the announcement of three statues changes the argument, Vanessa Bryant said there should be no debate at all: Kobe himself chose the pose for the first statue before his death.
“Kobe has so many people who have supported him from the very beginning around the world, and this moment is not just for Kobe, but for all of you who have supported him all these years,” she said. “To the fans here in LA, this is a special city that 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 gives me pleasure to see how much love you have for all of us. We love you too.”
The base of the statue reads: “Kobe Bean Bryant,” with his nickname “Black Mamba” carved below. The triangular platform – a nod to Jackson assistant Tex Winter’s famous triangle attack, the foundation of the Lakers’ success in the 2000s – is surrounded by five replicas of the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The base includes the box score of his 81-point game and a QR code for fans to watch highlights from the performance. A quote from Bryant is also used: “Leave the game better than you found it. And when it’s time to leave, leave a legend behind.”
Bryant is the sixth Lakers player and seventh team employee to be honored with a statue in Star Plaza outside the arena known as Staples Center throughout Bryant’s career. He joins Shaquille O’Neal, Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Lakers announcer Chick Hearn.
“He wasn’t just a champion,” Fisher said. “He was second to none. A rare example that left opponents in awe and inspired teammates. He didn’t just play the game. He defined it. This is actually what it was like to be around him every day. He set the standard. He broke records. The legacy he leaves behind is the foundation on which current players and future players build their dreams.”