On Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Bryant family have installed a new permanent fixture outside Crytpo.com Arena honoring five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Maria-Onor’e Bryant.
Friday’s installation date is especially significant as 8/2/24 honors both the numbers Kobe wore during his career with the Purple and Gold (8 and 24) and the number Gigi wore playing competitive youth basketball (2).
The statue will be open and available for public viewing starting on August 3.
Earlier this year, the Lakers unveiled the first Kobe Bryant statue outside the arena at Star Plaza.
The newest statue recognizes Bryant’s unwavering pride in being a “Girl Dad” and the Bryant family’s support for women and girls in sports. The tribute represents Kobe and Gianna’s exceptional basketball legacy and the relationship Kobe shared with all four of his daughters.
Speaking to friends and family who joined her to honor the moment, Vanessa Bryant talked about the newest statue.
“We merged two iconic courtside moments of Kobe and Gigi,” Bryant said. “Gianna has her gorgeous smile on her face and Kobe is kissing the top of her head while wearing the Philadelphia Eagles beanie that Gigi gifted him for Christmas. He’s also wearing a WNBA hoodie he wore courtside to the game with Gigi. Kobe was the first NBA player to wear that orange hoodie to a big game, and that was to show his support for Gigi’s dreams and for women across all sports. That was a moment he shared with Gigi that will always be a powerful representation of the movement towards equality that was always so important to our family.”
The statue is outside Crypto.com Arena’s 11th Street Entrance near Chick Hearn Court and Georgia Street.
Leave a Reply