Lakers unveil plan for Kobe Bryant statue featuring his daughter, Gigi

The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statute of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi, late next year. 

It has been over three years since Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi, were tragically and prematurely lost in a helicopter crash that killed seven others. The Los Angeles Lakers have since made every effort to honor Bryant’s singular legacy — his impact on the franchise, the city, and the sport as a whole.

Bryant was always going to get a statue outside Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. It was a matter of when, not if. Well, now we know the when.

According to Daily Mail, the Lakers will erect a stature of Kobe and Gigi next year and unveil it on Aug. 8, 2024. The date is an obvious nod to Bryant’s two numbers, 8 and 24.

Los Angeles Lakers to unveil statue of Kobe Bryant and his daughter on special date

Few players in NBA history have achieved the level of success that Bryant did in Los Angeles, playing for arguably the most storied franchise in league history. Bryant won five rings and one MVP award and he made 18 All-Star appearances in 20 NBA seasons, all spent with the Lakers.

His career averages of 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists easily undersell his peak-level impact. Bryant stole from Michael Jordan and all the great scorers before him to become a weapon of absolute destruction — master of the mid-range, freakish athlete, acrobatic finisher, and stone-cold killer. Bryant will be remembered as much for his famed ‘Mamba Mentality’ as he will be for his actual skill level.

The statue will be a loving memorial to a great player and his daughter Gigi, whose life was cut far too short under the most tragic of circumstances. With Gigi at his side, Kobe became the premier ambassador for the game of basketball after his career, taking special interest in women’s hoops. His efforts to spread the game to new places and open eyes to the women’s game will endure.

Expect Bryant’s supporters and Laker fans to show up in droves to celebrate the statue but more importantly, the legacy, career, and life of an all-time great.