In addition to Kobe himself, the Los Angeles Lakers have ensured that his nаme will live on in basketball lore.

The Lakers erected Bryant’s statue outside the Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. This date coincides with the basketball legend’s (and his daughter’s) iconic jersey numbers, 2, 8, and 24.

Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, former Kobe Bryant teammate Derek Fisher, famous player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Lakers coach Phil Jackson were among the speakers during the ceremony that preceded the team’s game against the Denver Nuggets. In her remarks, Vanessa Bryant—the late athlete’s wife—announced the commissioning of two additional monuments to her late husband.

The Statue of Kobe Bryant

The Statue of Kobe Bryant. RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY Hall of Famer Abdul-Jabbar, 76, said, “A statue is a wonderful contradiction.” It immortalizes a person who will never while also recognizing that their immortality is the very basis for the statue’s existence.

“We’re all here today to honor a man who represents not just extraordinary sports achievement but also timeless values and inspires us all to try harder, to be not just better, but our best,” he said.

Fisher, 49, who was a teammate of Bryant’s, mostly spoke about how “dedicated” Bryant was to fatherhood in his address. Just like his devotion to the game, his commitment to being a father was unfaltering. The demands of family life and competition were deliberately balanced, according to Fisher.

Kobe’s most iconic plays were highlighted by Bryant’s former coach, who also offered insight into the player’s mentаl state during his historic career. Thereafter, the 78-year-old Jackson told the audience about the times he was most proud of Kobe.

He reflected on the 2010 Lakers’ appearance on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show following their victory over the Boston Celtics, when the host made fun of Adam Morrison. Kobe defended his teammate while the jokes went on, making Jackson feel a tremendous amount of pride.

An Emotional Speech by Vanessa Bryant at the Unveiling of the Kobe Bryant Statue (KTLA)

Vanessa, who wed Bryant in 2001, expressed her gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support throughout the years. “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 said.

Vanessa also mentioned in her address that the plaza in front of Crypto.com Arena will be adorned with two additional sculptures. Bryant will be featured in two photos: one of him wearing the No. 8 and another of him with their late daughter Gianna.

In a video posted to the organization’s Instagram on August 24, 2023, Vanessa revealed the planned unveiling of the statue.

“On behalf of the Lakers, my daughters and me, I am so honored that, right in the center of Los Angeles, in front of the place known as ‘The House That Kobe Built,’ we are going to unveil his statue so that his legacy can be celebrated forever,” she told reporters at the time.

Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, and Chick Hearn are among the other Laker greats who have had statues constructed outside the arena; Bryant becomes the eighth to get this honor.

The bronze sculpture honors Bryant’s illustrious career in the NBA, particularly during his time with the Lakers. He was a member of the team for 18 seasons and won five NBA championships, two Finals MVP nominations, and an unprecedented 18 All-Star appearances.

NBC Los Angeles reports that the sculpture was made by Omri Amrany and Julie Roblatt-Amrany of Illinois. All of the sculptures outside the arena were previously selected to be created by the same pair.

Following the installation of the statue, the Lakers will face the Nuggets in ‘Black Mamba’ attire, as announced on club Instagram.

The limited-edition jerseys showcase black snakeskin print, ‘LA 24’ on the belt, and Bryant’s jersey numbers 8 and 24, respectively, printed on the knees of the shorts.

When Kobe Bryant retired in 2016, he was widely considered a legend in NBA history.

Bryant and his daughter Gianna, who was thirteen years old at the time, were killed in a helicopter crаsh that killed nine people on January 26, 2020, less than four years later.

He became a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fаme on May 15, 2021.

As part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, which was chosen by a “blue-ribbon panel of current and former NBA players, coaches, general managers and team and league executives, WNBA legends and sportswriters and broadcasters” that same year, Bryant was announced as a member.

Both of Bryant’s jersey numbers are retired and displayed inside Cypto.com Arena, making him the only Lakers player to do so to this day.

Starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, the Bryant statue will be accessible to the general public.