LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Kobe Bryant became the newest Los Angeles legend to have permanent residence outside the Crypto.com Arena.
Four years after Kobe’s death, the Lakers celebrated the Laker legend last Thursday, Feb. 8, unveiling the first of three new statues to stand around the arena. Before the Lakers-Nuggets game, Kobe’s former teammates, other Laker Legends, his family and current Laker players gathered at a private event to commemorate the late great Bryant.
In honor of his 81-point performance in 2006 versus the Toronto Raptors, the statue encapsulates Kobe walking off the court after scoring the second-most points in a single game in NBA history. Kobe stands on a triangle platform, representing the triangle offense first created by Tex Winter and later used by Hall of Fame Coach Phill Jackson in his early 2000s Lakers days. Engraved on his right arm, pointing to the sky, are his four daughters: Gianna, Natalia, Brinka and Capri.
Kobe "Bean" Byrant's statue in all its glory in front of https://t.co/XEjPbMc7fm Arena. pic.twitter.com/PHnUfveQtj
— Jude Ocañas (@judocanas) February 13, 2024
Plenty of NBA legends have worn the purple and gold, but probably no one is more impactful to the Lakers franchise and the city of Los Angeles than Kobe “Bean” Bryant. Entering the league in 1996 as just an 18-year-old, Kobe delivered on all his promises and brought five championships to the City of Angels in his 20-year career. And he left the franchise on top, including being its all-time leading scorer with 33,643 points.
On a clear, sunny Friday, Laker and Kobe fans dressed head to toe in purple and gold and crowded in front of Crypto.com Arena to witness the statue for the first time. They took turns taking photos of the statue as it glistened from the sun directly beaming down.
“Growing up watching Kobe, it means everything to see him honored in this way,” said Princess Martin, who was repping Kobe Nine Elite Teams on her feet.
Kobe had a special place in every Lakers fan’s heart for all the memorable moments he created on the court. Whether wearing jersey number 8 or 24—both of which the Lakers have retired—Kobe always delivered in the most significant moments, often with his iconic fadeaway shot.
Even in the final game of his career, a 37-year-old, injury-riddled Kobe found a way in the dying seconds versus the Utah Jazz. The persistent competitor scored the Laker’s final 13 points, leading an epic fourth-quarter comeback to send himself to retirement. For Laker fans, there was no better ending to a Hall of Fame career.
“The fact that he dropped 60 points was nothing short of amazing,” said Alejandro Araujo, sporting a Laker’s Starter Jacket.
Kobe’s impact extended beyond the basketball court with the “Mamba Mentality” by which he lived. His constant dedication to hard work inspired many people, whether basketball players or not, in their own lives. On Mamba Day last Thursday, Johnny Marrero—wearing a shirt with a photo of Kobe and him together at a meet-up—attested to Kobe’s work ethic being the factor in his becoming a lifelong Kobe fan.
“Throughout all his trials and tribulations…he never made excuses,” Marrero said. “Every injury, he battled it out. He made sure that there might be that one kid that saved up to see him, he wasn’t going to sit out.”
For fans in attendance, the emotion ran high when they saw the statue for the first time. Kobe impacted communities nationwide, creating many fans from beyond Los Angeles. Another Kobe fan named Armani Joy, originally from Brooklyn, New York, couldn’t contain his emotions as he witnessed the statute in person for the first time.
“I grew up watching him, playing with him in all the video games. This is my guy,” Joy said. “I am extremely thankful to be around people with the same passion as me.”
Otherwise known as “the house that Kobe built,” the former Staples Center, now known as Crypto.com Arena, is set to welcome another two statues of Kobe around the property.
One of them will contain him wearing his other retired jersey number, 24, and the other will feature Kobe with his daughter Gianna, who passed away in the same helicopter crash in Jan. 2020.