Lakers unveil second statue honoring Kobe & Gigi Bryant

LOS ANGELES -- The Lakers have unveiled the second Kobe Bryant statue outside Crypto.com Arena, honoring the five-time NBA champion and his daughter, Gianna Maria-Onor’e Bryant. The statue recognizes Bryant's pride in being a 'Girl Dad' and the Bryant family’s support for women and girls in sports.

On Friday, Vanessa Bryant had a special ceremony outside the Crypto.com Arena. The event was held at the 11th Street entrance, which has been officially renamed the "Kobe Bryant Entrance" in honor of the late basketball legend. This entrance is also where the media enters the arena.

Earlier this year, the Lakers unveiled the first Kobe Bryant statue at Star Plaza outside the arena. Bryant is the seventh Laker to be honored with a statue. The Lakers and Vanessa agreed to reveal this statue on a special date, which holds special significance as 8/2/24.

This date honors both the numbers Kobe wore during his career: 8 from the 1996-97 season until the 2005-06 season, and 24 from the 2006-07 season until he retired in 2016. His daughter Gigi wore the number 2 while playing basketball.

The statue was designed by Karon Davis and created by the artists of Rotblatt Amrany Studio. It shows Kobe with his arm around Gianna and angel wings behind them. They are surrounded by hedges, symmetrical benches, and purple and gold flowers reflecting the Lakers' colors Kobe wore for 20 years. Engraved butterflies made of purple onyx and golden vein onyx border the flowers, symbolizing transformation and hope.

Vanessa Bryant spoke to a group of friends and family who joined her on Friday to honor the moment. 

“We merged two iconic courtside moments of Kobe and Gigi. 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 Lakers are planning to unveil another statue to honor the legacy of Kobe Bryant. It's exciting to hear that he will be honored again during the upcoming regular season. Vanessa mentioned during the first statue ceremony back in February that the third statue would display her late husband wearing his No. 24 Lakers uniform.

Bryant had some remarkable moments wearing the No. 24, winning two NBA championships and his only MVP award in 2008.