In a poignant ceremony, the Los Angeles Lakers recently unveiled a statue of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna (Gigi) outside the Crypto.com Arena, adding another significant memorial to the basketball legend’s legacy. This unveiling is part of a series of statues dedicated to Kobe, with Vanessa Bryant, his widow, previously announcing that more tributes were on the way. The latest statue, revealed in a private gathering on Friday, captures the essence of Kobe’s deep connection with his daughter, immortalizing their courtside moments that fans remember fondly.
The statue, which will be accessible to the public starting Saturday at 9 a.m. PT, is a fusion of two iconic photographs that captured Kobe and Gigi during Lakers games. One of these photos was taken during their final appearance at a game in December 2019, just a month before their tragic deaths in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.
In a statement, the Lakers described the statue as a celebration of Kobe’s role as a devoted “Girl Dad” and the Bryant family’s unwavering support for women’s and girls’ sports. “This tribute is a testament to the incredible basketball legacy Kobe and Gianna left behind and the unique bond Kobe shared with all his daughters,” the statement read.
At the base of the statue is a plaque featuring a quote from Kobe, where he speaks with pride about Gianna’s blossoming basketball talent: “Gianna Bryant is a beast. She’s better than I was at her age. She’s got it. Girls are amazing. I would have five more girls if I could. I’m a girl Dad.”
During the unveiling, Vanessa Bryant shared emotional remarks with a close group of family and friends. She explained how the statue merges two memorable courtside moments, showing Gianna with a radiant smile as Kobe kisses the top of her head. In this statue, Kobe is depicted wearing a Philadelphia Eagles beanie— a Christmas gift from Gigi— and a WNBA hoodie, which he famously wore to highlight his support for Gigi’s aspirations and women’s sports.
Vanessa also touched on the harsh reality of inequality in women’s sports that Gigi would have faced, despite her talent and the training she received from her father. “No matter how great Gianna was, or could have been, she wouldn’t have had the same opportunities as her father or young men because she was a girl. This realization sparked a mission within our family to challenge the perception of women’s sports,” Vanessa shared, emphasizing that Gigi would have been starting college this year, where she would have undoubtedly shined on the basketball court.
In a heartfelt appeal, Vanessa encouraged everyone to support young girls in their athletic pursuits, echoing what Kobe and Gigi would have wanted. “Take girls to watch women play sports. Buy those tickets if you can. Let them see professional women athletes, so they know their dreams are achievable. Let’s build up the next generation of athletes.”
The first statue in this series, unveiled on February 8, 2024, depicted Kobe in his No. 8 jersey, symbolizing the numbers he and Gigi wore— No. 8, No. 24, and No. 2. The unveiling dates, February 8 (2-8-24) and August 2 (8-2-24), were chosen with these numbers in mind, reflecting their deep significance to the Lakers and the Bryant family.
A third statue is expected to be unveiled during the 2024-25 season, featuring Kobe in his No. 24 jersey. This series of tributes ensures that Kobe, who already stands among Laker legends like Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, and Magic Johnson, will be uniquely honored with multiple statues— just as he was the first Laker to have multiple jersey numbers retired.
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