By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In a tribute as grand as the legend itself, the Lakers pay homage to their late ace, Kobe Bryant, who graced the jersey with gold and purple for two decades, securing five championships.
The first statue, a testament to his greatness, bears the iconic No. 8 – one of two retired Lakers numbers. It captures Kobe in a symbolic pose, raising a finger to the sky, reminiscent of his retirement after an unforgettable 81-point game against the Raptors in 2006, the second-highest in NBA history and his personal best.
During the unveiling, Vanessa, Kobe’s widow, delivered a poignant speech: “Leave the game better than you found it. And when it’s time to leave, leave behind a legend.” Her words echoed Kobe’s own, immortalized on the statue’s base.
The sculpture is almost six meters tall and weighs about two tons. It stands amidst five replicas of the trophies Kobe earned with the Lakers, resting on a triangular base reminiscent of Phil Jackson and Tex Winter’s strategic approach.
Present at the ceremony were basketball luminaries, including Jackson, along with Kobe’s former teammates and friends – Kareem, Magic Johnson, Pau Gasol, Jerry West, Derek Fisher, and Ron Artest – gathered to honor the enduring legacy of a basketball icon.