When the Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a Kobe Bryant statue outside of Crypto.com Arena in February, Vanessa Bryant, his widow, revealed that two more statues were on the way. In a private ceremony on Friday, the first of those final two statues was unveiled — a beautiful memorialization of Kobe and his daughter, Gianna (Gigi).
The statue, which the Lakers announced will be available for public viewing beginning on Saturday at 9 a.m. PT, represents the merging of two photos taken of Kobe and Gigi as they sat courtside at Lakers games, including the final game they attended in December 2019. Bryant, Gigi and seven others died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020.
“Celebrating Kobe’s love for his daughters, the bronze statue recognizes his unwavering pride in being a “Girl Dad” and the Bryant family’s support for women and girls in sports,” the Lakers said in a statement. “The tribute represents Kobe and Gianna’s exceptional basketball legacy and the uplifting relationship Kobe shared with all four of his daughters.”
In front of the statue, at the base, is a plaque with a quote from Kobe speaking about his daughter and the basketball talent that was just beginning to bloom in her: “Gianna is a beast….
