Vanessa Bryant shared an emotional speech outside Lakers Arena at the unveiling of the Kobe Bryant statue Thursday night.
The wife of the late Los Angeles Lakers star was given a standing ovation on the stage. He started the day by dedicating not only to Kobe, but also to his fans who supported him throughout his career, and gave a special thanks to the City of Angels.
Bryant said, “For the fans in L.A., this is a special city that Kobe was very proud to represent.” “You welcomed him with open arms and have been so important to him, our family and his legacy.”
Vanessa worked with the sculptors to design this piece, highlighting the one specific detail she requested.
“Kobe has all of our daughters’ names tattooed on his arm,” Bryant said. “Even though some of our girls weren’t born at that specific moment, that specific detail is for Kobe.”
“And for the record, Kobe chose the pose you’re about to see. So if anyone has any problem with this, then strict action—. It is what it is,” she added.
Bryant continued, “As I watch today’s current generation of star players follow in Kobe’s footsteps with big-scoring games, I know they would be proud to know that he is still inspiring that game.” Which was very special for him.”
Vanessa Bryant quoted Kobe at the end of her speech as saying, “Leave the game better than you found it, and when the time comes for you to go, leave a legend. And that’s what he did.”
As confetti fell from the ceiling, the curtain fell to reveal the 19-foot bronze statue and the crowd applauded.
The statue captured Bryant raising his right index finger in the air as he walked off the court after his 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006.
It is the first of three statues, collectively known as “The House That Kobe Built,” that will be built outside Crypto.com Arena to honor the Lakers legend. One statue will feature Bryant in his No. 24 jersey, while the other will feature his daughter Gianna.
Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California in January 2020 while on their way to a basketball tournament at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks.
Bryant retired in 2016 after 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a five-time NBA champion, the fourth leading scorer in history, and the league MVP. Bryant was posthumously elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
