Mamba’s Monument: Kobe Bryant Statue Revealed At Crypto.Com Arena

One of three Kobe Bryant statues was unveiled on Thursday (Feb. 8) at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.

The bronze figure stands 19 feet high, weighs 4,000 pounds, and wears his No. 8 uniform. The statue’s finger is pointed to the sky, as the NBA All-Star did the same after his 81-point game against the Raptors in 2006, per ESPN.

The statue was designed by Julie Rotblatt-Amrany, who also sculpted Michael Jordan’s statue in Chicago.

“For the record, Kobe picked the pose you’re about to see, so if anyone has any issues with it, tough sh*t,” shared his widow Vanessa Bryant. “As I see today’s current generation of star players follow in Kobe’s footsteps with huge scoring games, I know he would take pride in knowing that he’s still pouring inspiration into the game that was so special to him,” continued the mother of four.

FULL SPEECH: Vanessa Bryant unveils Kobe’s statue pic.twitter.com/7q6zb9ok3H

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 9, 2024

“Leave the game better than you found it. And when it comes time for you to leave, leave a legend,” is the Kobe Bryant quote featured on the side of the base. There is also a QR code on the statue where visitors scan with their phones to watch a Kobe Bryant highlight video, narrated by Denzel Washington.

According to a spokesperson, the location of the second two statues is still being determined. One of the monuments will be Bryant in his No. 24 uniform and the other with his daughter, Gianna, who also died in the 2020 helicopter crash.

“When I found out there was going to be three statues, I just said, ‘That’s fitting,’” expressed Rob Pelinka. “Because it’s just how the City of Angels feels about Kobe. He deserves something that no other athlete that’s ever played here deserves.”

Attendees at the big reveal included Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Michael Cooper, Jamaal Wilkes, Mychal Thompson, and Pau Gasol; former Bryant teammates Metta World Peace, Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Sasha Vujacic, Matt Barnes, Mark Madsen, Gary Payton, Larry Nance, Josh Powell, Kareem Rush, Devean George, A.C. Green, Vladimir Radmanovic, DJ Mbenga and Trevor Ariza; former coaches Del Harris, Jim Cleamons, Kurt Rambis, Byron Scott and Larry Drew, per ESPN.

Additionally, friends of the Bryant family were in the invite-only crowd, including Russell Wilson and his wife, Ciara, Bad Bunny, Dwyane Wade, Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, Jamal Crawford, and Sydney Leroux.

Along with Vanessa Bryant, other speakers included Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, former Lakers guard Derek Fisher, Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Phil Jackson.

The Kobe Bryant Statue during an unveiling ceremony at Crypto.com Arena on February 08, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

“This statue may look like Kobe, but really it’s what excellence looks like, what discipline looks like, what commitment looks like, what love of family looks like,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “The statue is a wonderful contribution. It captures a person frozen in time, while at the same time acknowledges that the reason there is a statue in the first place is because that person is timeless.”

Fans hoping to see the statue can visit Star Plaza and also see life-like figurines of Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West and announcer Chick Hearn.