A new bronze statue honoring Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna was unveiled outside the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The statue, which depicts Kobe embracing Gianna, celebrates his love for his daughters and his pride in being a “Girl Dad.” The Los Angeles Lakers stated that the statue also recognizes the Bryant family’s support for women and girls in sports.
Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, spoke at the unveiling, explaining the symbolism of the statue. “We merged two iconic courtside moments of Kobe and Gigi,” she said. “Gianna has her gorgeous smile on her face and Kobe is kissing the top of her head while wearing the Philadelphia Eagles beanie that Gigi gifted him for Christmas. He’s also wearing a WNBA hoodie he wore courtside to the game with Gigi.” Vanessa highlighted that Kobe was the first NBA player to wear that hoodie to show his support for Gigi’s dreams and for women in sports.
Vanessa Bryant emphasized the challenges women face in sports, stating, “We were faced with the harsh reality that no matter how great Gianna was or could be, no matter how great her daddy taught her how to play, or even if she played exactly like Kobe, she would not have had the same benefits and opportunities that her dad and young men currently have because she’s a girl.” She called for continued support and encouragement for young girls in sports, saying, “In honor of Kobe and Gigi, I ask you this: give young girls your time. Give them your support. Tell them they can do anything any man can do and tell them they can exceed that, because they can, they have, and they will.”
The statue is the second of three planned tributes to Kobe Bryant at the arena. The first statue, unveiled in February, depicts Kobe in his number 8 Lakers jersey and includes details like the names of his four daughters tattooed on his arm and a QR code linking to a tribute video. The third statue, yet to be unveiled, will feature Kobe in his number 24 jersey. These statues honor Kobe’s legacy and his profound impact on basketball and beyond.
