The Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a statue of the beloved late Kobe Bryant before their home game against the Denver Nuggets. Bryant, a franchise icon, retired from the sport in 2016 and it was only a matter of time before he would be honored with a statue at the Lakers’ home arena, now known as the Crypto.com Arena.
Prior to the statue’s reveal, Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, along with other speakers, addressed the enthusiastic crowd of Lakers fans outside the arena. Vanessa’s message went viral as she addressed any concerns about the statue’s iconic pose, stating that Kobe himself had chosen it and if anyone had issues with it, they would have to deal with it.
The statue depicts Kobe in his famous pose, wearing his No. 8 Lakers jersey, reminiscent of his historic 81-point game. Despite mixed reactions from Lakers fans, Vanessa remained focused on honoring Kobe’s lasting legacy in Los Angeles. She acknowledged the bittersweet nature of the moment but highlighted Kobe’s pride in representing the city he loved.
As expected, social media was abuzz with discussions about Kobe Bryant’s statue, with many users on popular platforms like X (formerly Twitter) engaging in debates. During her speech at the unveiling, Vanessa addressed the issue and fans took to social media to show their appreciation for her defense of the statue’s pose.
The Los Angeles Lakers are committed to honoring Kobe’s wishes with this selection, despite public opinion. After his remarkable career and immense impact, Kobe deserved the right to choose how he would be remembered, and the Lakers are honoring that wish. The statue unveiling was a significant occasion for the franchise and the city, providing a welcome distraction from an otherwise disappointing season.
According to the Source firstsportz.com