The statue, by sculptor Julie Rotblatt-Amrany, was unveiled after a ceremony in tribute to the “Black Mamba”, until the date: February 8, 2024, for the 24th and the 8th, the two numbers worn by Kobe Bryant. Right arms and index fingers raised to the sky, the sculpture of Kobe Bryant pays homage to the player’s pose when he left the floor on January 22, 2006, after scoring 81 points against Toronto. A record evening and an offensive orgy in a good summary of the “Mamba mentality”, aggression and desire to win increased tenfold by the champion’s disproportionate ego.
“This moment is not just for Kobe but for all of you who supported him for years,” said his widow, Vanessa Bryant, during a ceremony held under a large white tent. in front of a few dozen guests. Vanessa Bryant took over the role from legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Phil Jackson, former coach of Michael Jordan at the Chicago Bulls and then Kobe Bryant at the Lakers. Kobe Bryant, five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star, died at the age of 41 with his daughter Gianna, 13, and seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020 near Los Angeles. Angeles. He retired from sports in 2016.
The statue erected Thursday in front of the Crypto.com Arena, former Staples Center, will not remain alone for long since two other statues of “Kobe”, including one with his daughter Gianna, will be added around the enclosure in the future. For the Lakers’ evening game, the franchise distributed number 8 t-shirts to all fans, and broadcast tribute videos to Bryant during each of the evening’s many downtimes.
“Kobe is the very reason for my passion for the Lakers. I was born the same year as him and my son was born on his birthday, August 23, so we gave him Kobe as a middle name,” Juan Catalan, a 45-year-old Lakers fan, told AFP. . “I met Kobe once, it was one of the happiest days of my life,” he says, pointing to a photo on his phone. I miss him a lot. I was moved by the videos broadcast this evening. »
Among his young heirs at the Lakers, fullback Austin Reaves describes the former star as “a role model”. “I see what he means, not just to people but to the game, basketball. » The Lakers, now led by another superstar, LeBron James, host the defending champion Denver in the evening.
