On the symbolic date of 8/2/24, the Los Angeles Lakers unveiled the second of three statues commissioned to honor Kobe Bryant near Crypto.com Arena.
The new statue depicts Bryant alongside his daughter Gianna. The two were among seven people who died in a Southern California helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. Kobe Bryant was 41 when he died; Gianna was 13.
In the statue, the two are seated, with the father's arm around the daughter as angel wings spread behind them. Kobe Bryant, identified as "Most Valuable Girl Dad," says in a quote at the base, "Gianna is a beast. She's better than I was at her age. She's got it. Girls are amazing. I would have five more girls if I could. I'm a girl dad."
The date was chosen because 8 and 24 were the numbers Bryant wore in his Hall of Fame career for the Lakers, and 2 was the number Gianna wore.
The same numbers were in play when the Lakers unveiled the first Bryant statue outside their home venue. The team has yet to announce when the third statue will be ready.
Also on Friday, the locker Bryant used at the arena for his final 13 NBA seasons sold at auction for $2.88 million. ESPN, citing auction house Sotheby's, reported that the amount was a record for a sports locker.
The locker had a value estimated at $1 million to $1.5 million, according to Sportico.
—Reuters