(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Back in February, during the 2023-24 NBA regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers unveiled the first of three statues outside of Crypto.com Arena in honor of the late Kobe Bryant, who won five NBA titles during his two decades with the storied franchise.
Although the Lakers announced that two more statues honoring the Hall of Famer were on the way, they never gave an exact date or revealed what those statues would look like once they were unveiled.
News recently leaked that the Lakers intended to unveil the second statue featuring the legendary superstar and his daughter Gigi Bryant, who also lost her life in the tragic helicopter crash back in January 2020, during a private ceremony.
It wasn’t long before pictures of the new statue started to leak out, showing the depiction of Kobe Bryant and Gigi Bryant courtside watching games at the L.A. arena, via Lakers All Day Everyday.
The Kobe & Gigi statue has officially been unveiled
BEAUTIFULLY done. pic.twitter.com/0vt1LYXhEM
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) August 2, 2024
Here are some emotional fan reactions to that new statue:
To this day, it doesn’t feel real
— Coach Chris (@thecoachchris_) August 2, 2024
So sad. Beautiful tribute.
— DOUG 2.0 (@Doug24Seven) August 2, 2024
I got full blown goosebumps!
— Suren Ayrapetyan (@SAyrapetyanNYL) August 2, 2024
Wow…..this is amazing to see. Would love to see it in person one day. Not a Lakers fan, but so much respect for Kobe as a human being and a basketball player. RIP to both.
— Alex Y (@CThaProphet24) August 2, 2024
Kobe Bryant was 41 years old, and Gigi Bryant was just 13 years old.
This is another touching tribute to the late Lakers superstar, who was idolized by basketball fans around the world during and after his spectacular playing career.
The third and final Kobe Bryant statue will showcase the icon wearing a No. 24 jersey, which he changed to from No. 8 halfway through his legendary Lakers tenure.
The post Fans React To Newest Kobe Bryant Statue in L.A. appeared first on The Cold Wire.