The Los Angeles Lakers and the Bryant family have installed a new permanent fixture outside Crytpo.com Arena honoring five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Maria-Onor’e Bryant.
Celebrating Kobe’s love for his daughters, the bronze statue recognizes his unwavering pride in being a “Girl Dad” and the Bryant family’s support for women and girls in sports. The tribute represents Kobe and Gianna’s exceptional basketball legacy and the uplifting relationship Kobe shared with all four of his daughters.
Speaking to an intimate group of friends and family who joined her to honor the moment, Vanessa Bryant said:
“We merged two iconic courtside moments of Kobe and Gigi. 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. Kobe was the first NBA player to wear that orange hoodie to a big game and that was to show his support for Gigi’s dreams and for women across all sports. That was a moment he shared with Gigi that will always be a powerful representation of the movement towards equality that was always so important to our family.”
“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. That’s when the challenge to change the perception of women’s sports started in our household. Gianna would be going into her first year of college this year. We would be watching her shine on the court. Now her spirit is shining a path she has created for young girls and for women in sports. 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. Iron sharpens iron. Reassure that confidence and see how much they thrive. Sometimes, all we need is one person to believe in us, even if that one person is ourselves. Take girls to watch women play sports. Buy those tickets to the game if you can. Watch women’s games on TV with your daughters, nieces and cousins. If young girls can see professional women play, they know they have the potential to be them. They know those ambitions aren’t just dreams but will become a reality. Let’s build up the next generation of athletes. It’s what Gigi and Kobe would want us to do.”
“Kobe was the ultimate Girl Dad and Gigi was the ultimate Daddy’s girl.”
Situated outside Crypto.com Arena’s 11th Street Entrance near Chick Hearn Court and Georgia Street, the sculpture pays tribute to Kobe and Gianna sitting courtside at the Lakers. Originally designed by Karon Davis and created by the artists of Rotblatt Amrany Studio, the sculpture shows Kobe with his arm around Gianna and angel wings behind them. The two are surrounded by hedges and rounded symmetrical benches reflecting an Italianate Garden as a nod to Kobe’s childhood in Italy. Purple and gold flowers throughout give a wink to the iconic Lakers colors Kobe wore for 20 years. Engraved butterflies made of purple onyx and golden vein onyx border the flowers symbolizing transformation and hope.
In the foreground of the statue is a plaque etched with “Gianna Bryant, Inspirational Icon for Girls in Sports” and “Kobe Bryant, Proud Supporter of Women in Sports” with the Mamba and Mambacita logo center. Underneath the names are words from the “Most Valuable Girl Dad” stating, “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.”
Today’s installation date marks special significance as 8/2/24 honors both numbers Kobe wore during his career with the Purple and Gold (8 and 24), and the number Gigi wore playing competitive youth basketball
The statue will be open and available for public viewing starting Saturday, Aug. 3, at 9 a.m. PT.
Earlier this year, the Lakers unveiled the first Kobe Bryant statue outside the arena at Star Plaza. The 18-time NBA All-Star is the seventh Laker to be commemorated with a statue.
