Kobe Bryant, a legend in world basketball, was honored with a monument outside his “Crypto” Arena in an emotional ceremony in Los Angeles.
He thus joined the ranks of Lakers legends who have received their own statues: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn, and Jerry West. Vanessa Bryant, the widow of the “Black Mamba,” also spoke at the ceremony.
“I am grateful to everyone who helped make this special day happen. Just so you know, Kobe chose the pose you see, if it bothers anyone. That’s how it is. I’ll leave you with one of my husband’s famous statements: ‘Leave the game better than you found it, and when it’s time to leave, leave as a legend.’ And that’s what he did.“
For the Los Angeles Lakers, he won five NBA championships. He spent all 20 seasons with the Lakers, setting a record for a single team, and became just the fifth player in history to play for two decades.
His career record was set on January 22, 2006, against the Toronto Raptors, and the pose of the statue is from that game.
Kobe Bryant was a double Olympic champion, an 18-time All-Star, and will be remembered for his incredible work ethic and winning mentality.