LOS ANGELES — The Lakers' latest Kobe Bryant statue honors his close bond with daughter and his passion for being a "Girl Dad." Kobe and Gianna Bryant were among the nine people who died in a Jan. 26, 2020, helicopter crash in Calabasas. The second of three statues honoring Kobe Bryant sits near the Crypto.com Arena 11th Street entrance and salutes his enthusiastic transition after retirement into coaching his daughter's youth basketball team. If young girls can see professional women play, they know they have the potential to be them. The first Kobe Bryant statue at Crypto.com Arena was unveiled on a similarly significant date in February (2/8/24).

Source: Los Angeles Times August 03, 2024 07:00 UTC