On February 8, 2024, a statue honoring the late Lakers star Kobe Bryant will be unveiled outside the Crypto.com Arena, adding to the legacy of the legendary player. The statue will join those of other Lakers icons such as Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jerry West, and announcer Chick Hearn on the Star Plaza.

The unveiling ceremony will be a restricted event, but fans without tickets are encouraged to visit the statue on February 9 when the Star Plaza reopens. The ceremony will commence at 3 p.m. PT, a few hours before the Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets, where the team will pay tribute to Bryant by wearing their ‘Black Mamba’ uniforms. These special black alternate jerseys feature an ‘LA 24’ on the belt and Bryant’s jersey numbers, 8 and 24, on the shorts.

Kobe Bryant had an illustrious career with the Los Angeles Lakers, playing for 20 seasons before retiring in 2016. Throughout his career, he achieved remarkable success, winning five NBA Championships, earning 18 NBA All-Star selections, receiving one NBA League MVP award, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and securing two Olympic Gold Medals. He also made 11 appearances on the All-NBA First Team.

In May 2021, Bryant was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fаme. He holds the distinction of being the only Laker to have two jersey numbers, 8 and 24, retired and displayed in the rafters of the Crypto.com Arena.

Tragically, Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna and nine others, lost their lives in a helicopter crаsh in the Calabasas area on January 26, 2020. The unveiling of the statue serves as a lasting tribute to his impact on the game of basketball and his enduring legacy.