The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue of Kobe Bryant outdoor their downtown enviornment on Feb. 8.

The 17-time NBA champion Lakers introduced the plan Thursday to honor Bryant, the fourth-leading scorer in NBA historical past and a cherished mainstay of the franchise for 20 seasons. Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, died in a helicopter accident in January 2020.

Bryant participated within the preliminary making plans of his statue next his resignation in 2016, in line with the Lakers. He’s the 6th former Lakers participant and 7th workforce worker to be commemorated with a statue within the so-called “Star Plaza” outdoor the sector, which has been the Lakers’ house since 1999.

“As you know, Kobe played his entire 20-year NBA career as a Los Angeles Laker,” Bryant’s spouse, Vanessa, said in a video posted at 8:24 this morning. “Since arriving in this city and joining the Lakers organization, he felt at home here, playing in the City of Angels. On behalf of the Lakers, my daughters and me, I am so honored that, right in the center of Los Angeles, in front of the place known as the house that Kobe built, we are going to unveil his statue so that his legacy can be celebrated forever.”

The two/8/24 time of the disclosing is impressive: Kobe wore Incorrect. 8 and Incorrect. 24 throughout every part of his Lakers occupation, hour Gianna wore Incorrect. 2 hour taking part in adolescence basketball. The Bryants had been aviation in combination to a basketball pageant with seven others when their helicopter crashed in fog in Calabasas, California.

Bryant’s statue will tied the ones of Lakers greats Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Necromancy Johnson, Jerry West and broadcaster Chick Hearn. Megastar Plaza additionally comprises statues of the Los Angeles Kings’ Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Dustin Brown and announcer Bob Miller, along side champion boxer Oscar De L. a. Hoya.

The Lakers mentioned they’re making plans “a series of physical tributes” to honor Bryant past the statue, which is designed by way of sculptor Julie Rotblatt Amrany.

“Kobe Bryant was one of the most extraordinary athletes of all time and one of the most iconic individuals in the history of Los Angeles,” Lakers proprietor Jeanie Buss mentioned in a remark. “There is no better place for Kobe to be honored with a statue than here at the center of our city, where everyone can celebrate him and be inspired by his incredible achievements.”

The Related Press contributed to this document.