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The Lakers’ latest Kobe Bryant statue honors his close bond with daughter and his passion for being a “Girl Dad.”
The new statue recreates a moment from Dec. 29, 2019, when the father and daughter sat courtside to watch a Lakers home game against the Dallas Mavericks. Kobe was wearing an Eagles ski cap Gianna gave him for Christmas and wore an orange WNBA sweatshirt. The duo were captured in photos discussing the action unfolding on the court.
Kobe and Gianna Bryant attend a game between the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 29, 2019, at what was then called the Staples Center. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
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.
The new statue features Kobe, with his arm around Gianna, kissing his daughter on the head while wearing the same clothes they did during the 2019 Lakers game. Angel wings sit behind them and they are surrounded by a bed of purple and yellow flowers and symmetrical benches reflecting an Italianate Garden, a nod to Kobe’s childhood in Italy.
There is a plaque that features the quote: “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.” It is attributed to “Kobe Bryant, Most Valuable Girl Dad.” The top of the plaque features the Mambacita logo and a description of the duo that reads: “Gianna Bryant, inspirational icon for girls in sports” and “Kobe Bryant, proud supporter of women in sports.”
During a private ceremony, Kobe’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, shared why her family emphasized supporting women’s sports.
“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…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lakers-unveil-statue-honoring-girl-000239923.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-08-03 00:02:39
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