More than four years after his tragic death in a helicopter crash, Kobe Bryant has posthumously received yet another tribute.
On Friday, a second statue of the Los Angeles Lakers legend was unveiled just outside of Crypto.com Arena. Unlike the first one, which honored his 81-point game during the 2005-06 game, this one paid tribute to his relationship with his daughter Gianna, who was killed along with him and seven others in that helicopter collision.
This statue is an absolute beauty, and it depicts the two in a very touching way while highlighting how precious a father’s relationship with his daughter is.
The Kobe and Gigi Bryant statue has now been unveiled ❤️
(via @LADEig) pic.twitter.com/ra44RDeR5W
— Overtime (@overtime) August 2, 2024
The elder Bryant never had a son to pass his legacy down to, but he did have four daughters, and he called himself a proud “girl dad.”
The new Kobe and Gianna Bryant statue appears to feature two Girl Dad moments courtside at Lakers games. 💜 pic.twitter.com/OiIgqRh4BO
— Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation (@kobehighlight) August 2, 2024
The plaque on the statue features a quote from the Hall of Famer that highlights how much he thought of her and how much he loved raising girls.
The statue’s plaque:
“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.”
– Kobe Bryant (Most Valuable Girl Dad) pic.twitter.com/UzrfTnXyI9
— Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation (@kobehighlight) August 2, 2024
There is a third statue on the way that will honor the Lakers great, and it will reportedly depict him wearing No. 24, the jersey number he wore for the second half of his 20-year career.