Tag: Gigi Bryant

See the beautiful Kobe and Gigi Bryant statue the Lakers unveiled outside their arena

The Lakers unveiled a new statue honoring NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi, on Friday outside Crypto.com Arena.

The Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a new statue honoring Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi, on Friday during a private ceremony outside Crypto.com Arena.

It’s the second statue the Lakers have built honoring Bryant, who was killed in a tragic helicopter crash in January 2020 alongside Gigi and seven others. The first was also built outside the arena and was unveiled in February.

The tribute is truly beautifully done, featuring Bryant embracing his daughter while the pair sit on a bench and are wrapped in angel wings. Like the statue that was unveiled on Feb. 8, the date has numerological significance as “8/2/24” represents Bryant’s two NBA numbers and Gigi’s No. 2, which she wore on the court.

The statue will be available for viewing by the public beginning on Saturday. The Lakers also reportedly plan to unveil a third statue of Bryant, featuring him in his No. 24 jersey, sometime next season per ESPN.

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The Lakers found the coolest way to honor both Kobe and Gigi Bryant when they unveil his statue

The date the Kobe statue will be unveiled is so special

The Lakers were always going to unveil a Kobe Bryant statue at some point. It’s always been a matter of when not if. Bryant is one of the best Lakers ever. This one is a no-brainer.

Now, we know exactly when it’s coming.

Vanessa Bryant and the team announced today that the Kobe statue outside of Crypto dot com arena will be coming in 2024. But it’s coming in a way that will honor, both, Kobe and Gigi Bryant after their tragic deaths in 2020.

The Lakers’ Twitter account posted a video with Vanessa Bryant making the announcement. The statue is coming on February 8th 2024.

“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 a statue so that his legacy can be celebrated forever.” 

That date has some significance to both Kobe and Gigi Bryant. It references all three of the numbers they wore together.

Gigi Bryant wore number 2 on her basketball team. Obviously, Kobe wore the number 8 and 24 throughout his playing career with the Lakers. The date the statue will be unveiled combines all three of those numbers.

Fans were so excited about all of this.

Klay Thompson had a touching answer about Kobe, Gigi Bryant before Warriors head to L.A.

Klay: ‘I’m just going to play my hardest to honor him and Gigi.’

Warriors star Klay Thompson waited over a decade for this matchup.

Now, after splitting the first two games of the series 1-1 at home in Golden State, the Warriors will head on the road to Los Angeles. These games are especially meaningful for Klay, whose father Mychal Thompson won two titles for the Lakers.

Klay was born in Los Angeles and he later went to high school in Southern California. Mychal has previously tweeted photos of Klay wearing Lakers gear as a young child.

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During a postgame interview on Thursday, the Warriors star said that he is going to play especially hard in Los Angeles “to honor” the late Kobe and Gigi Bryant.

Here is what Thompson said:

“I’m a huge Kobe [Bryant] fan. He was my biggest inspiration. I’m just going to play my hardest to honor him and Gigi cause without his play and me viewing his tenacity on the court, I would not be the athlete I am today.”

Klay had an incredibly sweet message for Bryant’s family after he won an ESPY in 2022.

Klay’s father, Mychal, recently said that Kobe was like a mentor for Klay (via The Sporting Tribune)

“The Lakers were his team as a kid. Kobe [Bryant] was his guy. For him to be able to play against the Lakers and play in LA and Crypto.com Arena, it has been most meaningful to him because of his affection for the Lakers’ franchise and for Kobe. Anytime school permitted, I would get him and my other two sons up here to Lakers games so they can appreciate the greatness of Kobe and Shaq. That was their era when they were growing up with Derek Fisher, Rick Fox and that whole crew. They saw what winners and what champions were like. They saw what it was like to play for the best franchise in basketball. They got to meet the guys. They were very nice to them and very accommodating. Shaq and Kobe were always that way. They were great mentors for kids. It wasn’t just for my kids, but for every kid.”

Klay worked out with Kobe when he was in high school and had his first NBA matchup against Bryant in 2012.

The Warriors will play Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals in Los Angeles at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

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Seahawks players share tributes to Kobe Bryant on 2-year anniversary of his death

On the two-year anniversary of his death, a few Seahawks players shared tributes to the late Lakers legend.

Kobe Bryant may have played a different sport, but his impact was profound enough to inspire a lot of pro football players, as well. Two years ago today Bryant and his daughter Gianna died in a tragic helicopter accident that also claimed the lives of seven other people.

On the two-year anniversary of his death, a few Seahawks players shared tributes to the late Lakers legend.

QB Russell Wilson

RB Rashaad Penny

FS Quandre Diggs

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Panthers WR Robby Anderson reflects on 1-year anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s death

2020 was a traumatic year for many people.

2020 was a traumatic year for many people. One could accurately describe the last 12 months as a literal triumph of death. While COVID-19 was already making its way around the globe, for some people the horrors began one year ago today.

On January 26, 2020 Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, CA. They were on their way to a girl’s basketball tournament. Bryant’s death shocked the sports world, including players around the NFL. On this anniversary, some are reflecting on it – including Panthers wide receiver Robby Anderson, who shared this.

Bryant was 41 at the time of his death and he will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in May along with Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan.

As for Anderson, last year actually turned out pretty well – at least from a professional point of view. He posted career highs in catches (95), receiving yards (1,096) and catch rate (69.9%). Anderson has one season remaining on his two-year, $20 million contract but the Panthers should think about giving him an extension, which could free up more money in 2021 to keep around the likes of Curtis Samuel and Taylor Moton.

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LeBron James shares moment of singing Happy Birthday to Kobe Bryant 12 years ago

LeBron James shared a memory from Kobe Bryant’s birthday, which they celebrated together in the Beijing Olympics.

Sunday would have been Kobe Bryant’s 42nd birthday. With him, as well as his daughter Gigi no longer being, an outpouring of emotions from across the world, but especially among those who knew him best, has flowed on Sunday. Vanessa Bryant posted a heart-wrenching letter on Instagram to Kobe, while teammates like Pau Gasol and opponents from across the years also showed their love for him.

As for LeBron James, who was both a rival and teammate, shared a memory from the time that he gathered everyone around 12 years ago during the Beijing Olympics, to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Kobe Bryant. Don’t be afraid to grab a tissue.

The tragic death of Kobe and Gigi Bryant, as well as seven others in a helicopter crash, was in late January but on days like today, it still feels like yesterday. James had reportedly become closer to Bryant in the years since joining the Lakers and the two spoke with each other only a few hours before the helicopter crash.

As part of honoring Bryant, the Lakers will wear special ‘Black Mamba’ jerseys in tomorrow night’s Game 4 against the Trail Blazers.

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LeBron James threw it back to the 2012 Olympics with Kobe and KD

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James wanted to bring it back to the last time he was at the Olympics with two All-Timers.

In a world that hasn’t been rocked by a global pandemic, we may very well be getting ready to see LeBron James back on the world stage as a member of the USA Basketball team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed until next summer. Perhaps because of this and also because he’s about to embark on a basketball journey that is more like a trip to the Olympics than a typical NBA season, LeBron James was reminiscing on his last Olympic experience, particularly the caliber of players he was with.

On Thursday, James posted a throwback photo with himself, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant at the 2012 London Olympics.

With basketball being back, it also may bring back feelings again of the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gigi and seven others in a helicopter crash earlier this year.

 

Sunday’s episode of ‘The Last Dance’ to focus on Kobe Bryant

At least one of Sunday night’s episodes of ‘The Last Dance’ is expected to feature the relationship with LeBron and Kobe Bryant.

Make sure you have the tissues ready and anything else you might need because episodes 5 and 6 of ESPN’s “The Last Dance” documentary is expected to focus on the late Kobe Bryant and his relationship with Michael Jordan.

It’s still only been just over three months since the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash in California, so the subject is likely to be a sensitive one for many, especially Lakers fans and Bryant fans. Lakers legend and former team President Magic Johnson told the Los Angeles Times that the episode will be a must-watch for those fans who are still mourning the tragedy.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James shared that he teared up during Episode 4 when they showed Jordan winning his first championship and tonight’s episode will likely be even more emotional for him, and everyone else watching. Episodes 5 and 6 of “The Last Dance” will air on ESPN at 9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PDT.

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Vanessa Bryant pays tribute to Gigi Bryant for what would’ve been her 14th birthday

Vanessa Bryant’s strength is incredible.

It’s been roughly three months since Kobe and Gianna Bryant both passed away. Everything happened so suddenly and it’s still all difficult to process. Especially in the landscape of 2020, it all feels so surreal.

Particularly in the case of Gianna, where she had so much life left to live. She was only 13 years old and had a promising future ahead of her both on and off the basketball court. Today, May 1, would’ve been her 14th birthday.

Vanessa Bryant took to Instagram to share a post about her daughter on what should’ve been her special day. And, of course, it was incredibly touching.

“Happy 14th Birthday to my sweet baby girl, Gianna. Mommy loves you more than I can ever show you. You are part of MY SOUL forever. I miss you so much everyday. I wish I could wake up and have you here with me.”

This is so incredibly touching. Vanessa Bryant’s strength here just continues to be incredible.

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LeBron James was ’emotionally a wreck’ during Kobe Bryant’s memorial

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James also said he admired the strength shown by Vannesa Bryant at Monday’s service.

The Los Angeles Lakers team, franchise, and community are attempting to heal now after the touching memorial service on Monday morning to honor Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant and the seven other victims of last month’s helicopter crash in L.A. LeBron James, who had grown even closer with Kobe in recent years, was not shown in the crowd and was not one of the featured speakers on Monday. When he was asked about how he was doing with the day and where he was, James told reporters at Tuesday’s shootaround that he was an emotional wreck and admired the strength shown by Vanessa Bryant during her eulogy at Monday’s service, according to Kyle Goon of the Southern California News Group.

James made sure to honor Kobe and Gigi in multiple ways on Monday, even though he was not visible at the service. James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers will return to the basketball court on Tuesday night as they welcome the New Orleans Pelicans, for their first game against 2019 No. 1 pick Zion Williamson.

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