Vanessa Bryant reveals new Kobe Bryant statue’s pose was picked by late legendary player himself
The Los Angeles Lakers revealed one-of-three late Kobe Bryant's statue.
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Vanessa Bryant and the Late Kobe Bryant statue. (Image via Open Source/X)
On Thursday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers showcased a statue of the late franchise icon Kobe Bryant ahead of their home game against the Denver Nuggets. Since Bryant’s retirement from the sport in 2016, it seemed inevitable that he would one day be honored with a statue at the Lakers’ home arena, formerly called the Staples Center and now known as the Crypto.com Arena.
Before unveiling the statue, a lineup of speakers, including Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, addressed the eager crowd of Lakers fans outside the arena.
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During the public ceremony, Vanessa Bryant’s message went viral as she addressed anyone with concerns about the statue’s iconic pose.
For the record, Kobe picked the pose you're about to see. So if anybody has any issue with it, tough sh*t.
The statue portrays Kobe in his famous pose, wearing his No. 8 Lakers jersey, reminiscent of his historic 81-point game. This pose was reportedly his chosen stance. Despite the mixed reactions from Lakers fans, Vanessa remained focused on honoring Kobe’s enduring legacy in Los Angeles. She acknowledged the bittersweet nature of the moment but emphasized Kobe’s pride in representing the city he loved.
Fans react to late Kobe Bryant’s widow’s speech
When it comes to social media, there will always be individuals eager to engage in debates. In the case of the late Kobe Bryant’s statue, it dominated discussions on popular social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
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As Kobe’s widow addressed the issue while giving her speech at the unveiling, fans took to social media to appreciate her for defending the statue’s pose.
One user, @ItsJodiNewsome tweeted:
Spoken like a true queen.
A couple of other tweets below:
Despite public opinion, the Los Angeles Lakers are committed to honoring Kobe’s wishes with this selection. After his remarkable career and significant impact, he deserved the right to choose how he would be remembered, and the Lakers are honoring that wish. It was indeed a great occasion for the franchise and the city, as well as serving as a welcomed distraction from what has otherwise been an underwhelming season.
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