A pair of familiar faces went viral on X this week after the public reveal of an iconic statue in Los Angeles. As part of an effort to immortalize the legacy of their greatest heroes, the Lakers just revealed their brand new statue featuring Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi, resting on the bench in their iconic pose.
https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C-LjmizSbHy
The work seems to be a direct reference to their final Lakers game, back in December of 2019. Kobe and Gianna sat courtside as the Lakers beat the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center. They were seen talking extensively throughout the night and Bryant could be heard giving his daughter tips and knowledge as the game was being played out.
On X, fans remembered the moment and expressed feelings of grief looking back on the tragedy that took the lives of the Lakers legends and seven other people.
8/2/24
Kobe and Gigi ♾️ pic.twitter.com/MTyUrE5ghH
— Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation (@kobehighlight) August 2, 2024
Can’t believe they’re really gone 💔
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) August 2, 2024
Among all of Kobe’s achievements, being a father was undoubtedly his most important role and it’s what he took the most pride in both before and after his retirement. When he finally did step away from the Lakers, he devoted most of his time to supporting his family and being there to help mentor his children.
Gianna was on the fast track to follow in the footsteps of her dad before her life was cut short. She was already a promising young female athlete and she had taken a vested interest in expanding her knowledge and understanding of the game. It’s good to see her get recognized and appreciated by the Lakers, especially since she was such a big part of Kobe’s life and legacy.
WHO’S CUTTING ONIONS 🧅? 🥹🥹 https://t.co/JedSXz6k1t
— 🏁 R.I.P KOBE&GIGI R.I.P NIP (@DaWash20) August 2, 2024
Kobe & Gigi😭
Kobe was so proud💜 pic.twitter.com/EEd8utZuBP
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) August 2, 2024
This isn’t the first time that the Lakers have put up a Kobe statue and the first one didn’t exactly turn out very well. The project was criticized by the community for looking “cheap” and inaccurate and it left many Kobe fans feeling sorely disappointed.
This time, however, everyone seemingly agreed that the Lakers did their legends justice. Just from the few pictures we’ve seen, you can tell that the Lakers put a lot of effort into this memorial. Not only does it feature Kobe and Gigi in one of their iconic poses, they are surrounded by a small field of purple and yellow flowers, which are no doubt meant to symbolize their deep love and loyalty to the Lakers. The statue also features a pair of angel wings behind Kobe and Gianna, cradling them from behind like a cushion behind their back.
All-in-all, it’s a pretty impressive memorial from the Lakers and many fans across the league applauded them for the work they put into it. By all accounts, Kobe was a legend for the franchise and his passing affected everyone on the team, from the fans in Los Angeles to owner Jeanie Buss.
While Bryant and Gianna are gone, their legacies will forever be celebrated by Lakers Nation and they will do everything they can to honor their memory as two heroes of the sport.
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