Vanessa Bryant, together with the Lakers, unveiled the new statue of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.
Together with the Lakers, Vanessa Bryant (42) unveiled another bronze statue last Friday (August 2) of her husband Kobe Bryant (1978-2020) and their daughter Gianna (2006-2020), who both died in a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26, 2020.
A photo of the private ceremony honoring the late NBA star was published on Instagram, where Bryant was also present with her three daughters Natalia (21), Bianka (7) and Capri (5). The sculpture entitled “Girl Dad”, which was placed in a new garden landscape in front of the Lakers’ Crypto.com Arena on 11th Street in Los Angeles, shows the imitation of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, around whom he has put his arm. Father and daughter are wearing casual clothing and are smiling at each other. The figure is intended to recreate a scene of the two on the sidelines of the Lakers’ court.
Vanessa Bryant: “Something very special”
In addition, artist Karon Davis created two angel wings that were placed behind the father-daughter duo. According to a statement, the sculpture is intended to honor “Kobe and Gianna Bryant and their love of basketball and family” and to represent Kobe Bryant’s love for “all four of his daughters.”
For Vanessa Bryant, the statue is “something very special,” she writes on Instagram. “This moment was particularly important to all of us. I knew it would be our favorite moment. I hope you all enjoy this special place.” Several celebrities commented on the post, including Vin Diesel (57) and David Beckham (49). The latter wrote: “So beautiful.”
A special date
The date of August 2, 2024, was chosen for the statue’s installation because Kobe Bryant wore jersey numbers 8 and 24 during his Lakers career. Daughter Gianna, who also played basketball, had the number 2 on her back. The statue will also be open to the public starting Saturday (August 3).
Another of a total of three planned statues of Kobe Bryant was unveiled in February. This one shows A third sculpture of Bryant with jersey number 24 is to follow.
The American professional athlete was one of the most successful basketball players in the world. From 1996 to 2016 he played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. In January 2020, he died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, at the age of 41. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant and nine other people also died in the accident.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
