LA Lakers honored with “Girl Dad” statue

The Los Angeles Lakers have honored the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi Bryant, with heartfelt gratitude.

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LA Lakers Remember Kobe & Gigi

Based on TMZThe LA Lakers unveiled the second of three statues honoring Kobe and Gianna Bryant outside Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Friday, August 2.

The article confirms that the sculpture depicts Kobe and Gigi sitting courtside at a Lakers game in December 2019.

Bleacher Report note that the statue’s unveiling date, 8/2/24, was strategic, symbolizing both of Kobe Bryant’s jersey numbers — 8 and 24 — and the number 2 worn by Gianna.

Karon Davis designed the artwork and artist Rotblatt Amrany Studio created it, depicting Kobe with his arms around Gianna and angel wings behind him.

In classic Laker style, the monument features purple and gold floral borders and a plaque with Bryant’s quote about his daughter and his pride in being a father to a girl, according to TMZ.

“Gianna is a beast. She’s better than I was at her age. She has it all. She’s amazing. I’d have five more if I could. I’m a girl dad.”

EVERYBODY announced that the Kobe and Gigi statue will be opened to the public on Saturday, August 3.

8.2.24 – Kobe and Gigi are forever immortal 🦋 pic.twitter.com/WxPDMfEaRq

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 2, 2024

Social media reaction

Commenter below Shade Room Instagram Report share their thoughts on the new sculpture of Kobe and Gigi.

Instagram user @christophe_kyle wrote, “4 years later, and today I still find it unrealistic! 🥹🙏🏾”

Instagram user @kmpliving wrote, “Still a sad way to end their lives.”

While Instagram user @Author jon wrote, “This is the start of 2020, the craziest year ever.”

Then Instagram user @melissamack wrote, “Every time I think of them, my heart breaks… 😢”

Another Instagram user @jd_smith39 wrote, “I love it 😢😢😢😢❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ RIP Kobe and Gigi.”

Finally, Instagram user @sharismyth wrote, “Sending prayers to their entire family but it still seems hard to believe.”

Vanessa Bryant & Daughters attend statue unveiling

PEOPLE reports that Vanessa Bryant attended the unveiling of a new bronze statue called “Girl Dad” with her three daughters — Natalia, Bianka and Caprithe one she shares with Kobe.

During the intimate ceremony, Vanessa praised Kobe as a loving father and declared Gigi “my most wonderful daughter”.

She also shared about her efforts to change attitudes about women’s sports because of Gianna.

“We were faced with the harsh reality that no matter how great Gianna was or could be, no matter how great her father taught her to play, or even if she played exactly like Kobe, she would not have the same benefits and opportunities that her father and the young men who are now having because she is a girl. That is when the challenge of changing the perception of women’s sports began in our family. Gianna will be a freshman in college this year. We will watch her shine on the court. Now her spirit is shining the way she has created for young girls and for women in sports.”

Details of Kobe and Gigi’s sudden passing

In January 2020, the tragic deaths of basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Brant shocked the world. A helicopter crash in Calabasas, California claimed the lives of the father and daughter, along with seven others.

The Kobe and Gianna statue is one of many honors bestowed upon NBA stars.

Bleacher Report revealed that the first of three Kobe statues, a nine-foot-tall, 4,000-pound bronze monument, was unveiled on February 8, 2024. In the statue, he points to the sky, symbolizing his legendary 81-point game in 2006.

KOBE STATUE REVEALED 💜💛

1 of 3 statues outside “The House That Kobe Built”

(through @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/WFGwaYOuUy

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 9, 2024

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