Lakers unveil statue of Kobe Bryant with daughter Gianna that honors ‘Girl Dad’ bond

The Lakers unveiled their second statue of Kobe Bryant and the first that includes Gianna Bryant in a private ceremony on Friday outside Crypto.com Arena, merging two photos of father and daughter taken courtside at Laker games.

“Celebrating Kobe’s love for his daughters, the bronze statue recognizes his unwavering pride in being a ‘Girl Dad’ and the Bryant family’s support for women and girls in sports,” the Lakers said in a statement. “The tribute represents Kobe and Gianna’s exceptional basketball legacy and the uplifting relationship Kobe shared with all four of his daughters.”

Kobe and Gianna Bryant died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, along with seven others.

“Gianna is a beast,” reads a quote from Bryant on the front plaque of the statue. “She’s better than I was at her age. She’s got it. Girls are amazing. I would have five more girls if I could. I’m a girl dad.”

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The Lakers purposely unveiled the statue on Aug. 2, 2024, merging Bryant’s numbers — 8 and 24 — with the No. 2 worn by Gianna.

They used the same combination of dates when unveiling Bryant’s first statue, of him wearing a No. 8 jersey as he posed following his 81-point game in 2006, on Feb. 8, 2024.

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According to ESPN, the Lakers plan to unveil a third statue during the 2024-25 season.

He’s the first Laker to get multiple statues, though six others are memorialized outside Crypto.com Arena.

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Vanessa Bryant spoke to a small group of family and friends at the unveiling on Friday.

“We merged two iconic moments of Kobe and Gigi,” she said. “Gianna has her gorgeous smile on her face and Kobe is kissing the top of her head while wearing the Philadelphia Eagles beanie that Gigi gifted him for Christmas. He’s also wearing a WNBA hoodie he wore courtside to the game with Gigi. Kobe was the first NBA player to wear that orange hoodie to a big game and that was to show his support for Gigi’s dreams and for women across sports. That was a moment he shared with Gigi that will always be a powerful representation of the movement towards equality that was always so important to our family.

“We were faced with the harsh reality that no matter how great Gianna was or could be, no matter how great her daddy taught her how to play or even if she played exactly like Kobe, she would not have the same benefits and opportunities that her dad and young men currently have because she’s a girl. That’s when the challenge to change the perception of women’s sports started in our household. Gianna would be going into her first year of college this year. We would be watching her shine on the court. Now her spirit is shining a path she has created for young girls and for women in sport.

“In honor of Kobe and Gigi, I ask you this: give young girls your time. Give them your support. Tell them they can do anything any man can do and tell them they can exceed that, because they can, they have and they will. Iron sharpens iron. Reassure that confidence and see how much they thrive. Sometimes, all we need is one person to believe in us, even if that person is ourselves. Take girls to watch women play sports. Buy tickets to the game if you can. Watch women’s games on TV with your daughters, nieces and cousins. If young girls can see professional women play, they know they have the potential to be them. They know those ambitions aren’t just dreams but will become reality. Let’s build up the next generation of athletes. It’s what Gigi and Kobe would want us to do. Kobe was the ultimate Girl Dad and Gigi was the ultimate Daddy’s girl.”

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