The Indelible Glamour: Kobe Bryant Statue in Front of the Crypto.com Arena

As the Los Angeles sky glowed golden at dawn, a new beacon of inspiration took its rightful place in front of the famed Crypto.com Arena. Here stands the first of three impressive statues honouring the indelible legacy of Lakers star Kobe Bryant. The purple and gold statue features the legend in Nike Zoom Kobe 1 - the very pair he wore on that historic night when he made basketball history with an incredible 81-point game.

For Kobe. For the die-hard Laker fans. For our family.

Mamba forever. pic.twitter.com/uExf0oEWgY

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 9, 2024

The life-size statue reflects the tenacity and brilliance that Kobe brought to the pitch every night. It is not only a tribute to his unrivalled talent, but also to his relentless ambition and the indomitable spirit that drove his career.

With Vanessa Bryant's note in the background: "Kobe chose the pose you're about to see... Tough luck". The statue of the legend represents the pinnacle of the career of an athlete whose passion went far beyond the game, a man whose footprint - immortalised in the soles of his Nike shoes - is as big in memory as it is on the pitch.