A new sculpture outside Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles is honoring the special bond shared between the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter Giannaand their enduring legacy.
Vanessa Bryant and the Lakers franchise unveiled the bronze statue titled “Girl Dad” that celebrates her husband and daughter in a private ceremony outside the arena’s 11th Street entrance on Friday, Aug. 2. The statue is located in a new garden landscape.
Designed by Karon Davis and created by the artists of Rotblatt Amrany Studio, the artwork depicts Kobe with his arm around Gianna and angel wings in the background, and honors "the Bryant family’s support for women and girls in sports," according to a statement published on the Lakers' website. It continued: "The tribute represents Kobe and Gianna’s exceptional basketball legacy and the uplifting relationship Kobe shared with all four of his daughters."
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2)/vanessa-bryant-kobe-gianna-statue-080224-cc15a4e2cca74875b8dc5d33deaf5736.jpg "Vanessa Bryant and Lakers Unveil 'Girl Dad' Statue to Honor Kobe Bryant and Daughter Gianna (1)")
“Kobe was the ultimate Girl Dad and Gigi was the ultimate Daddy’s girl,” Vanessa, 42, told a group of friends and family during the intimate unveiling ceremony.
“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 had the same benefits and opportunities that her dad and young men currently have because she’s a girl," she continued, explaining: "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 sports."
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Earlier in her remarks, Vanessa explained the inspiration behind the statue's design. "We merged two iconic courtside 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."
She added, "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 all 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."
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Weeks before their death in a January 2020 helicopter crash, Kobe and Gianna attended a Lakers home game against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 29, 2019 in which they sat courtside and were photographed in a similar embrace.
A nod to Kobe’s childhood spent in Italy is echoed in Italianate garden hedges and benches that surround them, according to Lakers.com. The statue also features purple and gold flowers in Lakers colors and engraved butterflies made of purple onyx and golden-vein onyx.
A plaque in front of the statue reads, “Gianna Bryant, Inspirational Icon for Girls in Sports” and “Kobe Bryant, Proud Supporter of Women in Sports.” The Mamba and Mambacita logos are also featured on the inscription. Underneath, a quote from the “Most Valuable Girl Dad” reads: “Gianna is a beast. 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.”
Vanessa Bryant Gives Emotional Speech at Kobe Bryant Statue Unveiling: 'This Moment Isn't Just for Kobe, But It's for All of You'
The installation of the sculpture on Aug. 2 (8/2/24) is a reference to both numbers Kobe wore during his career with the Purple and Gold (8 and 24), and the number Gianna wore playing competitive youth basketball (2).
The statue will be open and available for public viewing starting Saturday, Aug. 3 at 9 a.m. local time, according to the Lakers.
Closing out her tribute on Friday, Vanessa made a heartfelt request of fans, friends and family in keeping with her late-husband and daughter's spirit. "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," she said.
Vanessa continued, "Sometimes, all we need is one person to believe in us, even if that one person is ourselves. Take girls to watch women play sports. Buy those 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 a reality. Let’s build up the next generation of athletes. It’s what Gigi and Kobe would want us to do.”
Earlier this year, the team unveiled the first statue honoring Kobe outside the arena, where it stands alongside those of Lakers play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn and five former Lakers players: Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Jerry West.
