Los Angeles Lakers will unveil Kobe Bryant statue on Feb. 8, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers and Vanessa Bryant announced today thatthey will unveil Kobe Bryant’s bronze statue at Star Plaza outsideof Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 8, 2024, prior to the Lakers’ home gameagainst the Denver Nuggets.

The statue will pay tribute to the Hall-of-Famer, who was afive-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, Most Valuable Player,18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA selection and 12-timeAll-Defensive Team selection. Kobe was the first player in NBAhistory to play at least 20 seasons with a single team.

The Lakers have already retired both of Bryant's jerseys, No. 8and No. 24, making him the only player in NBA history to have twonumbers retired by a single franchise.

“As you know, Kobe played his entire 20-year NBA career as a LosAngeles Laker,” Vanessa Bryant said in a video to fans posted at8:24 PT this morning. “Since arriving in this city and joining theLakers organization, he felt at home here, playing in the City ofAngels. On behalf of the Lakers, my daughters and me, I am sohonored that, right in the center of Los Angeles, in front of theplace known as the house that Kobe built, we are going to unveilhis statue so that his legacy can be celebrated forever.”

Kobe’s legacy immortalized.2•8•24 pic.twitter.com/WHQBXZJ2gD

“Kobe’s transcendent spirit is always and forever in our hearts– inspiring us every day,” said Lakers vice president of basketballoperations and general manager Rob Pelinka. “And now, with theunveiling of this powerful and beautiful statue, he will have aphysical presence too. A place on the hallowed ground Kobe created,where we can all gather and pay honor to a mighty and greatman.”

The Lakers legend and two-time Olympic gold medalist is theteam's all-time leader in points (33,643), three-pointers made(1,827), steals (1,944), free-throws made (8,378) andregular-season games played (1,346), while owning franchise playoffrecords for games played (220), points (5,640), three-pointers made(292) and free-throws made (1,320). A two-time scoring champion,Bryant scored a career-high and franchise-best 81 points on Jan.22, 2006, at home against the Toronto Raptors.

To celebrate Kobe Bryant's incredible life and legacy,BasketballNews.com asked a number ofcurrent and former NBA players to share their favorite Kobestories.