The Los Angeles Lakers and Vanessa Bryant announced today that they will unveil Kobe Bryant’s bronze statue at Star Plaza outside of Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 8, 2024, prior to the Lakers’ home game against the Denver Nuggets.

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

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

“As you know, Kobe played his entire 20-year NBA career as a Los Angeles Laker,” Vanessa Bryant said in a video to fans posted at 8:24 PT this morning. “Since arriving in this city and joining the Lakers organization, he felt at home here, playing in the City of Angels. On behalf of the Lakers, my daughters and me, I am so honored that, right in the center of Los Angeles, in front of the place known as the house that Kobe built, we are going to unveil his statue so that his legacy can be celebrated forever.”

Kobe’s legacy immortalized.

2•8•24 pic.twitter.com/WHQBXZJ2gD

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 24, 2023

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

The Lakers legend and two-time Olympic gold medalist is the team's all-time leader in points (33,643), three-pointers made (1,827), steals (1,944), free-throws made (8,378) and regular-season games played (1,346), while owning franchise playoff records 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 of current and former NBA players to share their favorite Kobe stories.