Los Angeles Lakers unveiled Kobe Bryant's statue on Thursday, featuring the legendary shooting guard wearing number 8 with his right hand raised to the sky.

"This moment is not just for Kobe but for all the fans who have supported him over the years," said Vanessa Bryant, the widow of the shooting guard, at the event.

Vanessa Bryant also announced that in the future, there will be two more statues at the Lakers' stadium in honor of Kobe: one alongside his late daughter Gigi and a third with the number 24.

"Just so you know, Kobe chose the pose you're going to see (on the first statue). So if anyone has a problem with it, tough luck. That's how it is," Vanessa Bryant joked in a ceremony that combined emotional and fun moments as a tribute to an essential figure for the Lakers and the NBA.

The statue is inspired by an image from the unforgettable 2006 Lakers game against the Toronto Raptors in which Kobe scored 81 points (the second-highest scoring game in NBA history).

Made of bronze and standing nearly six meters tall, the statue weighs about 1,800 kilograms and bears the signature of sculptor Julie Rotblatt-Amrany.

The statue is dedicated to "Kobe Bean Bryant - 'Black Mamba'".

With a splendid list of guests at the event, including his 'brother' Pau Gasol in the front row, the Lakers paid tribute to Kobe with this statue unveiled on February 8, 2024, a subtle nod to the two numbers of the shooting guard (8 and 24) and the 2 that his late daughter Gigi also wore.

The surroundings of the Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) finally have a statue of Kobe, joining other purple and gold legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, or Jerry West.