Who are the makers of Kobe Bryant statue?

09 Feb, 2024 Last Update 8 months ago

Vanessa Bryant discusses careful elements that went into the Kobe monument

LOS ANGELES (KABC) - The Kobe Bryant monument, unveiled Thursday at Crypto.com Arena, commemorates one of his most famous moments in a career full of them. Julie Rotblatt Amrany fashioned the bronze figure, which stands 19 feet high and weighs 4,000 pounds.

Kobe picked the position years ago to reflect a moment from his astounding 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, which was the second-highest point total in a single game in NBA history. The base has the game's box score and a Kobe quote: "Leave the game better than you found it. And when it's time to depart, leave a tale."

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant will be eternally remembered in LA Lakers history. On Thursday, the team will unveil Bryant's monument outside the Crypto.com stadium.

Bryant's legacy, as well as the numbers he wore, were considered while selecting the date. The date is 2/8/24, where 8 and 24 are Kobe's Lakers numbers, and Bryant's daughter wore No. 2. Julie Rotblatt and Omri Amrany, a couple residing in Chicago, are responsible for the statue's creation.

One of Rotblatt and Amrany's most noteworthy works is Michael Jordan's statue outside the Chicago Bulls' United Center.

Three statues

"Because fans all over the world and the City of Angels adored Kobe, he will be honored with three sculptures in front of the arena, also known as the Kobe-built home. One wearing the number eight, one carrying our lovely daughter Gianna, and one with the number twenty-four."
Vanessa claimed she urged Amrany to add a few embellishments, such as tattooing their daughters' names on his arm, even though some of them hadn't been born at the time of the 81-point game.
The monument has a triangular foundation, a reference to Phil Jackson and Tex Winter's triangle offense.

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Vanessa Bryant, Kobe's wife, and the Lakers wished to perpetuate Kobe's legacy with the team. The Lakers had already retired his Nos. 8 and 24 jerseys.

The statue honoring the five-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer will be unveiled outside the Lakers' arena on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET.

Following that, the Lakers will meet the Denver Nuggets in one of the season's most anticipated games. The Lakers will allegedly wear "Mamba" uniforms.

Kobe Bryant became the sixth Laker to get a statue

Kobe Bryant isn't the only player in LA Lakers history whose legacy has been preserved by the team.

Several luminaries from both within and beyond the game have had monuments built outside the Crypto.com arena, which was previously known as the Staples Center.

Magic Johnson, a five-time NBA champion with the Lakers, had his monument installed on Star Plaza. The three-time NBA Finals MVP monument was unveiled in 2004.

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In 2017, the Lakers erected a monument honoring four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal, depicting his iconic posture of hanging on the basketball rim.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar (2012), Jerry West (2011), and commentator Chick Hearn (2010) all have monuments outside the arena.