“I promise you I’ll continue your legacy, man! You mean so much to us all here, especially #LakerNation💜💛” NBA legend Kobe Bryant spent the entirety of his long and illustrious career with the Los Angeles Lakers, building the franchise’s legacy. Following his untimely passing in 2020, Vanessa Bryant announced on August 24, 2023, “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.” And now, the player who promised to continue Kobe’s legacy, LeBron James – and is doing just that – reflected on the Black Mamba’s legendary career.

As the long-awaited statue-unveiling day of February 8, 2024, comes ever closer, James was asked which iconic Kobe image comes to mind when he thinks of the five-time NBA champion. LeBron replied, “I don’t think he has one image that pops into my head to say, ‘That’s the one that should be immortalized on the statue.’ There are too many memories, too many plays, too many moments that he had. It’s only right. He spent two decades [here], won multiple championships…”

Acknowledging the ‘Mamba Mentality,’ a solemn LeBron credited Kobe for setting the “precedence of what it means to strive for excellence,” which has inspired people across and beyond the realm of basketball. He added that the multitude of fans Kobe has to this day speaks for itself. That being said, King James respectfully stated that the unveiling would be a special moment for everyone.

“So, I think it’s a beautiful moment for not only him, [but] for his family.” From what James revealed and his history with Kobe, it seems like the moment would be just as special for him. After all, Bryant was the one who inspired King James to take a leap of faith in 2003. Following a remarkable high school basketball career, Kobe joined the NBA draft instead of accepting the offers from Division 1 colleges. It paid off because he was the 13th overall pick. And LeBron followed suit.

In a 2016 interview with Chauncey Billups, LeBron revealed, “As a kid growing up, man, watching [Kobe], watching a kid come straight out of high school is something I kind of admired. I was like, ‘If he can do it, then maybe I can be one of the guys that do it, too.’” As the four-time NBA champion continues to carry forward Kobe’s legacy, the late legend’s statue will be unveiled at the Crypto.com Arena. The ceremony will take place at 10p.m (ET, TNT) outside the stadium before the Lakers’ game with the Denver Nuggets on February 8 – a date that holds great significance.

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Interesting facts about the dates surrounding Kobe Bryant’s statue

Fascinatingly, the Kobe statue was announced on August 24 last year. This was a well-thought-out date because August 24 (8/24) is also referred to as ‘Kobe Day,’ alluding to his jersey numbers. However, there’s more. The date of the unveiling itself (2/8/24) is an interesting pick. Gianna, Kobe’s daughter, was with him when their helicopter crashed, tragically taking their life and all the other passengers. Like her father, Gianna was an avid hoops fan and a player herself. She always wore the number 2 jersey, while Kobe’s numbers were, of course, 8 and 24.

So, the date also serves as a tribute to the loving father-daughter duo. Fans can see the statue starting on February 9 at the Star Plaza. Kobe’s statue will be placed between the statues of Magic Johnson and Oscar De La Hoya. It is interesting to note that as a heartfelt gesture, Hoya once proposed swapping out his statue for Kobe’s after his passing.

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Kobe Bryant Statue Reveal: Date, Time and Everything You Need to Know About Lakers’ Immortalization of Mamba