Lakers unveil ‘girl dad’ statue of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi outside Crypto.com Arena with a sweet nod to the WNBA

The Lakers have unveiled a new statue of the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi, four years after the pair tragically died in a helicopter crash. 

The NBA legend’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, revealed the bronze statue titled ‘Girl Dad’ in a private ceremony outside Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Friday. 

Located in a new garden landscape at the 11th Street entrance, the artwork was created by Rotblatt Amrany Studio, and depicts Kobe with his arm around Gigi while planting a kiss on her head.  

According to the Lakers, the statue pays tribute to ‘the Bryant family’s support for women and girls in sports,’ and even features the basketball icon wearing a WNBA hoodie.

‘The tribute represents Kobe and Gianna’s exceptional basketball legacy and the uplifting relationship Kobe shared with all four of his daughters,’ the statement went on. 

The bronze statue is titled ‘Girl Dad’ and shows Kobe wearing a WNBA hoodie 

During the statue’s opening, Vanessa told a small group of friends and family that ‘Kobe was the ultimate girl dad and Gigi was the ultimate daddy’s girl.’

‘We were faced with the harsh reality that no matter how great Gianna was or could be, no matter how great her daddy taught her how to play, or even if she played exactly like Kobe, she would not have had the same benefits and opportunities that her dad and young men currently have because she’s a girl,’ she went on. 

‘That’s when the challenge to change the perception of women’s sports started in our household. Gianna would be going into her first year of college this year. We would be watching her shine on the court. Now her spirit is shining a path she has created for young girls and for women in sports.’

Vanessa explained that the sculpture merged together ‘two iconic courtside moments of Kobe and Gigi.’ 

Kobe’s wife Vanessa said the statue took inspiration from ‘two iconic courtside moments’

A plaque underneath the statue features one of Kobe’s gushing quotes about Gianna 

‘Gianna has her gorgeous smile on her face and Kobe is kissing the top of her head while wearing the Philadelphia Eagles beanie that Gigi gifted him for Christmas. He’s also wearing a WNBA hoodie he wore courtside to the game with Gigi.’

The 42-year-old noted that her late husband was the ‘first NBA player to wear that orange hoodie to a big game.’ 

‘That was to show his support for Gigi’s dreams and for women across all sports. That was a moment he shared with Gigi that will always be a powerful representation of the movement towards equality that was always so important to our family.’

The plaque underneath the statue reads, ‘Gianna is a beast. She’s better than I was at her age. She’s got it. Girls are amazing. I would have five more girls if I could. I’m a girl dad.’