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Posts tagged as “Kobe Bryant”

Los Angeles Lakers unveil 19-foot bronze statue of Kobe Bryant

February 9, 2024

Just hours before their game agains the Denver Nuggets, the LA Lakers unveil the 19-foot bronze statue of Kobe Bryant, honoring the late superstar outside their downtown arena.

The 4,000-pound statue depicts Bryant wearing his white No. 8 jersey with his right index finger raised as he walked off the court following his 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006.

Here’s a side-by-side image from FIBA’s official X/twitter account;

Kobe Bryant’s 20-year career with the Lakers in a nutshell;

Bryant, an 18-time NBA All-Star, retired as the first player in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons with a single franchise. Known for his ‘Mamba Mentality,’ he helped guide the Lakers to five NBA Championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010) and earned Finals MVP honors in 2009 and 2010. Voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2008, Bryant earned All-NBA honors 15 times, including 11 First Team selections, and was named to 12 All-Defensive Teams throughout his career, including nine All-Defensive First Team honors.

The Hall-of-Famer and two-time Olympic gold medalist stands as the purple and gold’s all-time leader in regular season games played (1,346), points (33,643), 3-pointers made (1,827), steals (1,944) and free throws made (8,378), while owning franchise playoff records for games played (220), points (5,640), 3-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 versus Toronto. The Lakers retired Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys on Dec. 18, 2017.

Kobe’s will be the 7th Laker immortalize in a statue that’s on display outside the Crypto Arena.

Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame

May 17, 2021
Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame

Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett are now officially basketball legends, since they are now officially, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Kobe Bryant – The Black Mamba

The 13th pick of the the Lakers in the first round of the 1996 NBA draft, Kobe Bryant stayed with the Lakers for 20 years. He is an 18-time All-Star, a 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, a 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team, the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), and a two-time NBA Finals MVP and 5-time NBA Champion. He holds the second most points scored in a single game in league history, when he scored 81-points in a 122–104 victory against the Toronto Raptors.

Kobe died in a helicopter accident last January 26, 2020. Vanessa and Natalia Bryant receive Kobe Bryant’s official Hall of Fame Class Jacket and Ring.

Tim Duncan – The Big Fundamental

Better known as the “Big Fundamental”, Tim Duncan was selected by San Antonio with the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft. Tim Duncan played all his 19 years as a Spurs, winning 5 NBA championship, a two-time NBA MVP, a three-time NBA Finals MVP, 15-time NBA All-Star, and the NBA Rookie of the Year.

Tim Duncan is the only player to be selected to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams for 13 consecutive seasons. He is regarded as the greatest power forward of all time to ever played the game of Basketball.

Kevin Garnett – The Big Ticket

Drafted fifth overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Garnett was given the nickname “the Big Ticket” for his intensity, emphatic dunking and athleticism. He is one of 3 NBA players to win the Most Valuable Player, the Defensive Player of the Year awards and All-Star Game MVP.

He played with the Minnesota Timberwolves for 12 years then joined the Boston Celtics in a trade, there he teamed-up with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, to win the 2008 NBA champion.

More inductees for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020;

  • Patrick Baumann – Contributor
  • Tamika Catchings – Player
  • Kim Mulkey – Coach
  • Barbara Stevens – Coach
  • Eddie Sutton – Coach
  • Rudy Tomjanovich – Coach

Source: NBA

Vanessa Bryant sues helicopter company for deaths

February 25, 2020
Vanessa Bryant sues helicopter company for deaths

ESPN News Services;

Kobe Bryant’s widow sued the owner of the helicopter that crashed in fog and killed the former Los Angeles Lakers star and their 13-year-old daughter last month as she publicly mourned their deaths Monday in an emotional public ceremony.

The wrongful death lawsuit filed by Vanessa Bryant in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday said the pilot was careless and negligent by flying in cloudy conditions Jan. 26 and should have aborted the flight that killed all nine people aboard.