Kobe Bryant and Gigi statue makes Lakernation go emotional before official unveiling

The Lakers continue with their tribute to Kobe Bryant, as they have unveiled a statue of him with his daughter Gigi, who died with him in the helicopter accident he suffered in 2020. As sources revealed earlier this week, the statue was unveiled in a private ceremony this Friday in the outside of the Crypto.com Arena.

The monument is the second of three that the Lakers intend to have in honor of their legend. The first was inaugurated on February 8 in honor of the Black Mamba's 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, the second-best individual score in history after Wilt Chamberlain's 100 in 1962.

The numbers of the date on which the second statue was unveiled are 2-8-24, as they have symbolic numbers similar to the date of the first, 8-2-24, representing Kobe's two numbers and the number 2 that Gigi wore on the track. According to reports, the third statue will be presented during next season.

Photos were leaked and tears were seen

Because of the high level of expectancy for this statue, it was almost inevitable that some pictures of the new statue were leaked. Some construction workers or someone invited to the event to have a sneak peak, revealed what the statue looked like.

It is Kobe and Gigi enjoying a basketball game, just like the original picture shows, the one went viral and famous, the same one that now makes people start crying as they miss the great NBA legend and, to who he knew, say was a better human being.

There are already many theories on that the third statue will look like, but this time, like the first, the public will part of the unveiling event and, most certainly, it will be hard to keep it a secret.