Kobe Bryant having a statue was really just a matter of time, but that didn't stop Lakers president and controlling owner Jeanie Buss from confirming that the Los Angeles legend will have his own sculpture outside the Staples Center someday.
The Lakers have recently announced they will be retiring both of Bryant's jerseys this upcoming season; however, Buss revealed in an appearance on ESPN Los Angeles Radio that they are already thinking of putting up a statue to honor the five-time NBA champion.
“My feeling is that even if we just retired one number, no one's ever gonna wear the other, so you may as well retire… no one's ever gonna wear 8 or 24 for the Lakers ever again. It just worked out that that was the right date to do it, and I think we'll have a great celebration, and certainly someday there will be a statue as well,” Buss said, as transcribed by Drew Garrison of Silver Screen & Roll.
Buss didn't specify when they will do it, but given the Lakers' history, they could be waiting until Bryant is eligible for the Hall of Fame. Shaquille O'Neal only had his statue unveiled last March after he was included in the 2016 class.
Kobe Bryant will join only a few other notable Lakers who were given the statue treatment, including the likes of Magic Johnson, play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn, Jerry West, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
It's still unknown how Bryant will be immortalized with the bronze, but there's no doubt that he deserves to be there after helping the Lakers win multiple championships.
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