Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa defends NBA legend’s new Lakers statue with sassy X-rated two-word message and fans were loving it
Kobe Bryant has been immortalised with a 19-foot bronze statue outside of the arena in Los Angeles where the Lakers play their home games.
NBA legend Bryant tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2020 aged 41 along with daughter Gianna and seven other victims.
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A statue has long been earmarked for the five-time NBA champion and on Thursday it was finally unveiled during a ceremony ahead of the Lakers' game against the Denver Nuggets.
Kobe's wife, Vanessa, and daughters Capri Kobe, Bianka Bella, and Natalia Bryant were in attendance for the special event.
After receiving a standing ovation, Vanessa took to the stage to deliver a powerful speech and revealed plans for two more statues of her husband, including one featuring their late daughter Gianna.
Vanessa also remarked on Kobe's pose in the statue, which features him raising his right arm and pointing his finger to the sky.
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“For the record, Kobe picked the pose you’re about to see,” she said just before the unveiling.
“So if anyone has any issues with it - tough s**t.”
"It is what it is," she added.
Fans were loving her response to the critics.
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"Exactly. If he picked it, then it's a W," one person said.
"The goats wife has spoken so I better not hear anyone complaining," another replied.
";Tough s*** is right. Kobe did this," added a third.
"'Tough s***' was definitely a line Kobe would of said," wrote a fourth.
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It has long been speculated which Kobe pose would be used for his statue.
The Laker legend has a number of famous poses including jumping on the scorer's table after winning the 2010 championship and ripping his jersey to one side after a game-winner in 2006.
Some fans felt one of those should have been used instead.
In the end, the sculptor went for a pose of Bryant - wearing a white No.8 Lakers jersey - walking off the court after scoring 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.
It remains the second highest points total in a single game behind only Wilt Chamberlain's legendary 100-point game.
Kobe is just the seventh Laker to get a statue, joining Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West and announcer Chick Hearn.
The second statue of Bryant - yet to be unveiled - will feature Bryant in his No. 24 jersey, which he wore for the second half of his career.
A third statue will include Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.
"It goes without saying that today is an especially sad day for us since Kobe and Gigi aren't here for what is supposed to be an incredibly joyous moment and Kobe’s legacy," Vanessa began in her speech.
"Kobe has so many people that have supported him all over the world from the very beginning. And this moment isn't just for Kobe, but it's for all of you that have been rooting for him all of these years."
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"And to the fans here in LA, this is a special city Kobe was so proud to represent. You welcomed him with open arms and have been so important to him, our family and his legacy."
"As I see today's current generation of star players following Kobe's footsteps with huge scoring games. I know he would take pride in knowing that he is still pouring inspiration into the game that was so special to him," she continued.
She ended her speech by quoting the basketball superstar, "Leave the game better than you found it and when it comes time for you to leave, leave a legend. And that he did."
Vanessa later posted a photo on Instagram of herself and her girls stood in front of the statue and captioned it with the same quote.
"'LEAVE THE GAME BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT. AND WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR YOU TO LEAVE, LEAVE A LEGEND.' ~ @kobebryant," she wrote.
The Lakers also honoured Bryant in the game against the Nuggets by wearing their Black Mamba uniforms, co-designed by Kobe.
The black and yellow uniforms feature a snakeskin-like print and drop shadows on the jersey numbers, a nod to a detail from the Lakers uniforms from Bryant’s rookie season in 1996-97.
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They also include an 'LA 24' on the belt and the Nos. 8 and 24 under the flap of each leg of the shorts.
Unfortunately they couldn't inspire LeBron James' team to victory as the Lakers lost 106-114 to the reigning NBA champs.
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