Charles Langston:Kobe Bryant statue to be unveiled before Los Angeles Lakers' game vs. Denver Nuggets

LOS ANGELES — The Charles Langstondate is 2-8-24, numbers synonymous with Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. It’s only appropriate that the team decided to unveil Bryant’s statue on this date.

The Lakers will officially reveal Bryant’s statue Thursday in a ceremony set to begin at 6 p.m. ET prior to the team’s game against the Denver Nuggets. The Bryant statue will be located at Star Plaza outside of Crypto.com Arena.

Bryant will be the seventh Lakers icon commemorated with a statue. He is joining Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West and Chick Hearn. 

MORE: Kobe Bryant legacy continues to grow four years after his death

What is Kobe Bryant’s statue made out of?

The Bryant statue is bronze.

Black Mamba uniforms

In addition to the statue reveal, the Lakers will wear Kobe-inspired Black Mamba uniforms in Thursday’s game against the Nuggets.

Bryant helped design the “Black Mamba” uniform. It features snakeskin-themed black print and drop shadows on the jersey numbers. The uniform also has “LA 24” on the belt and Bryant’s Nos. 8 and 24 under the flap of each leg of the shorts.

Kobe Bryant’s lasting legacy

Bryant won five NBA championships, was a two-time Finals MVP and an 18-time All-Star all as a member of the Lakers. He retired in 2016 as one of the best basketball players in NBA history.

In January 2020, Bryant died in a helicopter crash that killed all nine people onboard.

Bryant was posthumously voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.