Nancy Turner
Feb 09, 2024 - 12:05

Kobe Bryant statue unveiling in Los Angeles tonight

NBA honors Kobe with statue unveiling, Lakers to wear Black Mamba uniforms, plus Trade Deadline at 3 ET. Special live coverage in NBA App.

Today is a momentous day for NBA fans, as the league celebrates the legacy of one of its greatest players, Kobe Bryant. The Lakers will unveil a bronze statue of Bryant outside of Crypto.com Arena, immortalizing his iconic career with the team. The ceremony will be broadcast live on NBA TV and streamed on the NBA App, allowing fans from around the world to join in the tribute to the late basketball legend.

In addition to the statue unveiling, the Lakers will honor Bryant's legacy by wearing their Black Mamba uniforms for their game against the defending champion Nuggets. These uniforms, co-designed by Bryant himself, pay homage to his iconic career and were first worn during the Lakers' 2020 playoff run to their 17th title. The uniforms feature a snakeskin-like black print and drop shadows on the jersey numbers, as well as the numbers 8 and 24, which were worn by Bryant during his time with the Lakers.

The Trade Deadline is also looming large, with teams across the league working tirelessly to finalize deals before the 3 p.m. ET deadline. As the trade tracker shows, some teams have already made moves in the lead-up to the deadline, and fans are eagerly awaiting the latest updates on potential trades.

One player who knows the impact of being traded all too well is 20-year veteran Jamal Crawford, who has been traded five times in his career. In a special Trade Deadline edition of NBA Mailbag, Crawford shared his insights on the real-life impact of being traded and discussed potential deals that could shape the future of the league.

As we look ahead to the future of the NBA, it's important to take a moment to honor the past. The league's rich history is filled with iconic moments, and today, we celebrate the legacy of Kobe Bryant and the impact he had on the game of basketball. From the unveiling of his statue to the Lakers' tribute game in their Black Mamba uniforms, today is a day to remember and honor one of the greatest players to ever grace the court.