Kobe Bryant

FILE - The Michael Jordan statue on display in the United Center atrium during the Bulls NBA basketball media day Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Chicago. The 19-foot, 4,000-pound statue of Kobe Bryant in downtown Los Angeles is just the latest example of a sports team honoring a player with this kind of larger-than-life presence.(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Kobe Bryant joins Jackie Robinson, Michael Jordan and more among athletes honored with statues

The 19-foot, 4,000-pound statue of Kobe Bryant in downtown Los Angeles is the latest example of a sports team honoring a player with this kind of larger-than-life presence.

A statue of former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is seen after its unveiling outside the NBA basketball team's arena, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Kobe Bryant immortalized with a 19-foot bronze statue outside the Lakers’ downtown arena

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, right, reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Joel Embiid scores 70 and Karl-Anthony Towns scores 62. It was a night like few others in the NBA

Former Miami Heat player Udonis Haslem wipes a tear during a half time ceremony where his jersey was retired at an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Heat retire Udonis Haslem’s No. 40 jersey. He’s the 6th Miami player to receive the honor

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud speaks to the media following the team's win over the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Stroud and the Texans are a win away from reaching the playoffs for 1st time since 2019

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This image provided by The Tate Record shows a Senatobia Police vehicle in front of the Senatobia, Miss., Police Department on Jan. 27, 2021. The mother of a 10-year-old child who was sentenced by a Mississippi judge to three months’ probation and a book report for urinating in public, has refused to sign his probation agreement and will ask for the charge against her son to be dismissed, the family's attorney announced Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (The Tate Record via AP)

Mother of a child punished by a court for urinating in public refuses to sign probation terms

This Jan. 27, 2021 image provided by The Tate Record shows a Senatobia Police vehicle in front of the Senatobia, Miss., Police Department. A 10-year-old Black child, who was arrested by the police after urinating in a parking lot, must serve three months' probation and write a two-page book report on the late NBA star Kobe Bryant, a Tate County Youth Court Judge ruled Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (The Tate Record via AP)

Black child, 10, sentenced to probation and a book report for urinating in public

Los Angeles Lakers forwards Anthony Davis, left, and LeBron James watch from the bench during the first half of the team's preseason NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

NBA considering changes to All-Star Game format, with East vs. West possible again

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) is tended to on the field during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Aaron Rodgers faces a long, arduous but not impossible road to recovery from torn Achilles tendon

Natalia Bryant, daughter of Kobe Bryant, hugs Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Kobe Bryant’s daughter Natalia tosses first pitch on Lakers Night at Dodger Stadium

Jordan forward Rondae Hollis Jefferson (24) is fouled by U.S. forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) as he shoots during the first half of a Basketball World Cup group C match in Manila, Philippines Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

USA rolls past Jordan 110-62. Now Round 2 of Basketball World Cup awaits

FILE - Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant shoots a free throw during an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors on April 12, 2013, in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue of Kobe Bryant outside their downtown arena on Feb. 8, 2024. The 17-time NBA champion Lakers announced the plan Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, to honor Bryant, the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history and a beloved mainstay of the franchise for 20 seasons. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Los Angeles Lakers to unveil Kobe Bryant statue outside their arena on Feb. 8

Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi (3) celebrates after making her 10,000th career point, during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Atlanta Dream, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Phoenix. Taurasi, the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, is the only player in league history to reach the 10,000-point milestone. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Scoring milestones in Diana Taurasi’s career on the way to 10,000 points

First-round draft pick Kobe Brown, selected 30th overall by Los Angeles Clippers, speaks at a news conference in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Kobe Brown shows star power for LA Clippers in Summer League with 35-point performance

First-round draft pick Kobe Brown, selected 30th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers, speaks at a news conference in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Kobe’s legacy in the NBA lives on in a new way. Two players bear his name