Kyrie Irving Makes Emotional Visit To View Statues Of Kobe, Gianna Bryant At Lakers Home Stadium
On Feb. 25, when the Dallas Mavericks went to Los Angeles to play the Lakers, Kyrie Irving, before the contest was played, went to pay homage to his late friend, Kobe Bryant, when he visited the statues of the former Lakers player and his daughter, Gianna who both died in a helicopter crash Jan. 26, 2020.
According to The Dallas Morning News, Irving went to view the statues outside of the Crypto.com Arena in a display of emotions that he expressed he’s avoided in the past after they were constructed and placed there August 2, 2024.
Kyrie Irving visits the Kobe and Gigi Bryant statue at https://t.co/4XyF1JduvH arena before tonight’s Mavericks vs. Lakers @kcalnews @SportsCentralLA pic.twitter.com/NhPTmkVJPP
— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) February 25, 2025
“It meant everything to me. I needed that before the game,” Irving said. “I don’t know if anybody in here has dealt with that avoiding feeling. Avoiding things that you know are gonna kinda be painful or hurt you and it’s gonna be best for you at the same time. That was one of those things. I hadn’t been to the statue just because I was all in my head, all in my emotions the last few times we’ve come here. And you know obviously I paid my respects to his family as well and always try to, Vanessa and the kids. At the same time, sitting in front of that statue just felt different.”
His love and admiration for Kobe is still evident when Irving plays during the NBA season. He is usually seen wearing an armband on his left arm just like Kobe wore during the first half of his playing career. The Mavericks point guard was also seen wearing a red rubber band with “Gigi Bryant” inscribed with a white heart during the pregame warmups on the basketball court.
During the game, Irving was seen imitating one of Kobe’s recognized moves on the court when he pumped his fist several times after making a three-point shot.
“I’m a little troll, man, at times,” Irving said. “I definitely was giving that Kobe fist a few times. Kobe held it a little longer and he would grit his teeth but for me, I was like, ‘Yes, I got lucky in this building.’ So it felt good, man.”
The fifth anniversary of Kobe’s death just passed as the sports world celebrated his legacy Jan. 26. The popular NBA Hall of Famer and his daughter died with seven others when a helicopter they were traveling in crashed, leaving no survivors.
