Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest NBA players of all-time. He spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers and averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.4 steals in 1,346 games – leading the team to five NBA championships and later being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
After he retired in 2016, the city of Los Angeles and Orange County, as a whole, designated August 24 as Kobe Bryant Day – 8/24 corresponds with the two numbers he wore throughout his career, but it’s also the day after his birthday (August 23). The holiday took on new meaning when he was killed in 2020.
On August 24, 2023, the Lakers continued to honor his legacy as they announced their plans to unveil a statue of Kobe Bryant outside Crypto.com Arena. The big reveal will happen on February 8, 2024 (2/8/24) – honoring the No. 8 and No. 24, while also honoring the No. 2, which was Gianna Bryant’s number.
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Kobe Bryant Joins Several Other NBA Players Who Were Honored With a Statue
Kobe Bryant getting a statue was a no-brainer – especially when you consider some of the other former NBA players who have a statue. He embodies everything the Lakers mean to the city of Los Angeles and played a big part in their modern history, joining the likes of some of the greatest to ever play the game.
The team received a little help from Kobe’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, who made the announcement with a touching video posted on the Lakers’ social media accounts. He’ll become the sixth Lakers’ player, seventh Lakers’ employee, and 12th athlete to have a statue at Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena.
Anyone who knows sports understands how big of an honor this is for the Bryant family – an honor we wish he and his daughter were alive to witness. To give you some perspective on just how rare of an occasion this is in the NBA community, here are 17 other former NBA players who have a statue.
17. Dominique Wilkins
Statue Location: State Farm Arena (home of the Atlanta Hawks)
Dominique Wilkins was drafted by the Utah Jazz as the No. 3 overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft, but was traded to the Atlanta Hawks several months later – where he spent the first 12 years of his career. During that time, he averaged 26.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game (882 games).
He spent the final six years of his career with the Celtics, Spurs, Magic, and Clippers (while also spending time in Greece and Italy) before retiring at the end of the 1998-99 season. He was a 9-time All-Star and 7-time All-NBA player who led the NBA in scoring in 1985-86 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
16. Elgin Baylor
Statue Location: Crypto.com Arena (home of the Los Angeles Lakers)
Elgin Baylor was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1958 NBA Draft and spent his entire 14-year career with the team before retiring at the end of the 1971-72 season. During that time, he averaged 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 40.0 minutes per game (846 games).
Baylor was an 11-time All-Star and 10-time All-NBA player who was named Rookie of the Year and All-Star MVP in 1958-59. He’s a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977. He’s often a forgotten Lakers’ legend, but his impact on the game was tremendous.
15. Julius Erving
Statue Location: Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex (76ers’ team practice facility)
Julius Erving was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks as the No. 12 overall pick in the 1972 NBA Draft, but he didn’t make his NBA debut until the 1976-77 season – by that time, he had already played five years in the ABA with the Virginia Squires and New York Nets. He was eventually traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
He spent his entire 11-year NBA career with the 76ers and averaged 22.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 34.3 minutes per game (836 games). He was a 16-time All-Star, 7-time All-NBA, 1983 NBA Champion, and four-time MVP who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.
14. Wilt Chamberlain
Statue Location: Wells Fargo Center (home of the Philadelphia 76ers)
Wilt Chamberlain was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors as the No. 3 overall pick in the 1959 NBA Draft. He spent three seasons in Philadelphia before the team moved to San Francisco, where he spent another 2.5 seasons – at which point, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers (his return to Philly).
Between 1959 and 1968, he averaged 36.0 points, 24.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 46.8 minutes per game (706 games) – he ended his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he spent five seasons. He’s a 13-time All-Star, 2-time champion, 4-time MVP, and 7-time scoring champ who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.
13. Larry Bird
Statue Location: TD Garden (home of the Boston Celtics); Hulman Center (home of the Indiana State University basketball team)
Larry Bird was drafted by the Boston Celtics as the No. 6 overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft and spent his entire 13-year career with the team before retiring at the end of the 1991-92 season. During that time, he averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game (897 games).
Bird was a 12-time All-Star and 10-time All-NBA player who won three NBA championships with the Celtics (1981, 1984, and 1986). He’s a former Rookie of the Year, three-time MVP, 2-time Finals MVP, 1981-82 All-Star MPV, and 3-time All-Defensive player who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.
12. Hakeem Olajuwon
Statue Location: Toyota Center (home of the Houston Rockets)
Hakeem Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets as the No. 1 overall pick in 1984 and spent the next 17 seasons with the team before ending his career with the Toronto Raptors for one season. He averaged 22.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 3.2 blocks per game with Houston.
Olajuwon was a 12-time All-Star and 12-time All-NBA player who won back-to-back NBA championships with the Rockets in 1994 and 1995. He was a 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, 1993-94 MVP, 2-time Finals MVP, and 9-time All-Defensive player who led the league in rebounding twice and blocks three times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.
11. Karl Malone
Statue Location: Delta Center (home of the Utah Jazz)
Karl Malone was drafted by the Utah Jazz as the No. 13 overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft and spent the next 18 seasons with the team before ending his career with the Los Angeles Lakers for one year. He averaged 25.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game with the Jazz.
Malone was a 14-time All-Star and 14-time All-NBA power forward who never won an NBA championship with the Jazz, but was a two-time MVP, two-time All-Star MVP, and four-time All-Defensive player in his career. He’s a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.
10. John Stockton
Statue Location: Delta Center (home of the Utah Jazz)
John Stockton was drafted by the Utah Jazz as the No. 16 overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft and spent his entire 19-year career with the team before calling it quits at the end of the 2002-03 season. He put up 13.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 10.5 assists, and 2.2 steals in 31.8 minutes per game (1,504 games played).
Stockton was a 10-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA point guard who is one of only a couple of NBA players to average a double-double across their career with points and assists. He led the NBA in assists nine times and steals twice, was a five-time All-Defensive player, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.
9. George Mikan
Statue Location: Target Center (home of the Minnesota Timberwolves)
George Mikan played 25 games with the Chicago American Gears of the NBL after a successful college career and was supposed to play in the Professional Basketball League of America, but the league folded after one month and he became a member of the Minneapolis Lakers of the BAA and eventually the NBA.
Mikan only spent seven seasons with the Lakers, but helped lead the team to five NBA championships during that time. He averaged 23.1 points in 439 games with the Lakers and led the league in rebounds twice. He was a 4-time All-Star and 1952-53 All-Star MVP before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1959.
8. Dirk Nowitzki
Statue Location: American Airlines Center (home of the Dallas Mavericks)
Dirk Nowitzki was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks as the No. 9 overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, but was traded to the Dallas Mavericks on draft night. He spent his entire 21-year career with the team and averaged 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game (1,522 games).
Nowitzki was a 14-time All-Star and 12-time All-NBA power forward who was named MVP of the 2006-07 season and Finals MVP in 2010-11 – when he led the Mavericks to their only championship run in franchise history. He’s a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023.
7. Shaquille O’Neal
Statue Location: Crypto.com Arena (home of the Los Angeles Lakers)
Shaquille O’Neal was drafted by the Orlando Magic as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, but signed with the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the 1996-97 season. He spent the next eight years with the team and averaged 27.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.5 blocks in 37.6 minutes per game (514 games).
Aside from the Magic and Lakers, O’Neal also played for the Heat, Suns, Cavaliers, and Celtics during his career. He was a 15-time All-Star and 14-time All-NBA center who won four championships, one MVP award, three Finals MVP awards, and three All-Star MVP awards before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
6. Bill Russell
Statue Location: City Hall Plaza (in Boston, Massachusetts)
Bill Russell was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks as the No. 2 overall pick in the 1956 NBA Draft, but was traded to the Boston Celtics before ever playing a game for the Hawks. He spent his entire 13-year career with the Celtics and averaged 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 42.3 minutes per game (963 games).
Russell was a 12-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA center who led the Celtics to a record 11 NBA titles during his career – including eight consecutive titles between 1959 and 1966. He led the league in rebounding four times and was a five-time MVP before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975 (player) and 2021 (coach).
5. Jerry West
Statue Location: Crypto.com Arena (home of the Los Angeles Lakers)
Jerry West was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers as the No. 2 overall pick in the 1960 NBA Draft and spent his entire 14-year career with the team before calling it quits at the end of the 1973-74 season. He averaged 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in 39.2 minutes per game with the Lakers (932 games).
West was a 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, and 5-time All-Defensive player who led the league in scoring with 31.2 points per game during the 1969-70 season. He helped lead the Lakers to an NBA championship in 1972 and was named Finals MVP in 1968-69, despite losing the series. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Statue Location: Crypto.com Arena (home of the Los Angeles Lakers)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft, but was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the 1975-76 season. He spent the next 14 years with the Lakers and averaged 22.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game (1,093 games) with LA.
Abdul-Jabbar was a 19-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, and 11-time All-Defensive center who won six NBA titles during his career – he was a six-time MVP and two-time Finals MVP. He led the league in scoring twice, rebounding once, and blocks four times before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.
3. Magic Johnson
Statue Location: Crypto.com Arena (home of the Los Angeles Lakers)
Magic Johnson was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft and spent his entire 13-year career with the team before calling it quits after the 1995-96 season. He averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 11.2 assists, and 1.9 steals in 36.7 minutes per game (906 games).
Johnson was a 12-time All-Star and 10-time All-NBA point guard who led the Lakers to five NBA titles during his career – he would’ve won more if it weren’t for his HIV diagnosis. He was a 3-time MVP, 3-time Finals MVP, and 2-time All-Star MVP who led the league in assists four times and steals twice. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.
2. Scottie Pippen
Statue Location: United Center (home of the Chicago Bulls)
Scottie Pippen was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics as the No. 5 overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft, but was traded to the Chicago Bulls on draft night. He spent the next 11 years with the Chicago Bulls and averaged 18.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game (833 games) during that time.
Pippen was a 7-time All-Star, 7-time All-NBA, and 10-time All-Defensive small forward who helped Michael Jordan lead the Bulls to two separate three-peats in 1991-1993 and 1996-1998. He led the league in steals during the 1994-95 season and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.
1. Michael Jordan
Statue Location: United Center (home of the Chicago Bulls)
Michael Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls as the No. 3 overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft and spent the first 13 years of his career with the team – he sat out the 1993-94 season to play baseball. He averaged 31.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 2.5 steals per game (930 games) with Chicago.
Jordan was a 14-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, and 9-time All-Defensive shooting guard who led the Bulls to six NBA titles during his career – he was a five-time MVP, six-time Finals MVP, and three-time All-Star MVP. He led the NBA in scoring 10 times and steals three times, while also being named Defensive Player of the year in 1987-88. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.
Other NBA Players Who Are Worthy of a Statue
Being honored with a statue is something most NBA players will never accomplish in their career. It takes a certain player to do so – one that poured his heart and soul into a city and a team. Considering most NBA players only spend a couple of years with a team before being traded or signing elsewhere, it’s rare for NBA players to earn a statue in front of any arena.
With that said, there are several former NBA players who don’t have a statue – but deserve one. For starters, the San Antonio Spurs have yet to unveil statues of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili. We should also highlight Dwyane Wade, who had an impressive career with the Miami Heat.
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Of course, LeBron James will get one someday – perhaps for the Heat, Lakers, and Cavaliers. Stephen Curry will also be deserving of a statue for the Golden State Warriors when he retires. And even though he’s likely to be traded soon, I wouldn’t be surprised if Damian Lillard joins these other NBA players with a statue in Portland someday.
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