For 14 years, one name has resonated among Lakers fans across the world. For 14 years one player has brought “Magic” back to the hardwood. For 14 years, Kobe Bryant has electrified the city of Los Angeles, and at the end of his career, will have left an eternal mark on the game of basketball forever.
From the moment he set foot in the league as a punk, 17-year old kid with uncapped aspirations, to June 17, 2010; when a seasoned, 31-year old veteran hopped onto the scorers’ table in celebration of his fifth NBA championship, Kobe Bryant has undeniably personified the concept of greatness. There is not an athlete in the world that tends to his or her body as meticulously and dedicatedly as Kobe does; therefore, no one truly knows how much longer he will be playing basketball. However, when Kobe does decide to hang up his Nikes for good, he will forever be a player that inspires adults and coaches to tell their children and players, “I got to see Kobe Bryant play the game of basketball, and there will never be another player like him.” His presence on the court will vanish one day, but the memory of him will forever be instilled in the minds of basketball fans worldwide. His jersey(s) will unquestionably be raised up into the rafters of Staples Center; and in due time, it’s highly anticipated that the memories of Kobe Bryant will be cemented into a statue that sits alongside fellow Laker greats Magic Johnson and Chick Hearn.
With only one memory, one pose – one moment of Kobe’s able to be portrayed in a statue, deciding which one to capture is quite a difficult task when your dealing with someone who has done as much as Kobe. However, Lakers Nation asked its Facebook fans what moment of Kobe’s they think should be immortalized in his impending statue. Of the 68 responses received, here are the top eight ideas (in order) for which Kobe Bryant moment should be forever frozen in Lakers’ history.