Los Angeles Lakers to Unveil Kobe Bryant Statue on Feb. 8

FILE - People visit the Star Plaza of Crypto.com Arena on July 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
FILE - People visit the Star Plaza of Crypto.com Arena on July 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
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Los Angeles Lakers to Unveil Kobe Bryant Statue on Feb. 8

FILE - People visit the Star Plaza of Crypto.com Arena on July 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
FILE - People visit the Star Plaza of Crypto.com Arena on July 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue of Kobe Bryant outside their downtown arena on Feb. 8.
The 17-time NBA champion Lakers announced the plan Thursday to honor Bryant, the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history and a beloved mainstay of the franchise for 20 seasons. Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
Bryant participated in the initial planning of his statue after his retirement in 2016, according to the Lakers. He is the sixth former Lakers player and seventh team employee to be honored with a statue in the so-called “Star Plaza” outside the arena, which has been the Lakers' home since 1999.
The 2/8/24 date of the unveiling is conspicuous: Kobe wore No. 8 and No. 24 during each half of his Lakers career, while Gianna wore No. 2 while playing youth basketball. The Bryants were flying together to a basketball competition with seven others when their helicopter crashed in fog in Calabasas, California.
Bryant's statue will join those of Lakers greats Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West and broadcaster Chick Hearn. Star Plaza also includes statues of the Los Angeles Kings' Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Dustin Brown and announcer Bob Miller, along with champion boxer Oscar De La Hoya.
According to The Associated Press, the Lakers say they are planning “a series of physical tributes” to honor Bryant beyond the statue, which is designed by sculptor Julie Rotblatt Amrany.
“Kobe Bryant was one of the most extraordinary athletes of all time and one of the most iconic individuals in the history of Los Angeles,” Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said in a statement. “There is no better place for Kobe to be honored with a statue than here at the center of our city, where everyone can celebrate him and be inspired by his incredible achievements.”



Yamaha’s Quartararo Denies Marquez His Home Spanish MotoGP Pole

 Team Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo rides during a practice session of the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, on April 26, 2025. (AFP)
Team Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo rides during a practice session of the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, on April 26, 2025. (AFP)
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Yamaha’s Quartararo Denies Marquez His Home Spanish MotoGP Pole

 Team Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo rides during a practice session of the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, on April 26, 2025. (AFP)
Team Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo rides during a practice session of the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, on April 26, 2025. (AFP)

Frenchman Fabio Quartararo beat crowd favorite and six-times MotoGP champion Marc Marquez to take pole position at the Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix at the Circuito de Jerez on Saturday, where the lap record was broken twice.

Championship leader Marquez looked on course for a fifth successive pole after he sped to a time of one minute and 35.643 seconds early in the second qualifying, but Quartararo put on a blistering lap in the final moments to stun the Ducati rider.

The 26-year-old Yamaha rider clocked a time of one minute and 35.610 seconds to take his first pole since 2022.

Twice MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia came third to complete the front row.

"It's a really special feeling, a special emotion for everybody," Quartararo said.

"We know that the points are on the sprint and the race, but already to feel the atmosphere close to all these guys is something.

"Hopefully, we can make a great fight on the sprint, on the race we know it's a little more difficult. But super happy to be here. We are working hard and the work will pay off."

Gresini's Alex Marquez was the fourth fastest, ahead of Franco Morbidelli of VR46 Racing in fifth.

Marquez leads his younger brother Alex by 17 points in the championship and Italian Bagnaia in third by 26. He has the opportunity to stretch it further in the sprint, which will be held later on Saturday.