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.”



Yassine Bounou's PK Save Helps Al Hilal Tie Real Madrid

Al-Hilal's Yassine Bounou blocks a shot during the Club World Cup group H soccer match between Real Madrid and Al Hilal in Miami Gardens, Fla., Wednesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Al-Hilal's Yassine Bounou blocks a shot during the Club World Cup group H soccer match between Real Madrid and Al Hilal in Miami Gardens, Fla., Wednesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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Yassine Bounou's PK Save Helps Al Hilal Tie Real Madrid

Al-Hilal's Yassine Bounou blocks a shot during the Club World Cup group H soccer match between Real Madrid and Al Hilal in Miami Gardens, Fla., Wednesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Al-Hilal's Yassine Bounou blocks a shot during the Club World Cup group H soccer match between Real Madrid and Al Hilal in Miami Gardens, Fla., Wednesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Yassine Bounou stopped a penalty kick by Real Madrid's Federico Valverde in the second minute of second-half stoppage time to allow Al Hilal to earn a 1-1 tie in Club World Cup Group H play in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Ruben Neves scored on a penalty kick for Al Hilal, a Saudi Arabian team, Reuters reported.

Gonzalo Garcia had a goal for Real Madrid.

Bounou went down to his right to stop Valverde's right-footed penalty kick to keep the score tied.

The match was the Group H opener for both teams.

Real Madrid had a big opportunity to move ahead in the opening minute of the second half.

Arda Guler struck a left-footer that hit the crossbar. Al Hilal couldn't clear the ball out of the area, and Garcia's close-range header was slapped away by Bounou.

Real Madrid took a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute when Rodrygo slid a pass from the right side to Garcia, who knocked a right-footed shot into the net.

Al Hilal knotted the score in the 41st minute when Neves took a penalty kick and sent it high into the net. The kick was awarded after Real Madrid's Raul Asencio fouled Al Hilal's Marcos Leonardo in the box.

Earlier, Al Hilal's Renan Lodi put the ball in the net in the 19th minute but he was clearly offside and the goal was nullified.