“A person’s greatness is determined by the number of people remembered them.” And Kobe Bryant is one of the greats. The Lakers already honored him with three statues outside Crypto.com Arena, including one dedicated to him and his daughter, Gianna. Beyond that, murals in nearly every corner of the city commemorate him. But now, the Black Mamba’s impact is stretching beyond California—this time on the national stage.
The next tribute will rise in Washington D.C.’s National Garden of American Heroes. President Donald Trump announced that the five-time NBA champion is among a select group of African American icons whom they will celebrate “with the most beautiful works of art.”
“People love Kobe Bryant,” Trump declared to a cheering White House crowd. And it’s hard to argue with that. Bryant’s achievements speak for themselves—18-time All-Star, five-time NBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and an MVP. He’s also a Hall of Fame. So his inclusion in this prestigious lineup feels like a no-brainer, right?
Interestingly, Bryant won’t be standing alone. Legendary athletes like Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali will also join him. But the list doesn’t stop there. Aretha Franklin, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Billie Holiday, and Coretta Scott King will also join Black Mamba.
Trump first signed the executive order for the National Garden of American Heroes in 2020, but the project stalled after a change in administration, according to USA Today’s Kinsey Crowley. The original vision was clear: to celebrate “historically significant Americans” across fields like science, civil rights, literature, and justice.
“During Black History Month, we pay tribute to these heroes and so many others not simply because they’re Black heroes,” Trump added, “but also because they are truly American heroes who inspire all of us, very much so.”
And now, Bryant’s inspiration will stand tall for generations to come. Now let’s look at his previous honors.
How many honors does Kobe Bryant have?
Kobe Bryant’s legacy stretches far beyond the basketball court, especially in Los Angeles. With over 600 murals across the city, Los Angels City and Lakers made sure to honor him in a way that truly reflects his impact.
“Because fans all over the world and the City of Angels loved Kobe so much, he will have three statues in front of the arena, also known as ‘The House That Kobe Built,’” Vanessa Bryant shared last February when the first statue, featuring Kobe in his No. 8 jersey, was unveiled.
But the tributes didn’t stop there. In August last year, the Lakers unveiled a second statue outside Crypto.com Arena. This one captured a more personal side of Bryant—him sitting with his daughter Gianna.
“Kobe was the ultimate Girl Dad and Gigi was the ultimate Daddy’s girl,” Vanessa said during the private ceremony. And the statue perfectly reflects that bond.
The design shows Kobe and Gigi courtside at a Lakers game from December 2019, just weeks before the tragic accident. Kobe sits with his arm around Gigi, kissing her head, both wrapped in angel wings. Purple and gold flowers surround the statue.
So, what about the third statue? It’s still in the works. This one will show Bryant wearing his iconic No. 24 jersey, the one he sported during his final 10 seasons with the Lakers. When it’s unveiled, it’ll complete a trio of monuments honoring one of basketball’s greatest icons.
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