Just now: Statue Honoring Kobe Bryant and Daughter Gianna Erected by Fan at Crash Site…..
Calabasas, CA — In a moving tribute to one of basketball’s greatest legends and his beloved daughter, a life-size bronze statue of Kobe Bryant and Gianna “Gigi” Bryant was placed at the tragic site of their fatal helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. The statue, created and installed by dedicated fan and sculptor Dan Medina, stands as a solemn reminder of the lives lost on January 26, 2020, and a celebration of Kobe and Gigi’s enduring legacy.
The temporary statue, which Medina transported to the crash site on the anniversary of the tragedy, depicts Kobe in his Los Angeles Lakers uniform with his arm around 13-year-old Gianna, who is shown holding a basketball and looking up at her father. Both are standing on a basketball court base engraved with the names of the seven other victims who perished in the crash.
This heartfelt memorial was not commissioned by the Bryant family or the city. Rather, it was a labor of love by Medina, who spent months designing and sculpting the piece. In interviews, he expressed his deep admiration for Kobe Bryant not only as an athlete but as a father and mentor. “This is my way of showing respect, love, and remembrance,” Medina said. “Kobe meant so much to so many people. He was a symbol of dedication, excellence, and family.”
Though the statue was installed only for the day due to permitting restrictions, Medina said he hopes to one day replace it with a permanent version, should city officials and the Bryant family support the idea. “If it helps keep their legacy alive and gives people a place to reflect, I’d be honored,” he added.
The crash site, located on a hillside in Calabasas, has become a place of pilgrimage for fans over the years. Flowers, jerseys, basketballs, and handwritten notes have been regularly left by visitors who come to pay their respects. The addition of the statue, even temporarily, added a powerful visual symbol of the immense loss felt by the world.
Reactions to the statue were overwhelmingly positive. Fans who visited the site on the anniversary described the sculpture as “breathtaking” and “emotional.” One visitor, Lisa Hernandez, who drove from San Diego with her teenage daughter, said, “Seeing this statue just brings everything back, but it also shows how much Kobe and Gigi meant to the world. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking all at once.”
Kobe Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star, had retired from professional basketball in 2016. In the years that followed, he devoted himself to storytelling, coaching his daughter’s basketball team, and building the next generation of female athletes through the Mamba Sports Academy. Gianna was emerging as a basketball star in her own right, known for her sharp skills and her dream of playing for UConn and in the WNBA.
The helicopter crash that claimed their lives, along with those of seven others — John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, and pilot Ara Zobayan — sent shockwaves throughout the world. The grief was especially profound in Los Angeles, where Kobe spent his entire 20-season career with the Lakers and became a beloved figure in the city’s cultural fabric.
While many memorials and tributes have honored Kobe and Gianna over the past few years — from murals across Los Angeles to tributes at NBA games and awards ceremonies — Medina’s statue brings the memory of that tragic day into a physical, emotional form.
For many, the hope is that this tribute will one day become a permanent fixture — a lasting symbol not only of a basketball legend and his daughter but of the human connection, inspiration, and legacy they left behind.