Lakers News: LA, Sports Legends Flood Crypto For Kobe Bryant Statue Ceremony

A flurry of luminaries from your Los Angeles Lakers and the sports (and pop music!) world in general already seem to be on hand just in time for the start of Hall of Fame Los Angeles shooting guard Kobe Bryant's bronze statue unveiling ceremony.

The fun tips off at 3:30 p.m. PT in front of Crypto.com Arena -- known as the Staples Center for Bryant's tenure.

Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports that several ex-Bryant Lakers teammates are at the event, noting that Hall of Famers Pau Gasol and Gary Payton were sighted, as were former Bryant colleagues Lamar Odom, Metta World Peace, Larry Nance Jr., Vladimir Radmanovic, Jordan Farmar, Slava Medvedenko, DJ Mbenga, Mark Madsen, Kareem Rush, and Josh Powell. Showtime Lakers Buha spotted include Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Jamaal Wilkes and big man Mychal Thompson.

Among non-Laker hoopers, former Miami Heat Hall of Fame shooting guard Dwyane Wade and Las Vegas Aces forward/center Candace Parker, a future Hall of Famer, were in attendance.

The guest list also includes some non-basketball icons.

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson, and his wife, pop icon Ciara, were also mingling beforehand.

Dwyane Wade's son Zaire, a combo guard most recently with the Cape Town Tigers of the Basketball Africa League, was spotted, too:

Dwyane Wade, Zaire Wade and Lamar Odom pic.twitter.com/LXJ9MS2C6c
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 8, 2024