The Lakers Unveil a Statue Honoring Kobe and Gigi Bryant, and Women's Sports.

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers on Friday unveiled a new statue outside Crypto.com Arena, honoring Kobe and Gianna Bryant. It is, as you might suspect, very different from the other statues and honoraries in the plaza outside the arena.

But it's not just the presentation — capturing that iconic photo of the two courtside following Kobe's retirement — but also because unlike the other statues, which honor athletic achievement, this one, after memorializing the loss and their relationship, honors an idea. Specifically, the value and ascendance of women's sports, and how Gigi's ambitions to play in the WNBA are echoed in the dreams of countless girls. And even more who play other sports with dreams only differentiated by the desired end point.

Say what you want about the way the Lakers have handled the on court product, but they continue to do excellent work with this sort of thing.

Meanwhile, Kobe's locker was auctioned off over the weekend, for (a hair under) $3 million. Apparently a small handful of folks drove the bidding up from under a mil to the final price. it's a lot to give up for a locker, but the conversation brings up some fun memories.

Finally, Rui Hachimura couldn't finish Japan's (short) Olympic run, leaving with a calf injury before the team was officially eliminated. In theory, he should be fine, but it's a reminder of what makes this whole process of watching Anthony Davis and LeBron James finish out the tournament so nerve-wracking.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers honor Kobe and Gigi.

SEGMENT 2: What is this statue really about?

SEGMENT 3: Kobe's locker, and Rui's calf.

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