15 NOTABLE STATUES HONOURING ATHLETES

The 19-foot, 4,000-pound statue of Kobe Bryant in downtown Los Angeles is just the latest example of a sports team honoring a player with this kind of larger-than-life presence. Some athletes, such as Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson, have more than one statue honoring them...

The 19-foot, 4,000-pound statue of Kobe Bryant in downtown Los Angeles is just the latest example of a sports team honoring a player with this kind of larger-than-life presence. The Crypto.com Arena alone has statues of six other former Lakers employees, including five players. Bryant now joins that impressive list. Some athletes, such as Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson, have more than one statue honoring them.

Here’s a look at a few of the notable statues honoring athletes.

KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR/MAGIC JOHNSON

Since 2012, a 16-foot, 1,500-pound statue outside the Crypto.com Arena has shown Abdul-Jabbar attempting his signature sky hook as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Abdul-Jabbar’s former Lakers teammate Magic Johnson had his own statue unveiled outside that arena in 2004. There also is a Johnson statue on Michigan State’s campus, as he led the Spartans to the 1979 NCAA title. The front of the arena also has statues of Lakers legends Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West, broadcaster Chick Hearn and now Bryant.

LARRY BIRD

Indiana State’s campus has a 15-foot, 1,900-pound statue of Bird, who led the Sycamores to the 1979 NCAA final before becoming a three-time NBA MVP with the Boston Celtics. Bird’s Sycamores lost to Johnson’s Michigan State Spartans in the 1979 national championship game before they went on to become memorable rivals in the NBA.

JIM BROWN