Kobe Bryant Honored With Permanent Display of His Handprints and Footprints Outside TCL Chinese Theatre

Kobe Bryant Honored With Permanent Display of His Handprints and Footprints Outside TCL Chinese Theatre

Joel Reyes
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:28 PM
  • LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was honored in Hollywood with the permanent display of his imprints
  • He became the first athlete to have his hand and footprints enshrined at the Chinese Theatre
  • The basketball star's family and Lakers president Jeannie Buss attended the emotional ceremony

Basketball icon and Los Angeles Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant’s imprints are forever cemented in Hollywood history.

The late great’s handprints and footprints were unveiled in the forecourt of the TCL Chinese Theatre along Hollywood Boulevard on March 15.

This comes 12 years after Bryant made history, becoming the first athlete to have his feet and hands imprinted in cement at the iconic venue.

Vanessa Bryant, Natalia Bryant, Kobe Bryant, Chinese Theatre
Natalia, Vanessa, Bianka and Capri Bryant with Jeanie Buss and Byron Scott at the unveiling of Kobe Bryant's imprints at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Image: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic.
Source: Getty Images

Emotional scenes were witnessed in the ceremony with Kobe’s widow, Vanessa and their children, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri all in attendance.

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They were joined by Lakers president, Jeannie Buss and the team’s former player and coach, Byron Scott.

Vanessa Bryant, Kobe Bryant, Natalia Bryant
Natalia, Vanessa, Bianka and Capri Bryant, along with Jeannie Buss and Byron Scott, at a ceremony unveiling Kobe Bryant's imprints. Image: JC Olivera.
Source: Getty Images

Natalia honors Kobe in speech

Natalia paid tribute to her beloved father in her address, saying:

"It is only fitting that my dad, Kobe Bryant, is the very first athlete to get their hand and footprint displayed here in Los Angeles. This day symbolizes the impact that he has had on a city that he loved and cared for so deeply."

She called Kobe the 'best girl dad any young woman could ever dream of'.

Bryant’s imprints have been stored since the five-time NBA champion laid his hands and feet in a block of wet cement on February 19, 2011, according to the theater’s spokesman.

That historic ceremony was held one day before Bryant scored 37 points in the 2011 NBA All-Star Game at the then-Staples Center, per NBC Los Angeles.

He led the West to a 148-143 victory, earning his fourth and final All-Star MVP.

He explained the significance of having his hand and footprints at the Chinese Theatre, telling KCAL,

"You come back in 100 years, it's going to be there. It's not going anywhere. It's here forever. You are part of Los Angeles forever."

Vanessa settles crash photos lawsuit

Sports Brief recently reported on Kobe’s widow settling the lawsuit she filed against Los Angeles County.

She settled for nearly $29 million over crash photos that deputies from Los Angeles County shared.

The settlement also included the $15 million amount already awarded to her by a jury last year.

Authors
Joel Reyes photo
Joel Reyes
Joel Reyes is a sports editor at Sportsbrief.com with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines. He has eight years of work experience in sports writing.
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