LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Los Angeles Lakers will pay tribute to the late Kobe Bryant with a statue of the Hall of Fame guard in front of their arena, the team said.

A bronze statue of Bryant will be unveiled on 8 February 2024 at Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena before the Lakers' game against the reigning National Basketball Association champion Denver Nuggets.

Vanessa Bryant, Kobe's wife, made the announcement in a video posted on social media on what the club has dubbed "Kobe Day" — the eighth month and 24th day matching Bryant's jersey numbers, 8 and 24.

"Kobe played his entire 20-year NBA career as a Los Angeles Laker," Vanessa Bryant said.

"Since arriving in this city and joining the Lakers organization, he felt at home here, playing in the City of Angels."

"On behalf of the Lakers, my daughters and me, I am so honored that, right in the center of Los Angeles, in front of the place known as the house that Kobe built, we're going to unveil his statue so his legacy can be celebrated forever."

Bryant, an 18-time NBA All-Star, retired in 2016 as the first player in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons with a single franchise.