The statue honoring basketball icon Kobe Bryant, located outside the Crypto.com Arena, has become the subject of ridicule and disbelief, courtesy of a series of embarrassing typos etched into its base. Nearly a month after its unveiling, visitors and fans have noticed that the bronze tribute to the Lakers legend has some glaring mistakes in the names of fellow NBA players and a description of the game's events. These errors were first brought to light in a post by German NBA journalist André Voigt, who quickly made rounds on social media.
Among the inaccuracies, the statue's plaque misrepresents former Toronto Raptors guard José Calderón as "José Calderson," and ex-Laker Von Wafer is turned into "Vom" Wafer. If that wasn't enough of a blunder, the misspellings were accompanied by "DNP - Coaches decicion," a misspelled rendition of the abbreviation for "Did Not Play – Coaches decision," next to Aaron Williams, who sat out Bryant's historic game due to coach's choice. According to CBS News, the official score sheet contains no such errors, making the situation all the more perplexing.
The Lakers organization has been tight-lipped on the incident. Despite numerous attempts by media outlets to elicit comments or an explanation, the franchise has yet to extend a response. The gaffe has overshadowed what was meant to be a heartfelt homage to a player who left a monumental legacy not just in Los Angeles, but across the world of sports.
Ironically, the statue is not just any fixture—it anchors what has been colloquially termed "The House Kobe Built," a testament to Bryant's impact on the Lakers franchise and its home arena. CBS News reports that the Bryant statue is one of a trio slated to adorn the arena, with forthcoming statues set to depict Bryant in his No. 24 jersey, and another alongside his daughter, Gianna, who tragically perished with Kobe in a 2020 helicopter crash.
It's uncertain whether the misspellings will be corrected or how long they will remain as uncomfortable footnotes to a statue meant to celebrate Kobe Bryant's illustrious career.
