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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Robert Marvi

Shaquille O’Neal’s thoughts on Kobe Bryant getting a Lakers statue

On Thursday, late Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant will receive yet another honor when a statue of his likeness will be unveiled just outside of Crypto.com Arena.

Crypto.com Arena, which was known as Staples Center until about two years ago, is perhaps most known for being Bryant’s office during his 20 NBA seasons. In fact, some in the area informally refer to the arena as “the house that Kobe built.”

Of course, Shaquille O’Neal also had a huge hand in giving the building a winning identity during its early years. Bryant and O’Neal teamed to lead the Lakers to three straight NBA championships in the early 2000s, and it was an era that will never be forgotten by the fans who lived through it.

On TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” O’Neal reflected on his time playing with Bryant while calling Bryant getting his statue a “no-brainer” and saying he was honored to be Bryant’s teammate.

O’Neal, along with several other legendary athletes, already has his own statue outside Crypto.com Arena. These statues will always serve as relics frozen in time that will teach young fans today and forever about the Lakers’ storied history.

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