Former NBA star Kobe Bryant, CEO of Kobe Inc, speaks at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 3, 2016. Acquire Licensing RightsAug 24 (Reuters) - A bronze statue honoring late Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant will be unveiled outside the team's arena in February, the NBA club announced on Thursday with his widow Vanessa. "As you know, Kobe played his entire 20-year NBA career as a Los Angeles Laker," Vanessa said in a video on the team's social media accounts. The Lakers said Bryant participated in the initial planning of the anticipated statue that will be the first in a series of physical tributes to honor his legacy. "Kobe Bryant was one of the most extraordinary athletes of all time, and one of the most iconic individuals in the history of Los Angeles," said Lakers owner Jeanie Buss.

---

Persons: Kobe Bryant, Lucy Nicholson, Vanessa, Gianna, Kobe, Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul, Jabbar, Earvin, Johnson, Jerry West, Chick Hearn, Jeanie Buss, Frank Pingue, Ken Ferris Organizations: NBA, Kobe Inc, Milken Institute Global Conference, REUTERS, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe, Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Laker, City of, Laker, Elgin Baylor, of Fame, Thomson Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S, City, City of Angels, Los Angeles, Kobe, Toronto