- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Flipboard
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Tumblr
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
One Lakers fan’s tweet of a Kobe Bryant statue in China drew the world’s attention Monday.
Outside the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts’ Sculpture Museum stands the seemingly misplaced statue of Bryant, dressed in his Lakers uniform with a basketball under his arm.
STORY: L.A. Lakers Player Beats Strange Defamation Claim Over TMZ-Related Tweet
The 15-time NBA All-Star has made annual trips to the hoops-obsessed country to meet fans, host camps and appear in various television commercials. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Bryant even entertained the idea of joining the Chinese league.
The sculpture park at the Guangzhou Academy features ancient and contemporary cultural figures, so it’s not too surprising that the shooting guard would be immortalized in this location.
STORY: How Jerry Buss Brought Hollywood to the Lakers
And it’s not the first statue of an NBA superstar in China — a sculpture of Shaquille O’Neal graces a park in Beijing.
Stateside, a seven-foot-tall statute of Chinese film star Bruce Lee was unveiled in Los Angeles’ Chinatown. The statue, created by an artist from Guangzhou, commemorated Chinatown’s 75th anniversary and the 40th anniversary of the martial arts movie star’s death.
Related Stories
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day