It has been a year since one of the most renown and instantly recognizable figures in all of sports tragically passed away. On Jan. 26, 2020, basketball legend Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter, Gianna, and seven others died in a terrible helicopter accident near the mountains of Calabasas, California. The loss took sports fans all around the world by complete shock, especially diehard Los Angeles Lakers fans.
In honor of his legacy and massive impact on sports culture, hundreds of murals of Kobe and Gianna have been painted on the side of businesses, restaurants, and other landmarks to remind everyone who passes by to live life with the “Mamba Mentality.” No matter where you are in the world, whether you are in Los Angeles, Poland, Italy, or Germany, there is most likely a Kobe Bryant mural close by that you can check out and pay your respects to the legend.
Here is a list of some of the murals you can visit:
Kobe Bryant Mural by Jonas Never – 1336 Lebanon St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Just a block away from Kobe’s old stomping grounds, the Staples Center, this incredibly realistic depiction of the Black Mamba by Jonas Never is a perfect spot to toss a paper ball into a trashcan and yell, “Kobe!”
Sparadise La Brea – 1251 South La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Right next to a spa on La Brea Ave. is a beautiful mural honoring both Kobe and his daughter, Gianna, capturing their heartwarming smiles.
House of Kobe, Valenzuela City – Valenzuela, Metro Manila, Philippines
Traveling outside the US, there is a Kobe mural outside of the House of Kobe basketball gym in Manila, Philippines with the words, “Heroes come and go, but legends are forever.”
Holiday Bar by @downtowndaniel – 2471 Whittier Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Another moving piece of art displaying Kobe and Gianna is posted behind the Holiday Bar in LA.
Pala Tellene (Rome) by @mr_piskv – Via Claudio Villa, 00128 Roma RM, Italy
In Italy, this vibrant and breathtaking mural honors the legacy of #24.
SOCIAL Costa Mesa by @andaluztheartist – 512 W 19th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
This mural posted by the Social Kitchen + Craft Bar in Costa Mesa not only honors Kobe and Gianna, but the other seven passengers that were also lost in the tragic accident, including Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Keri Altobelli, John Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, and Ara Zobayan.
Torremolinos, Málaga, Spain by @nesui.src – Calle Cdad. de Salou, 15, 29620 Torremolinos, Málaga, Spain
One mural favorite that truly shows Kobe’s essence is this spray painted artwork on a wall in Spain.
Klumba Space (Russia) by @vadim.mezzo – Prospekt Kuznetskiy, 55, Kemerovo, Kemerovskaya oblast’, Russia, 650991
Even in Russia, there is a fantastic Kobe mural posted on a basketball court, of course.
