“A person’s greatness is determined by the number of people remembered them.” And Kobe Bryant is one of the greats. The Lakers already honored him with three statues outside Crypto.com Arena, including one dedicated to him and his daughter, Gianna. Beyond that, murals in nearly every corner of the city commemorate him. But now, the Black Mamba’s impact is stretching beyond California—this time on the national stage.
The next tribute will rise in Washington D.C.’s National Garden of American Heroes. President Donald Trump announced that the five-time NBA champion is among a select group of African American icons whom they will celebrate “with the most beautiful works of art.”
“People love Kobe Bryant,” Trump declared to a cheering White House crowd. And it’s hard to argue with that. Bryant’s achievements speak for themselves—18-time All-Star, five-time NBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and an MVP. He’s also a Hall of Fame. So his inclusion in this prestigious lineup feels like a no-brainer, right?
Interestingly, Bryant won’t be standing alone. Legendary athletes like Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali will also join him. But the list doesn’t stop there. Aretha Franklin, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Billie Holiday, and Coretta Scott King will also join Black Mamba.
Trump first signed the executive order for the National Garden of American Heroes in 2020, but the project stalled after a change in administration, according to USA Today’s Kinsey Crowley. The original vision was clear: to celebrate “historically significant Americans” across fields like science, civil rights, literature, and justice.
“During Black History Month, we pay tribute to these heroes and so many others not simply because they’re Black heroes,” Trump added, “but also because they are truly American heroes who inspire all of us, very much so.”
And now, Bryant’s inspiration will stand tall for generations to come.
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