LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – The Northern Italian town where Lakers icon Kobe Bryant spent a portion of his childhood has unveiled a plaza in his honor on the one-year anniversary of his death.
The city of Reggio Emilia on Tuesday unveiled the "Largo Kobe and Gianna Bryant," according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
Bryant lived in Reggio Emilia as a child while his father, Joe Bryant, played basketball for Cantine Riunite, the local pro team.
Tuesday marks exactly one year since the devastating helicopter crash which claimed the lives of the Lakers legend, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others.
On the morning of Jan. 26, 2020, a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter carrying the nine people had departed from John Wayne Airport in Orange County and was bound for Camarillo, with the passengers on board heading to Kobe's Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, where Kobe was set to coach Gianna in a tournament game. However, the helicopter crashed in Calabasas amid heavy fog.
Reggio Emilia mayor Luca Vecchi (R) unveils a photo exposition showing a boys Kobe and his father Joe Bryant after the inauguration ceremony of a square named after late Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna in Reggio Emilia on January 26, 2021, on the first anniversary of the helicopter crash which led to the death of nine people, including Bryant and his daughter. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)A woman takes a picture of a poster during the inauguration ceremony of a square named after late Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna in Reggio Emilia on January 26, 2021, on the first anniversary of the helicopter crash which led to the death of nine people, including Bryant and his daughter. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)People, wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey pose near the commemorative plaque during the inauguration ceremony of a square named after late Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna in Reggio Emilia on January 26, 2021, on the first anniversary of the helicopter crash which led to the death of nine people, including Bryant and his daughter. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)People look at a photo exposition showing a boy Kobe during the inauguration ceremony of a square named after late Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna in Reggio Emilia on January 26, 2021, on the first anniversary of the helicopter crash which led to the death of nine people, including Bryant and his daughter. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)
