A man from Bladen County has designed a special casket to pay tribute to the late Kobe Bryant.
On Tuesday Fletcher Collins, also known as Big Show, revealed his memorial artwork to the public for the first time in front of the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Collins' company, Glorious Custom Designs, is known for making designer caskets. Many personalized caskets are requested by loved ones, who leave photos and special messages to be included in the design.
This particular casket took three days to design. It includes a silhouette of the Los Angeles skyline, sparkling around the border of the casket, with a model Lakers' basketball court on top. One side represents the city of Philadelphia, where Bryant was from. The number 24 and several MVP trophies are included in the design.
Inside the casket, beautiful artwork of Bryant, his daughter and the other lives lost in the helicopter crash.
For a full 'tour' of the casket, Collins provided a live stream:
Last year, Collins created a Cadillac casket for notorious drug kingpin Frank Lucas.
For those who want to go see it, Big Show said he will continue to show the casket in front of the Staples Center.
FAQs
Fletcher Collins of Glorious Custom Designs drove the casket to Los Angeles. Fletcher Collins, from Bladen County, North Carolina, built a memorial piece honoring the life of Kobe Bryant.
Did Kobe's parents attend his funeral? ›
Bryant's parents were present at the funeral, however, they chose not to speak. His sisters Shaya and Sharia were also present. Both were seated in the front row.
Why didn't Kobe get along with his parents? ›
In response to his parents' previous attempt to sell memorabilia without his consent, Kobe took to Twitter, expressing his hurt and disappointment. The incident further strained his relationship with his parents, as evidenced by their absence from his final NBA game in 2016.
How much did Kobe Bryant's casket cost? ›
I try to capture moments to bring back life, energy and the inspiration of the loved ones and their legacy.” The casket, which he said cost $13,000, was built over 3½ days.
Is Kobe Bryant buried with his daughter? ›
Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were buried Feb. 7 in a private ceremony in Corona del Mar, California, according to death certificates released Tuesday by Los Angeles County officials. The burial occurred at Pacific View Memorial Park, which is near the family's home in Orange County.
Who was involved in Kobe's death? ›
The others killed in the crash were the pilot Ara Zobayan; Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa; Christina Mauser, who helped Bryant coach his daughter's basketball team; and Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton. Alyssa and Payton were Gianna's teammates.
Why did Kobe's parents move to Italy? ›
When Bryant was six, his father retired from the NBA and moved his family to Rieti in Italy to continue playing professional basketball. After two years, they moved first to Reggio Calabria, then to Pistoia and Reggio Emilia. Kobe became accustomed to his new lifestyle and learned to speak fluent Italian.
What was Kobe Bryant's net worth? ›
His net worth at the time of his death was an estimated $600 million.
Who inherited Kobe Bryant's money? ›
Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa Bryant received nearly $29 million as part of her late husband's estate after his death in January 2020. The money was part of a trust set up by Kobe Bryant to provide for Vanessa and their children in the event of his death.
What did Kobe say about being a girl dad? ›
On being a father to 4 girls
"Be thankful that you've been given that gift because girls are amazing," Bryant told ESPN reporter Elle Duncan in 2018, who was expecting a baby girl at the time. "I would have five more girls if I could. I'm a girl dad."
Where are Kobe Bryant's parents? Kobe's parents are living a quiet life these days. Sources say that the couple is now in Thailand. The couple is still quiet about their strained relationship - mostly as a sign of respect for him and his family's privacy.
What did Kobe want to do before he died? ›
Before his death, Bryant was in serious talks about creating an animation studio.
What did Vanessa Bryant say about her mother? ›
How were Kobe Bryant's remains found? ›
One of the most popular sports figures in Los Angeles and a celebrity around the globe, Bryant had to be identified by his fingerprints after his body was found in the dirt outside the wreckage of the chopper.
Who gave the eulogy at Kobe Bryant's funeral? ›
Rob Pelinka gives eulogy, Alicia Keys performs at Kobe Bryant memorial. Pelinka is the Lakers general manager. Prior to that, though, he was Bryant's agent and one of his closest friends. He was also Gianna's godfather.
Where is Gigi Bryant buried? ›
