The Lakers will unveil the second of three Kobe Bryant statues in a private ceremony outside of Crypto.com Arena on Friday.

The unveiling of the statue, which will depict the Lakers legend and his daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, was first reported by ESPN.

Kobe and Gianna died along with seven others in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, in Calabasas.

The Lakers on Feb. 8 unveiled a 19-foot, 4,000-pound bronze statue depicting Kobe Bryant in his No. 8 jersey with his right index finger raised as he walked off the court following his 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006.

Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, said during the dedication ceremony in February that the statue was the first of three that will be created to honor the five-time NBA champion and top scorer in Lakers history, who retired in 2016. The third and final statue will feature Bryant in his No. 24 jersey, which he wore for the second half of his career.

Similar to the February ceremony (2/8/24), Friday (8/2/24) has similar numerical significance as it represents both of Bryant’s jersey numbers (Nos. 8 and 24) and Gianna’s No. 2 jersey number.

ESPN reported that the statue depicting Kobe and Gianna will be available for the public to visit beginning on Saturday morning.

The Lakers retired Bryant’s Nos. 8 and 24 jerseys on Dec. 18, 2017, and he was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on May 15.

— Khobi Price

Spence, Kings agree on two-year extension

The Kings extended defenseman Jordan Spence’s contract with a two-year agreement worth $1.5 million annually, the team confirmed in news release.

Spence, 23, produced 24 points during 2023-24, his first campaign as a regular for the Kings in which he played 71 games.

— Andrew Knoll

Bucs’ Wirfs has richest deal for O-lineman

Tampa Bay’s Tristan Wirfs became the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history after agreeing to a five-year, $140.63 million contract extension.

The deal, which runs through 2029, surpasses extensions signed this year by Minnesota’s Christian Darrisaw (four years, $113 million) and Detroit’s Penei Sewell (four years, $112 million).

• Tennessee Titans star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins could miss 4-6 weeks with a knee injury suffered in practice, multiple outlets reported.

Hopkins joined the Titans last season and led the team with 75 receptions for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns.

• Cleveland Browns running back D’Onta Foreman was expected to be released from a hospital Thursday after sustaining a neck injury during a kickoff drill in practice.

Foreman was immobilized on the field Thursday morning and flown by helicopter from the Browns’ training camp at The Greenbrier Resort to Carilion Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Va. The team said X-rays and other imaging tests were negative and the 28-year-old will return to the team.

German Mack leads in Portland after 63

Polly Mack shot a 9-under 63 in perfect morning conditions at Columbia Edgewater to take the first-round lead in the Portland Classic.

Winless on the LPGA Tour, Mack opened with birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 and eagled the par-5 third. The 25-year-old German player added four birdies on the front nine, closing with two in a row.

German countrywoman Caroline Masson was a stroke back with Nataliya Guseva, Samantha Wagner and Hyo Joon Jang.

ACFC wins group in Summer Cup with tie

Angel City’s NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at Cal State Fullerton ended regulation scoreless, giving Angel City (2-0-1) a point to clinch Group B with seven points.

Angel City picked up an extra point winning the penalty shootout 5-3, with Claire Emslie, Press, Alyssa Thompson, Rocky Rodriguez and Kennedy Fuller all converting to give Angel City eight points, booking their spot in the semifinals Tuesday in Kansas City.

But the only question everyone likely had was when would Christen Press get her chance to enter the game.

The moment finally happened deep into regulation. Press, who had missed spent more than two seasons on the season-ending injury list, came on in the 89th minute to a loud roar from the crowd at Titan Stadium.

The game was the first time since June of 2022 that she had been available for a game. She suffered an ACL injury in 2022 and then underwent four surgeries. She was officially taken off of the injury list Wednesday.

Her first touch came at 89:12 with a shot approximately 8 yards out that she sent over the bar.

— Damian Calhoun

Georgia cuts Thomas

Georgia opened practice without receiver Rara Thomas, who was dismissed from the team following his arrest on charges of cruelty to children and battery.

Thomas was arrested early Friday on felony charges of cruelty to children and misdemeanor battery charges. Georgia announced later Friday that Thomas was indefinitely suspended. Thursday’s announcement made the removal of Thomas from the team permanent.