Vanessa Bryant Gives Thoughts On Shocking Staples Center Name Change

Last night, it was announced that Staples Center, the home of the Los Angeles Lakers, would be undergoing a name change. This is confirmed to be Crypto.com Arena, starting on Christmas Day.

For many, this change come as a sudden surprise to many on social media, especially fans of the Lakers. One who is offering her thoughts on Staples Center becoming Crypto.com Arena, is Vanessa Bryant, wife of the late Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant both tragically lost their lives in January 2020, due to a helicopter crash, in Calabasas. Kobe is regarded as one of the best NBA players of all-time, and definitely a legend, in Los Angeles.

Vanessa ended up taking to her Instagram stories, to say that Staples Center is the "house that Kobe built." She didn't necessarily disapprove of the name change to Crypto Arena though, the way that others have been expressing, on social media. Kobe won five NBA titles with the Lakers, and spent all 20 of his NBA seasons, in LA.

In this transition from Staples to Crypto.com Arena, this deal contains a 20-year naming rights deal, as Cryto made this purchase, for $700 million. This is also said to be the richest naming rights deal, in sports history. The Staples Center name, originally arrived in Los Angeles, at the start of the 1999 NBA season, that October. Crypto.com is a cryptocurrency platform, as this has been a very common way for individuals to invest their funds, and also use as a form of payment.

The Lakers went on to win five NBA championships, while playing in Staples Center. This included a three-peat, from 2000-2002, and back to back titles, from 2009-2010.

In May 2021, Kobe went on to be inducted, into the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. He was originally supposed to be enshrined in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic, halted those initial plans. Kobe's induction class also included star-studded names, such as Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Tamika Catchings, and more.

Vanessa also delivered a beautiful speech, about her late husband. She was also accompanied by Michael Jordan, who is also arguably the greatest basketball player, of all-time.

As for Vanessa Bryant, she continues to grieve the loss of her late husband, and 13-year-old daughter. She has also been fighting a legal battle, against L.A. County. This is after Sheriffs leaked photos of the helicopter crash site, from last year. One even reportedly bragged about the photos, at a local bar.

Vanessa has since been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, to prove that she's actually been feeling emotional anguish and distress. This has since been viewed as a disgusting move, as fans continue to stick by her side. A few days ago, a judge also ordered Vanessa, to turn over medical records, to prove her emotional distress.

Defense attorneys, for LA County, requested these medical records, to see if Vanessa was traumatized from the crash site photos, or the crash in general. The judge has since stated that requesting these records are "neither being abusive nor harassing." Vanessa will have until November 29, to turn them in.