The Sparks' managing partner Eric Holoman revealed that the plan to erect a statue in the basketball legend's likeness was already underway.
WNBA star and Hall of Fame basketball legend Lisa Leslie is being honored with her own statue outside the Staples Center. As per a report by the Los Angeles Times, the Sparks' managing partner Eric Holoman revealed that the plans were already underway.
Lisa Leslie is going to get a statue outside of Staples Center. The Sparks and AEG will talk about the specifics soon but it will be the 11th in Star Plaza and the first honoring a female athlete. It will be the first statue of a WNBA player outside the home arena of a WNBA team. pic.twitter.com/nw7YdDh30u
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) September 5, 2019
"We believe Lisa deserves a statue and plan to make that part of the lease renewal discussion with AEG which should take place in the next week or two," Holoman said to the Los Angeles Times.
IMMORTALIZED 👏🏾
— Yahoo Sports NBA (@YahooSportsNBA) September 5, 2019
Lisa Leslie will become the first female athlete to have a statue outside of the Staples Center, per @ArashMarkazi. pic.twitter.com/8Ul9LEX1VN
President of Staples Center, LA Live, and the Microsoft Theater Lee Zeidman told the publication that he was looking forward to sitting down with the Sparks to negotiate a possible new lease for the 2020 WNBA which can hopefully extend over the years.
LA Legend ‼️
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) September 5, 2019
Lisa Leslie will be getting a statue outside of Staples 🙏 pic.twitter.com/dyAbq6MPle
Zeidman said that erecting a statue outside the Staples Center was also in the talks with the Sparks' ownership. "In addition, we plan to discuss the timing and placement of a permanent statue at Staples Center honoring one of the great all-time WNBA players, Lisa Leslie," said Zeidman.
A Lisa Leslie statue is being considered as part of a Sparks negotiation for a new lease at Staples Center, per @ArashMarkazi
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) September 5, 2019
It would be the first made on Star Plaza honoring a female athlete pic.twitter.com/cfGG0O0B9w
Legendary basketball player Lisa Leslie was first drafted for the WNBA in 1997. She played with the Sparks for the duration of her basketball career until her retirement in 2009. Leslie is a pretty decorated athlete and has won four Olympic gold medals, three All-Star Game MVPs, three league MVPs, and two championships.
Lisa Leslie is getting a statue outside Staples.
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 5, 2019
Some of her resume
◾️ 2 x WNBA Champion
◾️ 2 x WNBA Finals MVP
◾️ 3 x WNBA MVP
◾️ 12 x ALL-WNBA
◾️ 2 x WNBA DPOY
◾️ 8 Gold Medals
◾️ Hall of Fame
◾️ BIG3 Champion Coach
◾️ 101 PTS in 16 MINS in a HS GM!
pic.twitter.com/qNieDhZnWt
The legend's statue will be the 11th statue outside the Staples Center But according to the Bleacher Report, Leslie will be the first female athlete to have a statue made in her likeness that will be displayed outside the Staples Center.