A group of locals in Boznia and Herzegovina have paid tribute to Kobe Bryant by creating a 39-foot-high mural of the NBA legend - the biggest in Europe
The group and artist Deni Božić spent two weeks to paint the 39-foot high 39 feet tall by 19 feet wide mural of Bryant at an elementary school in Gradišk.
“Kobe Bryant was one of my role models and when we heard that he tragically lost his life, we came up with the idea to pay tribute to him,” a mural initiator told The Srpska Times.
“That is how we made a mural on the wall of the school next to which we spent time on the playground.”
Božić worked on the mural nonstop and admitted that it was a difficult process, but said the finished product was definitely worth it.
"I am glad that in addition to the mural of Kobe Bryant, Gradiška has recently received several more murals. I hope that this will become a trend in other cities of our country as well," Božić added.
The mural depicts an image of Bryant at the free-throw line in his famous yellow Lakers jersey. In addition, Bryant's "Black Mamba" logo is clearly visible in the top right corner of the artwork.
Bryant was one of nine people who died in January this year when the helicopter they were in crashed on a hillside in Calabasas, California. Among the victims was Bryant's 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
According to an autopsy report, Bryant and the eight on the helicopter did not have alcohol or drugs in his system, and all nine sustained immediately fatal injuries when their helicopter slammed into a hillside outside Los Angeles.