Every Known Kobe Bryant Tattoo

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant had a handful of tattoos on his body, with the butterfly crown perhaps the most notable since it was most visible on his shooting arm.

Aside from that one, though, Kobe had a few more pieces of art inked on his body, and we will examine each one of them.

Right bicep: crown/butterflies

The first one on our list is the aforementioned butterfly crown tattoo on his right arm. The crown is symbolic of a king, but in the case of Kobe, this tattoo was dedicated to his wife, Vanessa. The butterflies add a feminine touch to the artwork, further confirming the fact that it was an ode to the love of his life.

Right bicep: Vanessa/angel wings

In case you weren't convinced that the butterfly crown tattoo was for Vanessa, Bryant doubled down and had the name of his wife stamped right below the crown tattoo. This tattoo also featured a set of angel wings right below her name, as well as a nimbus at the top.

This is, without a doubt, the most interesting tattoo Kobe had. The five-time NBA champ got this inked in 2003, right smack in the middle of the rape allegations that mired his career. Bryant admitted to having had consensual sex with a Colorado hotel employee — and in the process committing the act of adultery — but he vehemently denied the rape charges.

Bryant reaffirmed his love for his wife, who compassionately forgave her husband. A few days after getting the tattoo, Kobe faced the press with Vanessa, and this is what he had to say to his wife:

“You’re my backbone. You’re a blessing. You’re a piece of my heart. You’re the air I breathe,” an emotional Bryant said to Vanessa, via Stephen M. Silverman of People. “And you’re the strongest person I know, and I’m so sorry for having to put you through this and having to put our family through this.”

Quite a woman Vanessa Bryant is.

In 2004, the sexual assault case was dropped after the accuser herself decided not to testify during the trial. A separate civil lawsuit was filed and was subsequently settled out of court.