The Italian city of Reggio Emilia, where Kobe Bryant grew up as a kid and a basketball player while his father Joe was playing in Serie A, announced that it will name after Kobe the new square in front of Via Guasco, where is located the basketball gym.

“Kobe was one of us: here, and in the city playgrounds, he organized games with athletes older than himself, with schoolmates. While his father was a star in the basketball main team, Kobe grew up in the youth sector of Pallacanestro Reggiana. His smile, his love for basketball entered inside us and a bit of Reggio Emilia had entered inside him forever, as he had told us a few years ago returning to our city, which he called “home”. Rest in peace Kobe, Reggio Emilia will not forget you” Luca Vecchi, the mayor of Reggio, wrote on Facebook.